Page 46 of The Secrets We Keep

She’d promised him that first night they were together that she was his until their last breaths. And whatever he had to say to convince her he meant it, he would say it. He refused to lose her a second time.

Chapter Twenty-One

Luca pocketed his phone as he strode into the study, eyebrows winging up when he saw the men they’d chosen for today’s mission already gathered.

“Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence.”

Luca’s eyes narrowed on Matteo’s face. “I’m five minutes early.”

Matteo waved a dismissive hand toward one of the couches. “For once. Have a seat. We’re still waiting on Dom to do the final rundown.”

“No, we’re not,” Luca replied, sliding his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I told him not to come.”

“Out,” Matteo snarled, and the men quickly rose and made their way to the door. “You too,” he added when Alexei didn’t move.

“Oh, absolutely not,” Alexei replied, twirling his knife between his fingers. “I’m staying to watch the show.”

Matteo glared at him for a few more moments, but when Alexei didn’t relent, he turned his irritation on Luca, and it sparked into anger. “Why the fuck would you tell Dom not to come? He’s the one running this op today.”

“Because Dom is busy in Agrigento. Now’s not a good time for him to be absent from the territory, and I’m perfectly capable of running this one.”

Matteo snorted. “You. Since when do you run ops?”

“Since you fucked off to God knows where and gave me no choice but to step in.” A deep scowl creased Matteo’s brow, but Luca ignored it. “I’ve run plenty of ops, killed plenty of men, and settled plenty of scores. All while keeping this family’s financial interests afloat. Which is more than I can say for you.”

Matteo stalked to the middle of the room until he and Luca were nose to nose. “Watch what you fucking say to me. At some point, little brother,” Matteo said, emphasizing the word little, “you’ll have to forgive me for my past transgressions.”

“Forgiveness comes with honesty. And we’re in short supply of both.” Luca made a show of checking the time on his watch. “We’ve got a tight window. You can continue to waste time on an argument you’ll lose, or we can do the final rundown and get going. Your choice.”

“Alexei can lead this one,” Matteo countered.

“He could. He won’t.”

Matteo glanced at Alexei, who still sat on the couch twirling his knife, a lopsided grin on his face as he watched. “Fine,” Matteo bit off. “Get in here!” he bellowed, turning back and reclaiming his place in front of the desk as the men filed back in.

Once everyone was seated again, Luca turned to the expectant group. He’d worked alongside these men numerous times. They were steady, reliable, efficient, lethal. That’s why he’d chosen them.

“We’re going to run this one the same way we did the job in Naples two years ago.” Luca ignored the look of surprise on Matteo’s face. “Cause an accident, confiscate the weapons, leave no survivors.”

“We’re sure the shipment timing or location hasn’t changed?”

Luca glanced at Matteo but addressed the men. “My contact is keeping an eye on it. They said it’s still slated to leave on time. Which should be right about”—he confirmed the time on his watch—“now. We’re running a little behind, but if we make good time, we should still be able to be in place to intercept.”

The men began to get up and then hesitated, glancing at Matteo, who waved them out of their seats. Luca followed them to the door, pausing when Matteo called his name.

“Don’t do anything stupid and get yourself killed. It’ll be tedious running Gallo Industries without you.”

Rolling his eyes, Luca followed Alexei into the hall and outside to the waiting SUVs. Climbing into the backseat of the second car, he pulled out his phone and fired off a quick text to Sienna. She was working from home today and keeping an eye on this shipment for them.

Truck just left the warehouse. No changes.

Thanks, baby girl. I’ll text you when it’s done.

Luca slid his phone back into his pocket and looked up to see Alexei staring at him, one eyebrow raised. The cars pulled out of the driveway, and they rode in silence, winding their way across the island.

Dom was technically closer to their intercept point, but it was true he couldn’t be spared in Agrigento. Not for something as simple as this. And they’d timed it perfectly. The only snag in the plan would be if the ferry from the mainland where the shipment was coming from got delayed, and all that meant was they’d be waiting a little longer to execute. Hardly the end of the world.

The truck was headed from a Gallo warehouse on mainland Italy to a tourist port located in Antonetti’s Syracuse territory. The port was used for personal vessels. Sailboats and yachts and shit like that.

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