Page 89 of Twisted Embrace

He laughed and we both felt the slowdown of the engines. I hadn’t been to Sicily in a long time, the last time when I’d still been a teenager. I’d accompanied my father to a meeting with Romano, a breaking of bread to ensure peace between the two families. There’d been talk then of having an expansion bridge built to connect with the mainland, something Romano had been completely against.

Both time and squeezes from other crime syndicates throughout the world had cut into his profits, mostly because he hadn’t adopted new methods of doing business. That had made him ruthless and untrustworthy.

“Two hours tops,” I told Dar as I flopped into the seat across from him. We’d brought thirteen soldiers with us, Dar’s lucky number. We had enough ammunition to start a war, but not enough manpower.

I’d managed to determine Romano had hired another one hundred fifty men, some he’d recruited who’d just been released from prison. Either he felt he needed more protection or was planning a battle of his own.

“You’re determined to get back to your fiancée.”

“Don’t criticize me, Dar. I watched you almost eradicate an entire region to keep Lucia safe.”

He cocked his head. “I’m not criticizing you, Enzo. I suggest you get the chip off your shoulder. The woman you’re marrying has done you some good. You’re almost human.”

Ordinarily I’d be furious, but his statement forced a chuckle from deep within. He was right. “I think you misread me.”

“I’ve already seen what lengths you’ll go to in order to keep Joy safe,” he added. “You are a fucking force to be reckoned with.”

“She’s important to our empire.” When he didn’t say anything, I threw him a glance. “Fine. She’s important to me.”

“Welcome to the land of the living where women rule.”

“Not a chance in hell,” I growled. Perhaps we both knew better.

He leaned forward, shaking his head. “You need to hear this. If anything happens to me, you need to take the helm.”

I was surprised he was that concerned, although the events in New York continued to rattle him. “We won’t allow anything to happen.”

“There’s always that chance. You and I know that better than anyone.”

I did, which is what made leaving our compound dicey at this point. However, staying hidden behind stone walls wasn’t good for our reputation, let alone our corporations. We needed to get back to business as usual or our credibility would be tanked. “I’ll handle everything if something should go wrong.”

“Good. And promise me you’ll take care of your sister and my child.”

There was something entirely different about the way he was looking at me, as if he’d already foreseen his death. “I will, Dar. With my life.”

“I believe you.”

As the flaps were lowered, I leaned forward, still antsy as fuck. “It’s time to call Romano.” We were flying into the Palermo Boccadifalco airport, one of the oldest in the country, changing our destination midflight to further avoid confrontation. While the abundance of caution might be an affront to the man, it was another risk we refused to take.

Romano’s estate was located on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western side of Sicily, but Dar had mentioned he’d already laid plans for a neutral meeting ground.

“I’ll take care of that,” Dar said. “I found a secure location twenty miles from the shore. He wouldn’t dare attack the city where his parents are buried.”

“You’re cunning, brother-in-law of mine.”

“I still have a few tricks up my sleeve,” he said as he grinned.

I laughed. “I can see you do. It will also eliminate any possibility he’ll use speedboats if we’re far from the shore.”

Dar placed his drink in the holder, a strange look in his eyes. The fact he was still consumed with thoughts of his incapacity was telling.

This was a bad decision.

“Whatever the case, we go in under the pretense he’s still a prominent member of the Five Families and we’re providing a service, even if it will be disguised as a warning.”

“Agreed.” For now.

As Dar made the call, speaking to the man in Italian, I continued to think about Joy’s concerns. No credibility could be placed on her visions, but I refused to allow my guard to drop. The entire situation reeked of sabotage, enough so I’d almost warned Romano to be careful.

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