For Cam (Chicago Syndicate Book 4) (20 page)

This is what Mafia life does to a person.

Fallon

––––––––

B
iting my lip, I ponder what to do as I pass our bed, shedding my clothes along the way, but I keep my phone with me as I go into the bathroom. I don’t want to defy Luca, but he’s not being rational, so I need to call for back-up.

“Hey,” Cam answers.

“We have a problem. Luca’s backing out. He’s going to hide me until it’s over.”

“What? Did you call Adriano?” Cam retorts.

“No! And risk having the boss know? I don’t know what to do. I can’t reason with Luca.”

“And I can?” she yells disbelievingly.

“Just get over here. Now,” I whisper-shout. Time is of the essence.

“Okay. Stall, and don’t leave your apartment or else Luca will make sure that I’ll never find you.”

“Just hurry.”

“In my car already.” Cam hangs up.

Hearing footsteps, I turn on the faucet and jump into the shower, washing the black eyeliner from my eyes right when Luca enters and then goes right back out.

This is such a mess. He’s going to be livid when he discovers that I’m working with Cam against him. At my slowest pace, I wash under the showerhead until I’m all wrinkled.

Luca comes in again, completely dressed in his charcoal suit, opening the shower door and holding up a towel for me. “Hurry,
dolcezza
. Dry.”

Tentatively, I step out. 

“Don’t look so scared. I just don’t want you anywhere near here when we go in to rescue Rosalia.”

“Adriano’s never going to trust us again. And neither is James. I don’t like this, Luca.”

“
Basta così.
” Enough. “This is not up for debate.”

“Fine.” I grit my teeth, gathering that a discussion is out of the question. 

Grabbing the towel, I dry myself as he watches me.

But when the doorbell buzzes, the line of his mouth flattens. “Who’s that?”

I brush past him, going to my drawer and taking out a bra and panties. “It’s Cam.”

Hastily, I put on the underwear, jeans, and a beige top. Then I go to the elevator. Luca’s right behind me but doesn’t stop me as I press the button that starts the elevator mechanism. Instead, he folds his arms over his chest, staring me down with a look that could incinerate me and propping his hip against the kitchen island.

It takes forever for Cam to finally arrive, and she bursts through the doors before they’ve slid open entirely.

“What’s going...on?” Her words trail off when she meets Luca’s stormy expression. “Luca?”

“Cam, stay out of this,” he warns in a low tone.

“I can’t,” Cam counters. “Soldiers are already staking out Wicker Park. There isn’t a sign of Rosalia or Medlov yet, so we have to move fast because we only have until midnight. If we’re late, who knows what he’ll do to Rosalia or where he’ll take her next. At least right now, we know she’s in that area, and we need Fallon to get her at that meet.”

The tiny hairs on my arms rise as Luca’s eyes rest on me, his impeccable suit in contrast with his anguished gaze. Neither of us concedes, both of us anticipating what to do next.

“We’ll find another way to get Rosalia back tonight,” he retorts evenly.

Cam clutches her hair in defeat. “Oh my god! You’re even more stubborn than Adriano.”

Luca’s tightly leashed, self-controlled appearance is wavering more and more.

Yet again, we’re interrupted by the buzzer. All our gazes flick to one another, and the excruciating tension can be cut with a knife.

“By the way, Adriano knows,” Cam admits guiltily.

“Cam!” I protest, but it’s too late. Adriano has clearance and is already on his way up.

“What?” Cam lowers her arms to her sides. “
I
can’t handle Luca. You need Adriano to talk some sense into him.”

Adriano

––––––––

I
zero in on Luca the second I enter his apartment. He’s scowling at Fallon and Cam as they stand opposite him in the kitchen.

I was in my office at the club while Cam was still dressing in the private room when Fallon called her. In turn, Cam informed me the moment she took off to see Luca and Fallon and told me to follow her since Luca’s faltering. I didn’t inform James or anyone else about our issue with Luca, but we’re pressed for time and Luca needs to follow orders. However, I’m his friend before I’m his boss, and I understand his torment, because Cam and I have gone through these exact same motions as well. My own rage about how Cam was assaulted earlier tonight hasn’t been appeased in the slightest. Only because I have more important matters at hand am I able to keep myself calm. But the sinner in me is craving reprisal.

“Luca, what’s wrong?” I demand and press my lips against Cam’s temple, whispering, “Give us some privacy in a couple of minutes.”

Fallon sends me a disappointed look as Luca replies, “I can’t do it. Fallon doesn’t go to the meet.”

“FYI –
Fallon
wants to go and is
not
on board with Luca,” Fallon interrupts, earning another glare from him.

“We’re losing valuable time here, because I have the address and James is already instructing the soldiers about who will guard the perimeter of the establishment we’re meeting at since it’s in their territory, Ukrainian Village.” I glance at Cam, and she takes her cue, guiding Fallon to the bedroom to give me privacy with Luca as I requested.

“Do you think I would ask this of Fallon if there was any other way to get Rosalia back with minimum casualties? No, I wouldn’t. I never want to involve her either. But she’s part of this now, and she can handle it. We don’t have a choice here; we can’t let Rosalia or James down, Luca. You and I will not lose sight of Fallon for a second. Trust me. Don’t abandon me on this operation.”

He releases a terse breath. “If Medlov hurts her, all bets are off.”

“Of course. We’ll kill him together if he so much as touches her. No one will come near her; she’s only going to talk, and you and I will be there. All soldiers have been ordered to guard Fallon with their lives. I’m not taking any risks with Fallon. I’d never do that. Just like I know you’d never do that to Cam.”

Luca’s rigid body slowly unwinds. “Adriano, I have a bad feeling about this. We’re going in blind, being forced into a situation without having the faintest clue as to what Medlov’s master plan is.”

“That’s why I’m taking extra precautions. I also want Rosalia back as soon as possible so that I can begin making people pay for what they did to Cam and Fallon today, Luca.”

“I get that. See, look what happened to Cam. And she’s much stronger than Fallon.”

“No. Cam’s not. Not anymore. Fallon’s been training and taking shooting lessons with Cam a lot.
Amico
, you do see what’s happening here, don’t you? She wants in. Be glad she isn’t judging us anymore and is finally truly understanding the importance of our Mafia family. Which you are
not
doing at the moment. Your fear is clouding your judgment, just like mine was when it came to Cam the first few times she was this intricately involved. Don’t let this tear you and Fallon apart. It almost did Cam and me. This is the life we chose, and they’re part of it – whether we like it or not. Both of us have to learn to guide them a little more and not order them around. Don’t fight Fallon, because in the end, your relationship will lose.”

“Jesus, aren’t you Confucius nowadays.”

I feel a grin tugging at my lips. “Cam’s been educating me on the importance of feelings.”

“Adriano, I need your word that you and I will be with Fallon every second.”

I frown because I would never leave her side, but I do get his need for reassurance. “Every second.”

“How much time do we have?”

I check my chrome watch. “We should’ve left five minutes ago. Cam? Fallon?”

Cam peeks from around the corner.

“Let’s go. Fallon too. Don’t take any belongings except your gun. Hurry. We’ll have to instruct Fallon in the car.”

***

W
ithin fifteen minutes, I’m steering my BMW through the bustling streets of west downtown Chicago toward Wicker Park while resting my hand on Cam’s thigh. Driving past countless bookstores and art galleries, I’m forced to park farther away than I expected because the street I need to enter is closed down for a Halloween event.

Luca and I are drilling Fallon before we head to our destination.

“First, you demand to see Rosalia if she’s not there with him,” Luca starts.

And I add, “If Medlov asks you random questions – which he will to make you uncomfortable – answer concisely or don’t answer. Don’t let him pressure you into answering. Don’t engage in his taunting. Same goes for you, Luca.”

But Luca’s fixated on Fallon, who’s stashing her gun in the back of her pants.

Checking the rearview mirror, I spot more
Capi
and soldiers pulling up and approaching my car. Cam entwines our fingers as I take a calming breath. I look at her beautiful face and completely empathize with Luca’s situation.

“We’ll be fine.” And I lift our entangled hands to my mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of hers. “Cam, a soldier’s going to stand guard next to the car because Luca and I can’t protect both you and Fallon in case of trouble.” I plead with her with my eyes not to contradict me, and thank god, she doesn’t.

My
Capo
understands. “Okay.”

“Stay in the car, but if there’s an emergency and you have to get out, blend in with the people on the busy street. Our
Capi
are walking around. They’re all men you can recognize, so find one of them. And there’s a sniper here as well.”

“Where’s the sniper?” Cam asks.

I point to the top of the building to my left. “Up there. He has a clear shot of the entrance of what I think is a bookstore.”

Luca grits his teeth. “He’s done his homework on Fallon because why else would he use a bookstore?”

“What
is
his interest in her?” I muse, unsettled about this vague operation too. I only hid it from Luca because he’s already wound up too tightly.

Turning toward Cam, I take her face in both my hands and crush my mouth to hers. Then I tell her sternly, “Be on alert.” And I open the glove compartment to hand her an earpiece like the ones the guards use at Club 7. “Use this earpiece to communicate in case there are any problems. We’re all wearing them.”

“We need to go,” Luca announces.

I give Cam one more kiss, grab my suit jacket, and throw it on. Hiding my weapon in the back waistband of my pants, I precede the way onto the festive street where kids and adults are trick-or-treating.

One
Capi
walks past us and dips his chin discreetly, letting us know that the entrance is clear, so I step onto the sidewalk. I stop at the correct door and peer inside. The lights are on, but there isn’t any movement. I nod to James and Wade who are staked out across the street.

“Are you ready?” Luca asks Fallon.

“Yes, we’re here now. I can’t back out.”

Luca kisses her forehead. “It’s always much more difficult when you first walk in. Remember what we told you.”

I turn the knob and cross the threshold of the bookstore into an oval space with an escalator in the middle of the room that leads up from an underground floor.

On the moving staircase, Medlov, a robust, blond man with piercing grey eyes, appears with two of his men. “Fallon.”

Luca and I flank Fallon as she demands, “Where’s Rosalia?”

He stops about ten feet away from us and smiles at her, then glances at Luca and lastly at me. “Gentlemen.”

“Medlov,” I greet.

“I’m surprised you let her come, Luca,” Medlov taunts, but Luca ignores him.

On the top floor, I notice movement. More of Medlov’s guards.

“Where’s Rosalia?” Fallon repeats.

“She’s fine. But you and I need to discuss business,” he replies to her.

“No. I want to see Rosalia,” she insists, following my instructions perfectly.

Medlov assesses Fallon and plays his mind game by taking his time. After a tense silence, he tells his guard, “Get her.”

And the guard goes down on the escalator.

“Business is not discussed with Fallon. Only with me or Adriano,” Luca comments.

“So you’re still open to talk about the sex club?” Medlov’s eyes turn to slits.

“Yes,” I lie. “Provided I get Rosalia back, completely unharmed.”

While I’d love to shoot his head off, I’m not taking any risks with Fallon and Rosalia here and Cam nearby. A sense of dread rakes my body because Medlov must know I’m lying. Still, I’m entirely in the dark as to what his intended plan is, and it seems as if he’s purposely delaying us.

More nervous minutes slither by, and then the escalator starts to move and the guard returns with Rosalia, who’s a bit shaken but gives the impression that she’s unscathed.

Marching forward, I’m stopped by Medlov. “Wait. Rosalia’s fine. You can take her home, but I want a meet with you and Luca regarding the sex club. A true meet. Bring your
Consigliere,
if you wish.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Fine, contact my
Consigliere
for an appointment on my turf.
Now
, give me Rosalia.”

He moves aside, and she rushes over to me. Throwing my arm around her shoulder, I stride back with all three of my family members and flee the store.

Outside, James and Wade have left their posts, so I check left and right but don’t see them in the crowd.

“Are you okay, Rosalia?” I ask, releasing her, and Fallon grips her hand in comfort.

“He didn’t hurt me. It was just scary.”

“That was easy,” Fallon mentions as we hurry back to my vehicle and Luca and I inspect the area nonstop.

“That was indeed too easy,” I confirm.

Getting closer to the car, I break out in a run when I don’t spot a soldier at my BMW. The driver’s door is wide open and neither Cam nor my soldier is in sight.

I touch the earpiece and press the button to turn all the lines on. “Where’s Cam?”

Luca, Fallon, and Rosalia come up to me, all wearing anxious expressions.