Page 8 of The Beast

CHAPTER4

ALESSANDRO

We travel to the city in convoy. The usual black cars with tinted windows, armed and deadly to anyone who crosses our path. Passing cops look the other way and even the traffic lights change to let us through. The mafia is in town and God help anyone who stands in our way.

As my grandfather’s successor, I travel in the car three back from his. My own consigliere is seated beside the driver in front, allowing me some much-needed time on my own.

Taking the opportunity, I pull out my phone and check in with the boss.

“Angelo.”

His deep voice offers me comfort, but I detect a note of anxiety as he says quickly,“Is the plan in motion?”

“We’re on our way. Are you ready?”

“We’re all in position.”

He falters and I know if I’m emotional, Angelo must be ten times worse because Winter is not just his sister, she’s his twin. Part of the same embryo and as close as two people can be and he says gruffly,“I’m relying on you, Beast.”

He reminds me who I am, and I growl, “I won’t let you down.”

After a moment’s silence, I say urgently, “What about The Savage?”

“In position.”

“And The Angel?”

“Running the business operation.”

“The Demon?”

“Monitoring the situation and organizing the troops.”

“Then it’s happening.”

So many years of planning have led to this point, and Angelo obviously feels it too as he says in a softer tone,“Good luck, my friend. I know you will bring her back to me.”

He cuts the call, probably because emotion was getting in the way and neither of us needs that right now.

As I settle back in my seat, I think about my friends all playing their parts in bringing Winter home. Ever since our days at Rockwell Academy we have been planning this. Initially, the plan was to escape our hated fathers and carve out our own path in life. Then Winter was stolen, and it became much more.

Angelo was the first to kill his father and take control of the Sontauro family. Then Flynn married Louisa and earned the support of her father and godfather, the Columbian drugs baron Pedro Carlos.

Then Ivan kidnapped Charlotte, Massimo’s stolen daughter, supplying us with the secret weapon to bring him down.

Angelo is on his way to Massimo’s home. Flynn is covering his businesses and every home and asset Massimo owns is about to be taken from him with the help of several families who have pledged their allegiance to us.

Ivan and Charlotte have a special job to do and, along with my grandfather, I’m the one responsible for taking the man himself out.

I am trying so hard not to think of Winter. So many times I have imagined seeing her again. Has she changed? Will she still be the woman I’ve held tenderly in my mind? I remember her soft body against mine and the way her eyes lit up when she saw me. The taste of her and the pleasure of tearing through her virginity and discovering a place I was immediately at home. I fell in love with Winter long before I claimed her greatest gift. That just reinforced the fact we were meant to be together. How will I react when she walks into Scarpetta? I can’t let emotion control me today. My grandfather was right about that because it could blow this whole plan apart.

* * *

As my grandfather’scar cuts free from ours and is flanked by one before and after it, my own is escorted to Scarpetta to take our places for the show.

We have worked tirelessly going over the plans a hundred times over, allowing for any eventuality and yet I can’t shake the anxiety from clouding my mind. Itmustwork, failure is not an option and as we stop outside the restaurant, Tommaso, my consigliere, wrenches open the door and says coolly, “Sir.”

I merely nod and step outside into the sunshine, looking a strange sight dressed all in black, my dark hair scraped back into a ponytail and the matching silk shirt and tie in place, looking so wrong against the heat of the day.