by Ella Jade
“So you can run back into the line of fire?” He folded his arms over his chest. “No way.”
“I have to find Nadia.” I pointed toward the street. “She was with me and then she was gone. I think someone grabbed her.”
“Christopher has her.”
“Christopher?” What the hell? We had a guard on her but why did he separate us? “Where did he take her?”
“To your father’s house.” He moved me into the lobby away from the windows. “We had a plan in place in case of an emergency.”
“An emergency? I thought this was all resolved.” I slammed my hand against the wall. “I knew Dominick was holding back. Why didn’t you tell me there was a possibility of retaliation?”
“We all thought it was resolved but your brother briefed us on what to do if something like this happened.” He perused the office. “We can get out through the parking garage. The SUV is there.”
“Where is Nadia?”
“Christopher took her to his car. He’ll get her to your parents’ house.”
“Why wouldn’t he have taken shelter in here? It was too risky to run her through the streets.” I looked out of the windows. “The shooting has stopped. I’m going after her.”
“Like hell you are.” Tommy blocked my path to the door. “You are my responsibility.”
“What about Nadia? We were supposed to protect her.”
“We are.”
“You don’t know if she’s okay.” I reached for my cell. “Damn it! She got a new phone today but I don’t have her number yet.” Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I headed for the door. “We need to find her.”
“You need to listen to me.” He held me back. “I’m not letting you onto that street. We’ll go through the garage. We need to move now before they start closing the streets and we’re stuck in the city. You’re best bet to get to Nadia is to listen to me. She’s probably en route. If you screw around here, you’ll never get to her.”
“You’re sure.”
“Have I ever failed you?”
“No,” I admitted. “You haven’t.”
“Then let me do my job and get you out of here.”
“Fine.” I followed him to the staircase that led to the garage. “How are you so familiar with this building?”
“Dominick sent me the floor plans last night. He didn’t want to take any chances.”
“It would have been nice if you let me in on the plan.”
“It was precautionary. None of us thought we’d have to act and not so soon after the meeting.”
As we headed to the car, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen. “It’s Dominick.”
Tommy opened the car door for me, gazing around the garage. “Get in and then tell him you’re safe and we’re on our way.”
“Dominick,” I answered as I slid into the backseat.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “What’s happening?”
“You tell me.”
“We have men on it. We’re trying to figure out who the gunmen are. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. We’re heading toward the tunnel now. I don’t have Nadia’s cell. We were separated. Can you find out if she’s okay?”
“I’m sure Chris got her out. He’s probably on his way here now.”
“I thought you said everything was taken care of.”
“It was supposed to be.”
“Then why the fuck were people shooting at me?”
I thought back to a time in my childhood when we were in the city for dinner and someone came after one of my father’s associates. We were in the restaurant and only heard the gun shots from a distance. The guards got us out quickly. I was young but I realized then how dangerous my father’s job was.
“Vince, I’m sorry. I should’ve been more alert. I didn’t think Antonio would strike back like this. Something doesn’t add up but I’m going to figure it out.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Is he on his way home?” my father yelled in the background.
“Yes,” Dominick answered. “He’ll be here soon. Tommy got him out of there.”
“He never should have been there.” More yelling from my father.
“I take it Dad is upset.” I heard the rage in his voice.
“That’s an understatement. We’ll talk when you get here.”
“Do me a favor?” I asked.
“Anything.”
“Get in touch with Christopher. Make sure Nadia is with him and she’s okay.”
“I will.” There was shouting in the background. This time it sounded like my mother ripping my father a new one. “I’ll text you when I know something. I have to go defuse this situation. Mom is not happy.”
When I ended the call, my eyes connected with Tommy’s in the rearview mirror. “Thank you for getting me out of there.”
“I know you’re upset with me.”
“You were doing your job. If you failed at it, I might be dead, and my father would kill you, so I understand.”
“Christopher is one of the best. He’s ex-military. A SEAL. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”
“I hope you’re right.” I rested my head on the back of the seat. “Because if anything does happen to her there will be hell to pay.”
“VINCENZO.” MY MOTHER met me in the foyer, hugging and kissing me. “My boy.”
“Don’t worry.” I hugged her as my father joined us. “Not a scratch on me.”
“This is unacceptable.” I saw the stress in his expression. “Dominick and Gianni know it. They’re in my study trying to figure out what our next move will be.”
“Dear God!” My mother rubbed her temples. “You promised that when it was time for you to retire things would be peaceful for our kids. They have to get married and have children of their own. How can they do that if they’re fighting these senseless age old wars?”
“We were at peace,” he yelled. “It’s been years since something like this has occurred.”
Dominick and Gianni came into the foyer as our dad spoke.
“None of this should be happening but what’s done is done.”
“Dad,” Dominick said. “We don’t know for certain who was behind that ambush.”
“We know.” My dad nodded with such certainty. “Now we must take care of it.”
“I don’t want to be part of this conversation.” I didn’t want to be part of any of this but here I was, dodging bullets and being whisked away by my bodyguard. “The less I know about your retaliation plans the better.”
“I agree,” Gianni said. “You might be happy to know Chris and Nadia just came through the gates.”
“Thank God.” I opened the front door as the car pulled into the driveway. For the first time since the bullets started flying, I breathed relief. Meeting them on the porch, Nadia ran to me.
“Vincenzo.” She hugged me, trembling in my arms. “You’re okay.”
“Me? Yes, I’m fine.” I stepped back and looked her over. “I was going crazy when we got separated. Are you okay?”
“Yes.” She sobbed. “I didn’t know if you’d been hit. I was so scared.”
I took her face between my hands and kissed her, holding back nothing. The saltiness of her tears coated her lips as I comforted her with mine. “I’m sorry this happened,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“This is all my fault.” She held onto me. “Not yours.”
“Why is that?” Dominick joined us on the porch.
“Dominick.” Why was he so relentless when it came to her? “Not now.”
“I’m curious to what Nadia’s take is on all of this. Why were people shooting at her?”
“How should I know?” she challenged him. “This is your world, not mine.”
“It wasn’t Vincenzo’s world until you came into it. He’s managed to go thirty years without being shot at. Most of those years he lived under this roof. He meets you and all hell breaks loose. Why do you suppose that is?”
“Dominick,” I warned. “Stop it.”
“He’s right,” she mumbled.
“This has been a stressful evening.” I held her close to me. “You can’t blame Nadia for what Antonio has done.”
“Come inside,” my father said. “Nadia, I’m glad you’re fine but Dominick is right, if you know something, anything about that night you were on the docks, please don’t withhold it from us. We’re trying to help you.”
“I appreciate that but I’ve told you what I saw that night. I don’t want to be caught up in this.” She looked at me with desperate eyes. “I don’t know anything.”
“I believe you.” I took her hand and followed my father back into the house.
“I’m going to have to get you both back to the safe house,” Gianni said. “We should leave soon.”
“No!” Nadia let go of my hand. “I have a life. I can’t keep running away.”
“If you don’t run away.” Dominick stood in front of her. “You won’t have a life.”
“I have a business to run.” She pleaded. “I can’t leave again.”
“If you weren’t strolling around on the docks none of this would be happening.” Dominick shook his head. “How’s that for a fact?”
“Maybe if you people didn’t use violence as a solution I could walk on the docks and not worry about witnessing a murder.”
“You people?” Dominick yelled. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“We’ll go to my place,” I offered. “There’s security in the building. Tommy and Chris can come with us. You can take the necessary precautions to protect her.”
“Now is not the time for you to negotiate a compromise,” Gianni said. “The safe house is your best bet.”
“Nadia.” I ignored my brother. “Can you have your staff work from home the next few days? We can arrange to have them set up with whatever they need. I’m sure we could even put them in a central location so they can work together.” I looked to Dominick. “You could make that happen.”
“My staff!” The panic was evident in her eyes. “Some of them were still in the building.”
“Everyone is fine,” Gianni informed her. “We got them out. It’s also been reported that there were no casualties on the street either.”
“This was just a botched attempt?” she asked.
“This was a message,” Dominick said. “One we haven’t received in a very long time.”
“I’m sorry I’ve caused this conflict for your family.” Nadia turned to me. “If I could stop it I would.”
“We know that.” I assured her. “This is out of your control.”
When her phone rang, she took it from her pocket. “It’s my mother. She probably knows that shooting occurred outside my building. She’s called three times. Adele has too. I have to let them know I’m all right.”
“You can’t tell them you’re involved in any of this,” Dominick said. “You can’t put anyone else in danger.”
“That’s the last thing I want to do.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “Can I take these calls? I’ll tell my staff to stay home tomorrow and we can discuss how we move forward.”
“I’ll take you to the kitchen.” My mother put her arm around Nadia’s back. “This night has been horrible. Mama Stella has brewed some coffee. She can make a pot of tea if you’d rather.”
“I think I’d like a glass of wine if that’s okay?” Nadia shrugged. “It’s one of those nights.”
“I could use one too.” My mother led her down the hall. “We’ll leave all of this nonsense to the men since they’re the ones who made this mess.”
“What the hell is your problem?” I yelled at Dominick once my mother led Nadia away. “She’s a victim in all of this.”
“I hope you’re right,” he said. “Because she could get you killed.”
“That’s not going to happen,” I insisted. “Find out why they ambushed us tonight.”
“I’m already on it.” Dominick glared at me. “I’d feel better if you’d go to the safe house.”
“Nadia is right, we can’t keep running.” I hated being in the middle of this conflict. I wanted to protect Nadia but I knew Dominick was right. She shouldn’t be out in the open until all of this was resolved.
“I’ll arrange for security in Vince’s building.” Gianni took out his phone. “At least you can get work done and your associates can come and go. No one gets into your place unless they are screened.”
“Do whatever you have to do to keep her safe.”
“I’m more concerned about keeping you safe.” Dominick took out his ringing phone and glanced at the screen. “I have to take this. I’ll be in the study.” He stormed down the hall. There was no reasoning with him when he was like this but at least he wasn’t forcing me to go to the safe house.
“Don’t worry about him.” Gianni patted my back. “Go have a glass of wine with your girl while we figure this out.”
“I thought it was already figured out.”
Chapter Seventeen
NADIA
I Have to Tell You Something
I couldn’t believe this was happening. How had I gotten myself mixed up in all of this? As I rode the elevator up to Vincenzo’s place, I wondered how long we would be held captive here.
“I’m sorry you’re caught up in this.” He took my hand and led me into his apartment. Tommy and Christopher stayed in the lobby to brief security. “I really thought it was over.”
“This isn’t your fault.” I gazed around the massive setting, admiring how spectacular it was. “That view.” I went to the windows that surrounded half the room. “You can see the whole city from up here.”
“That was the selling point.”
“Your home is beautiful.”
“It looks like we’re stuck together again.” He came up from behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Not that I’m complaining but how long do you think we’ll be held hostage?”
“You were shot at.” He kissed the back of my neck. “Whatever you witnessed in that warehouse they don’t want you to repeat.”
“I told you what I witnessed.” I turned to face him. “If Franco hadn’t chased me, I probably wouldn’t have been able to identify him. None of this would be happening.” None of this would be happening if I hadn’t been there in the first place. “I don’t even know who the victim was that night.”
“Tony Ricci,” he said. “A small time thug with a mediocre wrap sheet. He’d been hanging around Franco the last year doing jobs for him. Tony liked to brag about it to impress people in the clubs. Dominick thinks he may have talked about something he shouldn’t have and that got him killed.”
I thought back to that horrid night on the docks. The conversation taking place in the loft of the warehouse had meant little to me.
“Did you think you were going to get away with it? We have people everywhere.”
“No, of course not. I didn’t betray your family,” Tony defended. “It’s not what you think.”
“My father doesn’t see it that way,” Franco said.
“Please, let me explain.” He begged for his life but I didn’t know that at the time. Maybe I could have intervened. Saved him?
“There’s nothing to explain. You were warned not to screw this up. You can’t be trusted.”
“They killed him for talking too much?”
“The night he was killed, he was in a club making noise about how he’d done a job for Antonio and he was certain he would soon move up in the ranks.” He led me over to the couch. “There are plenty of unwritten rules in that particular business but one of the most important ones is you don’t talk about what you do.”
“How do you live in a world like this?” If things had gone differently for my mother, would I have been exposed to that life too? “Didn’t you know it wasn’t normal when you were growing up?”
He propped my legs in his lap. “It was the only life I knew. We were close and protect
ive of one another. We spent a lot of time together because my father didn’t always allow outsiders in. We had cousins, aunts, and uncles. The bodyguards were a presence from the day I was born. We’re even friends with their kids. Nothing seemed out of place.”
“What about when you went to school?” I tried to imagine his life as a child. “Didn’t the other kids wonder? Ask questions?”
“We went to private school with several influential people’s kids. Senators, lawyers, judges.”
“How ironic.”
“Not really.” He shrugged. “Some of them were on my father's payroll.”
The more I learned, the happier I was that my mother managed to get away from all of this but now I was right in the middle of it. When she heard about the shooting, I had to assure her that it was a freak thing. She had no reason to believe anyone would be shooting at me.
“When I went to college, it was a little harder to conceal my identity. When I was a kid, tensions between rival families were running high. I already told you that my uncle was murdered. My family was on the news and in the paper on a regular basis. Most people knew who I was so they didn’t make a big deal about it.”
“It still must have been difficult for you.”
“Going through law school, it was tough. Some professors wanted to make a case study of my father and others were afraid I’d be a bad influence and tarnish the law school’s reputation. It was then that I tried to distance myself from my family.”
“I can’t imagine you doing that.”
“I lived in Massachusetts away from the New York crime syndicate. I didn’t come home as often as my mother would have liked but I was finding myself. Although Tommy was with me, I felt free. Like I could be my own man.”
“But you came back and worked for your dad.”
“In the legit stuff.”
“Is that what you wanted to do?”
“I wanted to be a trial attorney but my father thought it best of I managed the family businesses. He wanted someone he could trust.”
“You gave up your dreams?”
“Not really. It all worked out. I’m good at what I do.” He ran his hand along my leg. “I have my own clients but I can’t deny my family. My mother and Sal need me to oversee the legal end of the wine company. In a few years, they’re going to be major players. My father will retire and he can focus on my mother. I handle Dominick and Gianni’s construction company. They are quickly rising to the top here in the city and New Jersey. They could walk away as completely legitimate businessmen.”