Page 96 of Unwilling Vow (Mafia Marriages 4)

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Jace

“They’ll be expecting us,” I say to Matteo as we study the blueprints for the Caruso complex.

“Yes, but my source tells me they have a dog fight scheduled for midnight, off-site. Luka isn’t likely to attend. His second and a dozen of his men will be taking bets and monitoring the crowd. It should give us the advantage if we wait until his men leave the compound.”

I hope he’s right. I’ve never known Luka to be into dogfighting, but anything that involves a glorious payday and illegal activities he’s interested in investing in.

“I don’t want to leave our compound weak. We still have my daughter upstairs,” I remind Matteo and the capos. We need to make sure this place is a fortress before we strike an attack.

“We could put your family into one of the prison cells. The walls are impenetrable, and if you have the key, no one else could get to them,” Ryder says.

He’s one of the youngest capos who has worked his way up the ladder in a short time. He’s also an idiot if he thinks I’m putting my newborn daughter inside a metal cage.

“I ought to shoot you for that suggestion,” I say, glaring at Ryder.

Imprisoning my family isn’t an option to keep them safe. Being locked inside the compound ought to keep them protected.

“My apologies, Don Barone,” Ryder says, quick to apologize for his brash and stupid comment.

I ignore his eagerness. He’s young. Foolish. And he is probably looking to further his career. If he’s not careful, he’ll end up dead tonight.

Matteo clears his throat. “You have two of the most experienced guards looking after your daughter, Sir. I assure you that even with our soldiers making an attack, the house will be impenetrable.”

“You’re willing to risk your life on that promise?” I ask, meeting Matteo’s stare.

I trust the man, but if my family ends up dead, someone will have to pay. I want to know that without a doubt, when I leave to order the hit on Luka, my family at the compound remains safe and out of harm’s way.

His eyes flinch before he speaks.

Even Matteo realizes it’s not a promise that he can guarantee.

“That’s what I thought. I want the guards doubled upstairs outside of the nursery. Four men are making sure my daughter is safe.”

“And what about your—Olivia?” Matteo asks.

“She is under my protection as long as she follows the rules. The minute she puts Astrid in harm’s way, kill her.”

I don’t fuck around.

Do I care about Olivia?

Significantly, but I’m not about to risk my daughter’s life to a woman who could betray me. She hasn’t proven to me beyond a doubt that she is trustworthy. It’s why I had her phone removed from her possession. I don’t trust that she won’t reach out to Luka and warn him that we’re coming.

“Yes, Sir.” Matteo doesn’t argue because he knows that I’m right.

* * *

I don’t say goodbye. Not to Astrid, and certainly not to Olivia.

Saying goodbye means that I may not make it back.

That’s not an option because my daughter needs me. I’m her father.

We surround Caruso’s compound as best we can. It’s on the water, which means we have to make sure he can’t flee on his boat.

Matteo heads around back with six soldiers. They have orders to light the boat on fire, but not before we breach the walls and enter the complex.

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