I stand inches behind a man I never thought I would be stepping into battle with.
Joe Mancini.
But my war strategy changed the moment I knew Mia was in danger. Funny how that happens.
My eyes replace her lying on the floor, and I fight every damn instinct in my body telling me to push past the mafia leader and go to her. But there are about fifteen guns pointed in the air in all directions, and no one is moving anywhere.
One of them is Nathan, who is pointing a Glock at me.
A scenario we’ve always considered.
I stare at him, and he doesn’t even blink. He’s calculating the situation and working out why I didn’t tell him we were coming.
Behind him and the others, Joe Mancini’s soldiers move in, after taking out the men outside.
They’re surrounded.
“Lower your weapons,” Joe says to Cade’s men. Who are actually Joe’s soldiers. “Remember who you work for. My son is not in charge here, nor will he be.” He waits for a beat, then growls in a menacing tone. “Drop your fucking weapons or lose your life.”
Nathan obeys.
Thank fucking God.
I let out a slow breath and almost feel Mack do the same beside me.
“Fucking disloyal motherfuckers,” Cade starts shouting, and all hell breaks loose.
My eyes remain on Mia as Gabrielle—a man we have been watching for many years, Joe’s second-in-command—begins screaming at them, waving his guns.
“I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you,” Vitale shouts, trying to make a run for it.
Boom.
Jimmy “Fingers”, Joe’s head enforcer, fire’s his weapon, and Salvo goes down. Bodies start dropping as bullets fly. I push past Joe and throw my body over Mia’s.
She’s trembling and making little noises I can’t decipher as the room explodes around us.
“Mia, it’s me. I’ve got you,” I growl into her hair.
“Cwonner,” she cries, clawing at me.
“I’ve got you,” I say, twisting as I scoop her up.
Mack’s on my six and nudging me out the door. I take a last look in Nathan’s direction as we go. He’s against the wall with his hands in surrender mode.
He gives me a small, near indecipherable shake of the head.
Fuck that. I’m sending Mack back for him. We can get him out.
Nathan looks away.
“Go,” Mack says, even as my head is screaming, never leave a man behind. “He’s got this.”
Shit.
“Barrett,” Joe calls out.
Mia is still in my arms, drugged, feeling no heavier than a ragdoll.
He walks over to me.
“This doesn’t mean I trust you. I know you’re not going to tell me how you knew Mia was here, but it only strengthens that mistrust.”
I nod.
It was what I had to take to get Mia home safely.
“But I do trust you with my daughter because I know you’ve taken a significant risk to save her, and that means something to me.”
“She’s all that matters here,” I reply darkly.
“And if it wasn’t for you, I may be dead tonight.”
We stare at each other. Two powerful men with our own agendas and desire for complete control.
He nods at me. “You have my blessing. To marry her.”
I want to reply fuck you, I never needed it, but for some reason, it does matter. Maybe because I know it will matter to Mia.
Because I am marrying her.
I am not letting her go.
Not now.
Not ever.
“Take her home,” he says, running his fingers across her forehead, which is flopped on my shoulder.
Mack and I walk out the door, leaving the Italian mafia to clean up their shit. I got what I came for.
I’ve left with much more.
I’ve gained a small amount of Joe’s trust, whether he wants to admit it or not. Saving the Don’s life is no small feat, and his code of honor will force him to acknowledge it as he did. But I’ve also left behind a seed of doubt.
He will never learn the truth from me.
The rest is up to the princess lying in my arms.
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