Page 291 of Rosetti Family New York
She nods, picking up her purse with calm confidence. "On three. Don't look back."
We move together, slipping behind the bar as men approach from the other side of the lounge. I guide her through a hidden door disguised as wall paneling, down a narrow corridor staff use for bottle deliveries.
"They'll check cameras," she says as we go down the service stairs, her heels softly clicking on the concrete.
"No, they won't." I manage a small smile despite the danger. "The security feed has a five-minute delay, and I can wipe it remotely. I designed the system myself."
I tap my watch, activating the program I have ready.
The service entrance opens into a back alley where my black Audi waits, engine running thanks to the remote starter I triggered. Mara slides into the passenger seat without hesitation, no arguing about coming with me, no attempt to leave on her own. Whatever she saw convinced her that staying with me is her best chance of survival.
For now.
I drive away calmly despite the adrenaline rush. No squealing tires, no speeding, nothing to attract attention. Just another expensive car in a city full of them.
"Where are we going?" she asks once we're in traffic, her voice steady despite everything.
"Somewhere safe. Somewhere not even my family knows about."
She turns, surprised. "You keep secrets from the Rosettis?"
"Only the ones that matter." I glance at her briefly before focusing back on the road. "Only you."
The admission feels heavier than I meant it to. All this tracking, systems built just to find one woman, and I've never told my family the full extent. Never revealed how much I've invested in finding her. Never admitted I bypassed family security protocols to keep my private surveillance network running.
"They'll check all known Rosetti properties," she says after a moment, back to business. "Safe houses, warehouses, apartments."
"This isn't a Rosetti property." I take a quick right, cutting through side streets to make sure we're not followed. "It's mine. Bought through a shell corporation with no ties to family or business."
Her eyebrows lift. "You've been planning for this."
"I've been planning for everything." I speed through the yellow light, putting space between us and Il Lusso. "Thought of every situation, prepared for every possibility. Including getting you out of danger."
"Extract me," she repeats, her tone hard to read. "Like a military operation."
"That's what this is, isn't it? A war zone. With you caught in the middle."
She doesn't reply, but the silence speaks for itself. We drive in that quiet for minutes, her eyes on the side mirror, watching for anyone following while I steer us toward our destination.
"Your car could be compromised," she finally says, "Phone. Watch."
"Already taken care of." I tap the dashboard where a small device blinks green. "Signal jammer. Nothing gets in or out unless I let it. We're off the grid until we reach the safe house."
She nods, a flicker of respect on her face. She always valued competence. One of the things that brought us together, mutual respect for skill, careful planning, seeing ten steps ahead when most see just two.
"Callahans are planning something," she says after more silence. "Something big. That's what tonight's meeting was about."
I don't ask how she knows or why she's sharing this now. Don't question this unexpected help after so much back-and-forth. "Tell me."
"Arms shipment coming through Red Hook. Military grade. More firepower than a usual mob war needs." She rubs her temples, looking suddenly tired. "Chase isn't just trying to hurt your family. He wants to wipe you out completely. Make a statement no one in New York will forget."
I'll pass that on to Dom and Sal.
"Why tell me this?" I ask, truly curious. "If you're working for Chase—"
"I never said I was working for Chase," she interrupts, her voice sharp. "I said it's complicated."
"Complicated enough that Callahan men were about to grab you tonight? Complicated enough that you're running instead of explaining yourself to them?"
