by Piper Stone
I would need to expedite the plans even more.
Devon’s perception had almost pushed me away from her. I realized I never talked about the night of the murders. In saying something to her, I’d allowed her to slide further into my system. That wasn’t wise on any level, but a part of me had wanted her to understand what was eating at me inside.
Jesus.
I raked my hands through my hair, my body swaying. She was right. I had to deal with the anger I had for myself.
As I started to return to the living room, a knot formed in my stomach. I’d prided myself for never being afraid of a single challenge in my life. But standing in the house I now owned, I was still unable to go into one of the rooms. I glanced down the dark hallway, taking several deep breaths.
I wasn’t the kind of man who believed in ghosts. I’d never felt my parents’ presence haunting me. There were no instances of catching a fleeting apparition.
There were only nightmares.
After taking another deep breath, I headed into the room I was using as an office, yanking open one drawer after another until I found what I was looking for. As part of my survival skills learned at the behavioral camp, I’d learned to pick a lock. That had been something I’d never told my father.
At least I was able to smile as I headed down the darkened hallway, not stopping until I stood in front of the locked door. There was no reason not to enter. Maybe I could find a way to heal. After maneuvering the paperclip, I slipped one end into the small hole in the lock. Within seconds, I heard the slight click I was looking for.
The door handle turned easily.
Swallowing, I pushed the thick wooden slat open with a single finger. There was no light at all, but I could see shadows.
Or maybe they were just in my mind.
As I reached for the light switch, I held my breath, several memories rushing into the back of my mind. I refused to allow them to thwart what I was trying to do. When the light flipped on, flooding the room, I breathed a sigh of relief.
While the same built-in bookcases remained, they were empty, no longer carrying the beautiful display of books my father had loved. The shelves also had no pictures of family gathering and birthdays. They’d been packed away, hopefully stored instead of tossed, but I’d never asked. I hadn’t been able to face the details.
I hadn’t cared.
I managed to take a few steps inside, staring down at the nondescript desk that had been positioned in exactly the same spot as the beautiful ornate Brazilian wood piece my father had found during one of his trips overseas. Even the chair had been replaced, the massive leather piece somehow unable to have the same grandeur as the one I remembered.
There was little else in the room, other than a single desk lamp. The Oriental rug that had haunted my dreams had been tossed. There’d likely been no way to remove the excessive amount of blood.
I moved further into the room, turning in a full circle. The walls had been painted. I could only imagine how many coats it had taken. Even the gorgeous wooden floor had been sanded and repolished. There wasn’t the slightest hint that anything tragic had occurred.
After a few seconds, I moved to the bookshelf, sliding my finger across one of the shelves. Maybe I would consider this cathartic at some point in my life. For now, all I felt was utter emptiness.
Memories. I’d had about as much as I could take for one night. I headed for the door with purpose, smashing my hand against the switch. As darkness washed over me again, I almost slammed the door shut.
The ache in my heart would likely never leave, but I refused to allow my sadness or my guilt to overwhelm me. I wanted to live.
As I walked away, I realized I’d left the door open.
I’d been hiding in my father’s shadows for far too long. Given my lack of patience, it was time to expedite the plan. Why not put a fire under the man? I would enjoy watching him sizzle. As I pulled out my phone, I knew exactly the right person to contact. Within two hours, there would be word in the darkened streets of Barcelona that someone was coming for Rafael Perez.
Soon, the man would face his demise.
And I would enjoy every second of making that happen.
“I have some information that you will want to hear,” Diego asked as he walked into my small office. “Word on the street and I don’t like it at all.”
“By all means. Let me hear it.” My plan had worked exactly as I’d hoped. The early morning call from my contact had actually put me in a good mood.
He moved closer. “There’s talk that Rafael is nervous. He believes another mafia organization is prepared to strike against him. He’s initiating additional soldiers. I don’t like this game we’re playing any longer.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “He would be right in his assumptions.”
“You do know he’s pissed off the other Dons?”
“I’d heard something of that nature from Samuel. That means Rafael won’t have anyone coming to his defense. Let him sweat. That’s what he deserves.”
He lifted a single eyebrow. “Wait a minute. This was just another part of your grand plan. Why the hell didn’t you tell me? I take it that you managed to find a way to send a warning.”
“Let’s just say I have a few good friends in town who’ve kept their ear to the ground. They were happy to spread a little joy.”
“That’s dangerous as fuck, Santiago. Jesus Christ. I leave you alone for a night and the rules change. Again. You’re starting to piss me off.”
“Perhaps you’re right about the increased level of danger, but if it keeps Rafael on edge, then bringing him down will bring significant satisfaction. And rules always need to change given the situation at hand. That’s something important for you to remember, Diego.”
He took a step away, staring at me with an incredulous look on his face.
“You are playing a brutal game, my friend. I hope it doesn’t come back to bite you.” Diego shook his head, his expression one of disbelief. “You should have warned me. I’ve been by your side through all of this shit. I think I have a right to know what you’re planning.”
“You know what I’m planning. Rafael and his son are going down one way or the other.”
“Then just get prepared because that asshole won’t go down without a fight.”
I sat on the edge of the desk, the smile remaining on my face. “I’m prepared for whatever Perez wants to do and as far as discussing plans, you do remember who runs this organization, don’t you?”
He took a deep breath. “Of course. I apologize if I pissed you off.”
Exhaling, I ran my hand through my hair. “You have every right to ask me questions, Diego. I do value your opinion.”
“Interesting. You’re entirely different today. Did you have a restful night?” The man had a smug look on his face, although irritation remained in his eyes.
“What are you getting at?”
“Oh, nothing. I have a feeling you spent some time with Devon.” He couldn’t keep a grin off his face.
When he laughed, I rolled my eyes. “Do I need to ask what you heard?”
“One of your employees is a real cutie. She might have mentioned a few things about you and the lovely Devon Rapshire.” He laughed as he walked closer. “The truth is that I think it’s great. You need someone in your life. I’ve been telling you that for years.”
“Yes, you have. However, at this point what I don’t need is being second guessed about anything.”
“Uh-huh. I would have thought you’d be in a better mood. A night of sizzling sex and putting your enemy on notice.”
“On one hand, you’re absolutely correct. On the other, I might have waited too long to return home. The hold we’d had on the market is being systematically pulled from under us, likely from whatever pressure Perez is putting on them. The timing is far too coincidental.”
“Which means you think Perez has been aware of your intentions.”
Sighing, I glanced at the window. “If
I had to guess, yes, but not necessarily in the manner he’s thinking.”
“Then he will know to expect your attack.”
“We shall see.”
“What are you really going to do?” Diego asked. “You’re more cavalier about this than I thought you’d be.”
“I’m tired of waiting, Diego. The moment I walked into my father’s office last night, I realized that I’d been a fool. That’s not going to continue to happen.”
“I actually glad to hear you say that. I’m proud of you for stepping foot inside.”
Proud. The word seemed odd coming from his mouth.
“How many other soldiers have you already employed?”
He inched closer, grimacing. “We have over two hundred at this point, although I expect I’ll manage to secure several others. I’m doing what I can to keep word off the street, but that’s only a matter of time. Still, it’s not enough for an all-out war. You have to know that.”
I tapped my fingers on the desk, shaking my head. “I’m well aware of that but a show of force will be necessary as things progress.”
“I understand,” he said quietly. “I agree with what you’re trying to do, just not the methods. Take back the territory your father had. Expand in a couple of months. You worked hard to rebuild the clientele in the United States. They’re ready for more product. All you need to do is have a manner to protect what was already established in Barcelona as well as other ports. You should be able to do that easily. But you need to take your time.”
“Time I’m not certain we have. Perez was given far too much time to take full control of the entire damn country. I should never have allowed that to happen.”
“What were you supposed to do? Your father and brother were murdered. You were given one chance to make another life for yourself.” When I didn’t answer right away, he huffed. “Emilio has already placed his soldiers on notice. They are squeezing their informants, which means you better hope whoever you contacted is someone you can trust.”
“Trust is a very valuable commodity, Diego, but to address your concern, yes, I trust this individual.” I mulled over all the possibilities that could happen in the next couple of days. “Did you ever wonder why Perez never made an attempt to destroy what was left of my father’s empire? Granted, my father had planned for every possible scenario, protecting the majority of the family’s holdings, but he certainly could have made it impossible for me to return, even having the house and grounds burned to the ground.”
“Samuel had it protected. I made certain of that. That’s one of the reasons I returned to Spain on several occasions. I don’t think Perez thought you’d ever return, but I’m certain he kept tabs on you for a few years.”
I turned my attention toward my friend, thinking about what he’d just said. I was beginning to think more and more about the possibility of someone betraying me. What I couldn’t afford to do was second guess everyone around me. It was time to follow my instincts without question.
“Yes, I’m certain he did. I’m grateful for your continued support, Diego. As I’ve already stated, I have every intention of expanding the business, but the timing needs to change. I have a very bad feeling that I’ve been undermined.”
He cocked his head, a surprised look crossing his face. “What are you getting at?”
“Just what I said. If I find out anyone had misused their employment for any reason, they will be eliminated. I suggest you make certain every soldier is made aware of that.” I needed to send a clear message to everyone involved with the De Leon organization.
“Whew. Okay. You are even angrier than before.”
“Yes, the memories were difficult to have resurfaced but necessary,” I said half under my breath.
“Should I tell them Don De Leon has a message?”
I laughed softly as I thought about his question. “Absolutely. And another thing. Find Luis.”
“Luis?” he repeated, narrowing his eyes.
“Luis Saltore. He was one of my father’s most trusted Capos. He didn’t have the heart to continue in the work after my father died. He’s prepared for your call.”
I’d purposely made contact with Luis before leaving the States. While he’d been hesitant to agree, he continued to feel loyalty to my father’s regime.
“You talked with him?”
“A few times. He will be my third in command.”
Diego’s expression hardened. “All right. If that’s what you want.”
“That’s what you’re going to do.”
He remained unused to my increasing demands.
“I’ll take care of it. I don’t think you should continue attempting to regain the crest. Let it alone. If you take no other piece of advice, take that one.”
When I gave him another hard look, he backed away.
“Okay, I won’t say anything else. You are going to do what you feel is necessary. I’ll have the soldiers prepared.”
“Good. I have a feeling everything will escalate substantially after tonight.”
“Whether or not it’s a masquerade party, Santiago, your attendance still worries me. If Perez does have any suspicion that you’ve returned, let alone that you are standing in his house, the game is finished. There will be no second chances, even with our men located a few hundred yards from the residence.”
“You forget that the last thing Perez can do is make a scene in front of his guests. From what I understand, his guest list includes several powerful and influential people who still believe he’s a legitimate businessman. He can’t risk a bloodbath for any reason.”
“That doesn’t mean he won’t be able to put a bullet in your head.”
I rose to my feet, giving him a nod of understanding. “Perhaps I’m as much of a betting man as my father was. It’s worth the risk.”
“And you’re still okay with risking Devon’s life?”
“Nothing is going to happen to her. Do you understand me?”
Diego wasn’t accustomed to my current state of mind. He stood at his full height, giving me a nod of respect. “I will make certain you’re both protected, at least as much as I’m able to do.”
“She comes first. After tonight, there will be no unnecessary chances taken. After tonight, the end will be near.”
Sensing her presence, I took a deep breath, moving around the desk as she entered the room. The look on her face told me she’d heard every word that had been said.
Diego turned, unable to keep a smile off his face.
“Devon, this is a business associate of mine, Diego Martino.”
She shifted her gaze in his direction, studying him intently. “Business associate.”
I half laughed, ignoring her repetition. “Are you ready to begin your training?”
“Why not? It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to practice my skills,” she stated, her tone dripping of disdain.
It was past time to test her skills, although I was beginning to rethink my plan.
Only this time, no one would be told what I was going to do, with the exception of the only man I could truly trust.
My instincts were continuing to work overtime.
If they were right, someone close to me had already betrayed my loyalty.
“Do it again,” I barked, my patience waning. I’d never considered myself a good teacher on any level. However, Devon’s continued refusal to push herself, reactivating her skills from the past, was more about rebellion than lack of remembering.
She toyed with her ponytail as she gave me a harsh look. Standing in black leggings and the same color turtleneck, she appeared very much the epitome of the jewelry thief from her past. “I’m doing the best I can. Do you understand that I haven’t tried to do something of this complexity before? Did that not appear on the great paperwork supplied by Daniel Darke? Security systems have changed, the lasers I was forced to avoid only used at the entrances and exits.”
“What I know is that you are highly capable of adapting to any
situation. That was proven on two occasions when the security system was far more complex than the information provided. You were able to abscond with priceless gems on both occasions without being captured on the security cameras.”
Devon folded her arms, continuing to take deep breaths as she glared at me. “Well, I was right about the deep dive Daniel took into my background. The only people who knew about the circumstances were the two assholes I was stupid enough to trust on the jobs and my arresting officer. I’d love to know who Daniel actually talked to.” She adjusted the specialized goggles I’d supplied, allowing her to see the various laser beams crisscrossing the floor.
I’d placed a similar column and box in the center of the room, the glass case almost identical to the one located in Rafael’s office. The spacing was correct in the room, although a certain number of dimensions were different.
She threw another nasty glare in my direction before casually stepping over one beam after another without tripping the device. When she was within four feet of the box, she slowly crouched to the floor, taking her time to position her body until she was able to start sliding toward the column.
Within seconds, she tripped one of the beams, the buzzing sound from the alarm filling the room.
“Again!” I snapped.
She jerked to a standing position, moving directly through as many beams as she could in her effort to get to the other side of the room.
I turned off the alarm, taking long strides in her direction. “Maybe you just need a break.”
“Maybe I need to see the actual layout of the room other than just in the sketches you provided. I need to see the angle of the windows, including how much of a ledge there is outside, the locks that are used along with how the security system is tied into them. I need to have in my mind the location of the room itself in comparison to the rest of the house. I also need to know every single way of getting out of the location if I have to bail. You’ve only supplied a portion of those answers. So, how are you planning on providing the remainder?”
I cocked my head, finding her more irresistible than even the night before. “You will have your wish. We’re attending a party at Rafael’s house this evening. The man does enjoy showing off something he considers his greatest prize, although he’s amassed quite a collection of art and jewelry, all of which he protects in the same manner. For one night only, I suspect you will be allowed access to that portion of the house.”