"Negative. Everything is clear."
I process this information. Frank came alone. No backup. No Feds. Either he's monumentally stupid or this is about something more personal than I realized.
"What's the play, Boss?" Roman asks.
I check my watch. We've been observing for seven minutes.
Frank is expecting me, based on what Antonio said.
That means he’s poised to kill me.
But Gabriella apparently said she and Frank knew what I was doing, which means she’s playing her part as Blackwood’s informant.
I need to use that.
“I’m walking in.”
“Marco, don’t be?—"
“Just back me up.”
"Understood." But Roman’s tone tells me he hates my idea. Too damn bad. I’m tired of all the bullshit.
Moving silently across the gravel, I approach the building.
Through a broken window, I catch a glimpse inside.
She’s standing in the middle of the room, her eyes on a gun trained on her.
Relief floods through me that she’s alive, but it’s quickly replaced by cold fury at the sight of Frank's weapon pointed in her direction.
I force myself to breathe, to think.
"In position," Roman confirms.
"Going in.”
I slip into the warehouse through a side entrance, my footsteps deliberately heavy.
Frank whips around at the sound, his gun wavering between me and Gabriella.
Her eyes widen in fear and relief.
"Took you long enough," Frank calls out, a nervous edge to his voice. He’s afraid of me. Good.
"Your girlfriend here was starting to think you wouldn't show,” Frank finishes.
I want to rush him and beat the ever living shit out of him.
Instead, I force a cold smile. "She's not my girlfriend, Frank. She just thought she could play with the big boys. Looks like she’s about to get you burned."
Gabriella flinches slightly. God, I hope she understands what I'm doing.
“Don’t fuck with me, Calabresi. I know you’re trying to ruin Antonio and seduced his whore daughter to help you.”
I hear Roman gasp through my earpiece.
He’s probably expecting me to drop Frank right then and there, but his gun is in her direction.