Gianni's eyes darken. "I don't know who was in their vehicle. But if Uberto wasn't, he better run. Because I'm coming after him, and I'm not stopping until he's dead."
17
Gianni
"Where's he at?"I fume in Italian. The Abruzzos ambushing us in broad daylight is a clear sign they got the memo.
The war is on.
Rules we all usually follow no longer exist.
No one is safe.
Luca relays, "We still haven't located him. My guess is he ran from New York. He'd be a bigger fool than we thought if he's still in the city."
My pulse continues pounding. I sniff hard, watching Cara pack the few items she needs to take from her office. "I want him brought to me immediately. You don't stop looking until he's in my custody, got it?"
"On it," Luca assures me.
I hang up and step into Cara's personal office. "We shouldn't hang around here very long. What else do you need?"
She shakes her head. "This is it."
I kiss her head and try to appear calm. The last thing I want is for her to be scared. She's already been through enough. And while she's always been a strong woman, I worry about how the past week's events could have mental consequences for her.
She gives me a brave smile. "Ready?"
I kiss her head again then grab the laptop bag off her desk. "Yeah. Let's go. The same rules apply as when we came in here. You don't step outside until I give you the all clear."
Worry floods her blue orbs, but I don't stop to acknowledge it. After what happened earlier, being in public with her isn't helping me calm down.
I lead her through the building then wait to get the all-clear signal from my driver Manny. Once he gives it, I step in front of Cara. My bodyguard Sandro goes behind her, and we quickly get into the SUV. More anger erupts when I catch a glimpse of the bullet hole in the corner fender.
The ride home is quiet. No one speaks. I keep my arm tight around my tesoro, counting so many times to one hundred that I lose track.
They tried to kill my tesoro.
Again.
Manny pulls up to the front of the house. I guide Cara inside to find Papà waiting for us in the foyer. We lock eyes for a brief moment before he pins his gaze on my tesoro. He puts his hands on her shoulders. "Cara, do you need anything?"
She forces a smile and shakes her head. "No, Angelo. I'm okay." She nervously glances at me. "I'm going to your office to work, if that's all right?"
"Of course. I'll check on you when I return."
She arches her eyebrows. "Return?"
"I need to meet Rubio at the docks."
"Oh. Ummm...is it safe right now?"
The truth is, I don't know what's safe or not. We're at war. Nothing will allow me to drop my guard until every Abruzzo is dead. Still, I don't want Cara worrying about this. And our house is the safest place she could be right now. I kiss her on the lips then claim, "Everything is fine. You don't need to worry about me. Go do your work, and I'll find you when I'm back."
She hesitates for a moment then puts her hand on my cheek. "Be careful."
"I will. Go on," I order, motioning for her to go to our wing of the house.
She obeys. Papà and I watch her until she gets to the top of the staircase and disappears down the hall. He turns, and we go into his office.