Page 51 of Cherished Union

“Oh, Aldo, you’re seriously delusional. The only thing I regret is not putting a gun to your head a long time ago.”

“You won’t kill me. Adelina will hate you if you do.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m pretty sure my wife will thank me. And just so you know, by the time we’re finished, you’ll lose everything,” I promise them as I throw a punch, some of the tension leaves my body as I hear the sound of bones and cartilage breaking. Blood gushes from his nose as Natalia cries. This is only the beginning. “I’ll be seeing you real soon, Aldo.” It takes everything in me to leave this house with him alive, but I know his time isn’t yet. It will be soon, but not yet.

Today, I have other things to do.

Jade, Rocco, and my da are already gone. They’re getting into position, ready to put our plan into action.

“My men are in position,” Rocco tells me as Cody and I reach the restaurant Garrant owns—a place that currently has fifteen of his men eating inside. Today we make a statement. One that will not be ignored.

“Ours are too,” Jade says. She, too, is on her cell.

Everything’s ready to go down, and I smile. It’s time to make the Masters’ world crumble.

I reach for my cell and call Lewis. “We’re in position, boss.”

I nod to Jade and Rocco. “Do it,” I instruct, just as my sister and her husband do.

I end the call, and we wait, our guns ready. It doesn’t take long. The men inside the restaurant start piling out. Jade, Rocco, Da, Cody, and I start taking them out one by one, our bullets hitting them either in their heads or chests. We’re not leaving a man alive.

“You’ve sent a message,” Da tells me. “One that Garrant and the rest of the world can’t miss. You mean business, son, and that’s going to make Garrant nervous.”

“He killed Killian and he killed Viviana. What do you say I should have done?” I ask with a raised brow. “Had I taken out Garrant, Lila or one of his men would have wanted revenge. This way, we take them all out, and when it’s done, we can live our lives knowing there’s no one who can get revenge.”

“Ruthless, son,” he says with a proud smile. “But you’re right, this way, there are no comebacks. We take them out and we breathe easy.”

Hell yes we will. Adelina will know that the people who killed her sister are no longer alive. She can feel relief in knowing they’re gone.

Now it’s time to go home to my wife.

CHAPTER20

ADELINA

“News coming in to us tonight is that there’s been multiple shootings in both Chicago and Indianapolis.”

I glance up at the TV at the news anchor's words. My eyes glue to the screen, where they’re showing us footage of what is now a crime scene.

“So far, the official death toll is forty-seven. With many more to be uncovered. The shootings occurred in multiple locations between the two cities. Widespread panic has ensued, and the police have asked us to report that the public shouldn’t be alarmed, that they have everything under control. Many believe these shootings have occurred in an act of revenge. That it is between two feuding families in the organized crime underworld. Some of the victims have been named locally as being employees of alleged crime boss Garrant Masters.”

I stare at the screen in shock. A slow smile plays on my lips as I remember the vow Hayden made me while I held Vivi in my arms.“I’m going to find out who did this, Dove, and they’re going to pay.”

By the looks of what’s playing out on the screen, he’s made true on his vow. I just hope that this is the end of them all. I hate them. Despise them. They killed Vivi and Killian. Two people that meant so much to Hayden and me. The people who set the bombs didn’t care about the casualties the bombs would bring. Including some of Hayden and Liam’s men.

I should have protected Viviana. I should have shielded her from the pain she felt when the explosion rocketed through the house. Instead, she died alone. By the time I managed to crawl to her, she was already gone. I hate that she suffered alone before she died, that she was scared. I should have done more. It was my job to protect her. My job to keep her safe. And I failed.

My cell buzzes with a message. I see Gabby’s name flash on the screen and smile. I miss my friend. I met her when I was getting the club open. She owns the gallery next door and we hit it off right away. She’s really sweet, as is her little boy. He’s three and the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Gabby: Just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing.

Me: Better.

Gabby: Baby steps, Ade. Take it one day at a time. I’d love to visit with you. Let me know a date and I’ll bring Anthony with me.

I smile. That sounds good. Even though I’m scared to leave the house, Gabby and her son, Anthony, have stopped by. They wouldn’t take no for an answer. They’ve both seen me with my scar and neither of them looked at me as though I’m an ugly freak.

Me: How about Friday?

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