“It’s damn good security,” Curt says, still staring at his computer. “I have it up on the laptop, thanks to a late-night email from Ivie.”
“Wasn’t easy to find,” Ivie mutters with a mutinous frown. “Bastards.”
“I have a plan in place, and I’ll go over it with everyone,” Curt says and nods at Carlo.
“Excellent. While my boys and I are talking with Benji inside, you’ll all take out Benji’s men. And once inside, Igor, Mick, and Maceo will have plenty of time to get more answers before extinguishing the Carlitos and their bloodline. They will never be an issue for any organization ever again.”
“How do we know that they’re behind everything?” Nadia asks thoughtfully.
“They’re the common denominator,” Mick replies. “Crime families own up to what they do. If I have a beef with someone and have them killed, I’ll admit it. I don’t hide. No one claimed to have issues with any of the families killed over the past few weeks. No one.”
“And the Carlitos haven’t said a word,” Igor adds.
“How many Carlitos are there?” Ivie asks. “We’ve only heard of Benji. We know he’s young, only in his early twenties, and his father didn’t have an interest in the family business after his grandfather died.”
“We know that Benji is trying to run things.” Mick rolls his eyes. “He’s a fucking kid. His grandfather died twenty-five years ago.”
“Who’s Benji’s father?” Carmine asks.
“Francisco,” Carlo says. “Francisco Carlito. He was never one to be in the forefront of things. Happy to sit in his father’s shadow. And when his father died, we all assumed the family went to sleep.”
“They never slept,” Maceo says. “They’re just good at working underground.”
“Is Francisco dead?” Ivie asks.
“We think so,” Igor says. “We believe that Francisco’s death is what propelled Benji into action.”
“But it’s not been confirmed that Francisco is dead.” Rafe crosses his arms. “There are too many unanswered questions.”
“That’s what today is for,” Carlo reminds him. “Now, Curt, tell us your plan for getting inside and ambushing their security, and let’s finish this mission.”
“I don’t like this.” I’m sitting between Ivie and Nadia in the van, ready to jump out and set Curt’s plan into motion.
It’s a damn good scheme.
We watch as the four men walk down a driveway and up onto a wide front porch.
“Is it just me, or does something feel off?”
“It’s not just you,” Ivie says.
“I feel it,” Nadia says, her eyes pinned to Carmine’s back. “We’re missing something here. There’s a hole in all of this, and I don’t like it.”
I check my earpiece and hear Uncle Igor in my ear when he says, “They’re in. Let’s go.”
Curt’s in the lead, with Nadia right behind him, followed by Maceo, Uncle Igor, the Sergis, Ivie, and me. Once we’re near the fence line, we web out, ready to neutralize the security and get inside.
We all want answers.
Chapter 18
~Rafe~
“Remember,” Pop mutters as we approach the front door, “we’re going to make it seem like this is a friendly visit.”
“Right.” Shane’s voice is cool and hard. “I’m sure we look friendly. Their security has already figured out we’re here.”
“We will be nice until it’s time to not be nice,” Pop replies and presses the doorbell.
“Well, it’s about time you got here.”
A young guy answers. Looks to be early twenties. Spoiled. Weak.
I could take this kid out with my pinky finger.
“Was traffic bad from the airport or something?” he asks.
“Hello, Mr. Carlito,” Pop says. “I’m Carlo Martinelli.”
“I know who you are. By all means, come on in. I can’t wait to see this show.”
Benji steps back and gestures for us to enter.
“Oh, by the way, go ahead and leave your weapons at the door,” he adds.
“You’re cute,” Carmine replies with a toothy grin. “And I don’t think so.”
We file past Benji, who’s lost his cocky smile, and walk into a living room where my father stops cold.
“Hello, Carlo.”
“Claudia?” Pop gasps in surprise. I look at Carmine and then narrow my eyes at the woman sitting in a high-backed chair, her dark hair swept back from her face, her legs crossed, her eyes cool and calm. “My God, have they had you here all these years? Held you against your will?”
She cocks her head to the side and then starts laughing as if she just heard the funniest joke of all time.
“Oh, Carlo. Grow the fuck up. Of course, they haven’t been holding me against my will.” My father stiffens beside me. “Why don’t you all sit down? We’ll have a nice family reunion. I’ll tell you everything. I’ve been champing at the bit for years to tell you all about my adventures down here in Texas.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Curt slip silently against the wall and give Shane a signal.
All clear.
“Oh, just let your friends come inside, as well. I always did love an audience.”
“Wait, there’s more?” Benji asks in disgust as the others file in. My heart calms when I see that Annika is unscathed.
Her eyes are haunted, however.
She killed.
She’ll never be the same.
“Oh. Well, look at you,” Claudia says to Annika. “You look so different with clothes on.”
Igor moves up behind Annika, Ivie, and Nadia as I glare at my aunt.
“You were behind the blackmail,” I say.
“Rafe,” Claudia says with a small smile. “You grew up to be a handsome man. All three of you did. Of course, I blackmailed her. She spread her legs for literally any man who asked. The Tarenkovs should know who they have in their family. It’s disgraceful. In fact, the Tarenkovs have a lot of bad eggs. It was just so easy to lure Alexander away. To get him to start the drug arm of things. He was eager to defy his father. And let’s be honest, he flat-out hated his pretty little sister. Of course, I can understand sibling rivalry.”
Claudia turns to Pop and winks.
“You’re going to die today,” Igor says coldly. “For what you did to my family and for much more than that. How does it feel to know that your life can now be measured by mere minutes?”
“Oh, please. I’m not dying today. You all might think that you took out my security outside, but I have plenty more where they came from, don’t you worry.” She turns to Pop with a smile. “I must say, I have missed you, brother. You’ve aged well. How is Flavia? Still weak and whiny?”
“Cut the family reunion bullshit and get to it,” Carmine says and raises a brow at Benji when the other man steps toward him. “Oh, I dare you.”
“Stop with the dramatics,” Claudia says impatiently. “Carlo, I’d like to introduce you to your nephew. My son, Benji.”