There aren’t many times in my life I’ve seen Nico tear up. Mafia men don’t show emotion because it makes us feel weak. But as he looks over again at where his father once sat, watching the football games every Sunday, his bottom lip starts to tremble.
“Abso-fucking-lutely.”
DRIVING THROUGH THE CITY, dread settles in my stomach. There’s no describing how risky this is, or how everything could go horribly wrong in an instant, but Viola had a point. If we’re looking to catch Dmitri off guard, this is the only way to do it.
We get to the mansion shortly before the gala begins. Beni and I step out of the van first, with Nico and Roman following after. Saxon and Viola stand between the two in the back as we enter, making sure they’re completely out of view. The only way this will work is if no one else knows they’re here.
Making our way through the house, I find Mattia standing at the end of the hallway. He and Costello may have been useless when it came to finding Dmitri, but their connections to the Valentis proved valuable. He leads us straight to the security room, and the moment we enter, the two men in there get up and leave.
Beni sits down in front of the wall of screens and checks that all cameras are working while I wrap a protective arm around Saxon. When we agreed on this plan, after I gave the fight of my life against it, we did it knowing the risks. We’re either coming out hand in hand, or not at all.
Her and I, we bleed together.
“You know what you’re doing, don’t you?” I ask Viola.
She fixes her black wig in the mirror and looks at me through the reflection. “Don’t worry, Casanova. Let the women handle the dirty work.”
Saxon chuckles and leans her head against my chest.
From the back, Saxon and Viola are identical. They’re the same height with the same figures, and as long as Saxon’s hair stays covering her back, you won’t be able to see the top of her tattoo peeking out the top of her dress. It’s a good plan; that much I can’t deny. I just hope Dmitri is as unprepared as we need him to be.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Here goes nothing.
MY PALMS SWEAT AND MY heart pounds inside my chest as I watch the cameras. Seeing Dmitri socializing with others in the other room, acting like he hasn’t a care in the world, it takes everything in me not to go in there and put a bullet straight through his temple. But that would be too easy. I want to take him alive, though I’ll settle for him dead.
Roman is on the other side of the ballroom. He keeps a close eye on everything while staying inconspicuous. With so many different people roaming around, it would be almost impossible for Dmitri to pick him out.
“There she is,” Beni points out as Saxon comes into frame. She keeps her head down as she makes her way over to the bar, picking up the drink Roman ordered for her. Even the chance of the bartender noticing her as she ordered was a risk we didn’t want to take.
Picking his wives is something Dmitri takes pride in. He obsesses over them. Thinks of them as his property long before they actually belong to him. And Saxon was the first one taken away before he got the chance to destroy her, so it’s no surprise when he notices the familiar, long black hair from across the room.
She keeps her back to him as Nico talks to her through the mouth piece, instructing her on what to do. Dmitri converses with a colleague, but we watch as he keeps glancing over at Saxon, trying to be discreet as he wonders who he is looking at.
After a moment, curiosity gets the better of him and he excuses himself. As he starts to cross the room, Nico speaks into the microphone.
“He’s coming your way,” he tells her. “Do it now.”
I hold my breath as Saxon lifts her head and looks directly at him, letting Dmitri see that she’s still alive after all. He stops in his tracks, his jaw clenched and angry. The flare of his nostrils gives away his rage, but he won’t make a scene in the middle of everyone.
Saxon puts down her drink and gently pushes through the crowd of people as she heads down the hallway. Like we knew he would, Dmitri follows behind. I watch through the camera as Saxon turns the corner with Dmitri quickening his speed.
“Go now,” I tell Viola.
She leaves the room and starts walking down the hallway in the same direction. Saxon turns into the security room and shuts the door just in time for Dmitri to turn the corner. I exhale, wrapping my arms around her tightly and kissing the top of her head. She watches the cameras closely, worried about Viola as Dmitri follows her, thinking she’s Saxon.
Finally, Viola reaches the lounge and stands in front of the lit fireplace, her back to the doorway.
“Do we have an audio feed in there?” I ask Beni.
He presses a few keys and the sound kicks on just in time for Dmitri to come into the room. He looks Viola up and down, as if he can’t believe she’s standing there.
“You’re supposed to be dead,” he growls in his thick Russian accent.
Viola turns around and smirks, showing that she’s not Saxon after all. “Sorry to disappoint.”
She grabs the stun gun that was holstered to her leg and points it at him, but as she pulls the trigger, nothing happens. Her eyes widen as she does it again, only to get the same result.
It’s malfunctioning.
Shit.
Dmitri laughs as he walks toward her. In one quick move, he grabs her and puts a gun to her head, using the girl as a shield as he stares into the camera.
“Give me Saxon or she fucking dies!” He screams.
“Viola!” Saxon shrieks as Nico and Beni run out the door.
She goes to follow, but I grab her wrist and pull her back, moving to stand in front of her.
“I have to help her!” she panics.
I shake my head. “You can’t. That’s exactly what he wants.”
“But Viola!”
“Stay here,” I tell her. “We’ll get her. Just stay here.”
Shutting the door behind me, I run down the hall after Nico and Beni. The three of us press our backs to the wall and keep our guns firmly in our grip. On the count of three, we rush into the room.
I’ve seen a lot of emotions on Viola over the years. She’s always been one for the dramatics and a total firecracker. But as she stands there with Dmitri’s arm around her chest and his gun pressed to her temple, I think this is the first time I’ve seen her scared.
“Get those fucking guns off me or I’ll shoot!” he orders. “You know I will.”
Nico looks at me pleadingly, and I nod. The three of us slowly put our guns on the floor, holding our hands up.
“I want Saxon,” he tells me.
“Saxon is dead, Dmitri.” I keep my tone grim to make it sound more believable. “You ordered the hit yourself.”
“Fuck you,” he sneers. “I saw her with my own eyes. Get me Saxon, or this one is coming with me.” He grabs her chin with his free hand. “She’s not as pretty, but I’m sure her mouth will feel good once I rip all her teeth out.”
“You know I can’t let you do that. Just give her back to us, and we can all go home.”
He narrows his eyes on me. “You think I’m a fucking idiot? Give me Saxon, now!”
Pulling the gun away from Viola’s temple, he fires a shot at Beni, striking him in the upper arm. My eyes widen as I watch him go down, groaning in pain. I swear, if this motherfucker takes the life of another person I care about…