Cruel Betrayals (Savannah Sharks Hockey and Mafia #3)

Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

JOSEPH

Unable to get any rest, I roll out of bed and get dressed for my morning workout with the team. I tossed and turned all night, wondering how I was going to get Alexandra to forgive me.

After the meeting at the fort, Rhett and I drove toward my house, but circled back around and followed Giuseppe to his house, where he waited out front until a box truck picked up several pallets of taped up boxes and crates.

Vincent and three other men followed the box truck as it left, so Rhett and I had no choice but to come home.

Dad and Alvin were just as clueless as we were. Francesca wondered if he was moving his supply because he knew we would come for Alexandra.

I want to stop him before he prepares more than he already has. I want it to hurt when I destroy his house. I want him to feel every ounce of pain he’s ever caused my family before watching the life drain from his eyes.

Grabbing my phone, I send a group text to Rhett, Spencer, and Gage.

If you are awake, meet me at the arena gym in fifteen minutes.

rhett

I’d rather stay in bed with your sister. It’s not even six. Team workout isn’t for another two and a half hours. I mean this as nicely as I can, but fuck off.

spencer

The sun’s not even up yet. Bang one out, and go back to sleep. We can meet up in two hours.

gage

I don’t have anyone to cuddle with, but I don’t think working out for an extra two hours is wise. Coach is going to be pissed. He has a long workout planned for the team.

spencer

I like my bed right now. Savannah is a better cuddler than you. Do you need a blow-up doll or a pocket pussy?

I shove my phone into my shorts pocket and grab my keys before quietly making my way down the stairs to the garage. When I am situated in the driver’s seat, I send a reply.

Look, I fucked up. Big time. I am asking as your friend to meet me at the gym to blow off some frustration and let me vent before you give me advice. This isn’t just personal. This is family related.

I head toward the arena, driving like I’m the only person on the road. Most people aren’t heading to work yet, so traffic is light.

I park in my normal spot and unlock the back door. It’s no surprise that I’m the first person here. The sun hasn’t even risen.

Checking my phone for any missed messages, I see a reply from Gage.

Alright, I’m up. I’m making a protein shake, and then I will head over. Do you want one?

I’ll make a whole blender and bring it over. I have a feeling we are going to need it.

I don’t bother sending a reply, as they should be heading over in the next few minutes. I head to the gym and turn the surround sound up until near deafening volume. I play the normal work out playlist and start my workout by lifting weights.

I can’t help but let my thoughts run wild. Is this what my life has turned into? Working out alone at six in the morning because I’m miserable and can’t sleep?

The guys have their lives and their women, and here I am, pulling them away because I fucked up.

The gym doors open and all three men walk in looking like they are still half asleep.

Gage places the blender on the side table before grabbing some paper water cups from the cabinet. Rhett heads over to the surround sound and turns the volume down while Spencer hops on a treadmill.

Rhett runs a hand through his hair. “So, what’s going on?”

Where to start?

I open my mouth and blurt out, “I’m going to be a dad.”

That seems to get their attention.

Rhett’s mouth falls open, and Spencer’s eyes widen to the size of plates. The only guy that shows very little emotion is Gage, and that’s because he’s the only one beside me that knew.

After AJ left, I opened the bag from Alexandra. Gage was sitting beside me and saw the gifts.

“That’s amazing.” Rhett says before coming over to me to give me a clap on the back.

Spencer narrows his eyes for a second. “So, how did you fuck it up? I’m assuming it’s related to becoming a father, since that’s the first thing you said.”

I lay my dumbbells down and glance at Gage as he pours us all a shake.

He’s the only one that knew, and he didn’t say anything. I didn’t even ask him to keep it to himself. He just did.

“Before I tell you what I did, I need to tell you who it is so you can understand why I did what I did.”

The three men stare at me like they are waiting for me to confess to my sins.

“The mother of my baby is Alexandra.” Someone gasps, but I continue. “I hired a private investigator to dig into her past and what she’s been up to because she changed so suddenly. She started acting weird, so I went with my gut.”

I pick up my weights and continue my workout, needing the distraction.

Rhett sits on the weight bench across from me and asks, “How was she acting weird? Like she was hiding something?”

“She started attending every meeting my dad and I had, regardless if she was needed, and she took notes all the time and then would immediately get on her phone. It was almost like she was texting someone.”

Spencer interrupts. “And you were jealous, thinking she was messaging another man?”

I glare at him. “That thought wasn’t the deciding factor. She wanted more with me and I said no. Then, when I realized she was the woman I wanted, she immediately said no.”

Spencer shakes his head and turns up the speed on the treadmill. “Hell hath no fury.”

Gage and Rhett laugh as I flip them off.

Rhett drops his dumbbells and downs his shake. “I still don’t see where you fucked up.”

I sigh. “The detective found out Alexandra was busy calling, texting, and meeting with Giuseppe Rossi. I confronted her and promptly fired her before giving her a bag of cash and telling her I never wanted to see her or the baby ever again.”

Rhett gapes at me. “Yikes.”

Spencer whistles. “Damn, dude. Are you sure she was meeting with Rossi? She was your dad’s assistant.”

I place my dumbbells back on the rack and stretch out my muscles. “Yeah, she even admitted to it, but I was an asshole who wouldn’t listen to her reasoning. Come to find out, she was kidnapped and was forced to work with Rossi, but my dad knew the entire time.”

I shake my head. “My dad knew she was being framed. He knew she changed her name and was emancipated at seventeen. He knew her father was an alcoholic and a habitual gambler who had anger issues. He knew everything about her, and I didn’t. She didn’t share anything with me, but never hesitated to let me fuck her.”

Now that I know the truth, I feel hurt and confused. Why wouldn’t she share her past with me? What was she afraid of?

Gage chimes in as he starts the treadmill. “Maybe look at this situation in a different light. That is a lot of personal stuff you don’t share with someone right away. That’s something you wait to share until you have been dating for a few months. You two weren’t dating.”

That is one way to look at things. Dad did say that he found out about her family before he hired her, but he never mentioned it until she came to him about the Rossi situation.

I shake my head and get to the point. “Well, Alexandra’s been kidnapped again by Rossi, and he knows about the baby. I wouldn’t put it past him to kill the heir of the Marino empire.”

Gage throws his hands up in the air. “What the fuck are we doing here, then? Let’s go get her. That is more important than the team workout.”

“Believe me. I want to get her. Hell, I wanted to get her last night, but I’m waiting for a shipment to arrive. Then we can put my other plan in motion.”

When Spencer gets off his treadmill, I hop on and set it to a fast run.

Gage reaches over and lightly punches my arm before grabbing his bottle of water in the cup holder. “You’re going to overdo it before our back-to-back games tomorrow, and Coach Bobby will bench you to make an example out of you.”

“I need to figure out a way to fix everything. I need to make things right. I need to show Dad I’m mature enough to take on more responsibilities and run the empire.”

Gage chokes on his water. “Is he retiring?”

My heart races, and my breathing turns into pants as my muscles burn from the fast-paced run. I turn the speed down and say, “No, he’s not retiring. At least not yet. Not as long as I’m on the team.”

“Do you want to take everything over?”

I’ve never really had a choice. This is how I grew up. This lifestyle was ingrained in my upbringing.

I shrug. “That has always been the plan. I’ve followed in his footsteps, and I’ve learned how to run the business side of things as well as the political side of things.”

Rhett interjects. “But that doesn’t mean you want to take over the Marino empire. Would you rather take over the family side of things or continue with your hockey career?”

“Honestly? I’m not sure. I love hockey, I love the game, and I love skating, but I’m tired of all the travel. I always figured I’d play until Dad retired or I started a family, and now that Alexandra is pregnant, I want to be stationary as much as possible.”

Rhett raises an eyebrow. “Are you thinking about retiring from hockey?”

“If Alexandra takes me back, it’s a conversation I plan on having with her.”

Spencer clears his throat. “Just playing devil’s advocate here, but what if she doesn’t take you back?”

I squeeze my lips together as I think of the alternative. “I guess I’ll still have that conversation with her. I don’t want to be a part-time parent. I want to be involved in my child’s life. I want-”

I’m cut off by my phone ringing. It’s Brian at the shipyard.

“Please tell me you are calling with good news.” I don’t think I can wait another day to get Alexandra. Every cell in my body is begging for a fight.

On the other end of the call, I hear him chuckle. “I am, Boss. We just got the shipment in. I am going to check it in and unload it.”

“Great. I’m finishing up my workout now, and then I will head over there.”

“See you soon, Boss.” He ends the call and I glance at the three men staring back at me.

“My shipment just arrived. Cancel whatever plans you have today because it’s time to rain hell on Giuseppe Rossi.”

Gage stops his treadmill and turns to look at me. “Well, are you going to fill us in or make us guess?”

“It will be easier to show you once we open the crates.”

Rhett places his dumbbells on the rack and says. “Then let’s go.”

The gym doors open and Coach Bobby walks in sporting a frown. “What are you guys doing here so early? Team workout doesn’t start until eight thirty.”

I answer before anyone else can. “We decided to get our workout in ahead of time.”

Coach Bobby scans the large room, locking gazes with each of us. “We have physicals lined up, followed by a regimented team workout today. I guess you four will just be extra sore.”

He tries to be intimidating like always, but I’ve dealt with deadlier men than him for most of my life. “Can we just do our physicals now or do we need to reschedule them? There are more pressing things that require our attention for the rest of the day.”

Coach Bobby’s eyes narrow, and he clenches his jaw. He wants to put me in my place and tell me no, but I can see the small glimmer of fear in his eyes.

“Fine. I’ll just do your physicals since William and Chad aren’t here yet.”

Spencer turns off the music and follows Coach into one of the smaller physical therapy rooms.

The ringing of my phone sounds throughout the quiet gym. It’s Brian. He wouldn’t be calling me back so soon unless there’s a problem with the shipment.

“What’s going on?” I say as I answer his call.

“A couple of cops keep driving by, staring into the shipyard. Please tell me this shipment isn’t illegal.”

“They’d have to have a warrant in order to search the shipyard, but no, there’s nothing illegal in there. I’d let you know if there was anything to worry about.”

“Alright. Good to know. They parked across the street at the club.”

“Can you tell who they are?” I’ll call the police chief if they cause any problems.

He hums for a moment before saying, “Not really, but they look young. They aren’t the ones we usually deal with. They are driving the older police cars that the rookies usually drive.”

I blow out my breath through my mouth. Those young cops are going to be a pain in my ass. “Keep me updated. I’m on my way.”

End call and head into the room off of the gym where Coach Bobby is testing Spencer’s range of movement.

“We need to go now.”

Coach Bobby opens his mouth to protest, but Spencer stands up and rotates his shoulders. “I feel great Coach. There’s no stiffness or pain. In fact, all four of us are in peak performance.”

Coach Bobby rolls his eyes. “Fine, but if one of you hurts yourself, I’ll bench all of you. For at least four games.”

“Understood.” I say before heading outside. “Rhett, you take your truck, and I’ll ride with you. Spencer, you can ride in Gage’s truck. We will need both trucks for this mission.”

We split up and head to the shipyard. I know Rhett is dying to know what is going on. I can see it in his eyes, but it will be easier to explain what’s going on when we get there. It will be easier, too.

The two cop cars are still parked across the street at the club when we arrive. “That’s another problem for another day.”

Rhett grunts. “Yeah, unless they follow us.”

Shit. I didn’t think of that.

“I’ll make a few calls if they do, or we can regroup at my house and wait until nightfall.”

Rhett parks and says, “I would wait until nightfall. We can always get a team to stake out the place and see who is coming and going.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

He smirks. “That’s why I’m your number two.”

We get out of his truck and walk toward Brian and the shipment.

“You’re my number two because you’re with my sister and about to be family.” At his shocked look, I add, “Also, because I can trust you.”

Brian gives us a wave and greets us. “Hey. I just got the pallets unloaded.”

I glance at the stacks of crates. “Let’s open them.”

Brian chuckles. “I was saving that for you, Boss.”

Spencer pulls his pocket knife out and opens the first crate. His eyes widen as he glances inside. “RPGs?”

Gage grins. “Hell yeah. This is every man’s dream. Real life video games.”

Laughing, I jog to the building and grab the blueprint for Giuseppe Rossi’s house before stretching it across Rhett’s tailgate.

“Alright. The hostage and interrogation rooms are here.” I point to the front corner of the house.

Rhett adds, “There is a door here that leads outside. The hallway is long and narrow with cameras pointed at both doorways.”

Spencer points to the back center of the house. “This is where the living room is and there is an entire wall of windows. There are two exits here, but I wouldn’t count on them being here. If we want to do the most damage, we need to attack upstairs or in this back corner.”

Gage looks at the floor plan, confused. “What’s in the back corner? It looks like a breakfast nook.”

I answer for Spencer. “That is where the secret cellar is. It’s also where his armory is. If we can collapse that side of the house, they won’t be able to get in or out.”

Rhett’s expression changes. “Then that’s the place we hit first.”

“First, I need to reach out to my cousin and make sure the first part of the plan went down without a hitch.”

All three men stare at me. Gage is the first to speak. “And what was that?”

“A little retribution.”

Rhett frowns. “Are you going to explain more, or are you going to make us guess?”

“Rossi tried to kill me last night, so I put a hit out on his favorite nephew. One hundred and fifty thousand to whoever kills him and sends Angelica the proof. That will teach Giuseppe not to fuck with my family.”

All three men glance at one another.

Spencer clears his throat. “Well, that’s a sure fire way to start a war. So, what’s the plan of attack?”

“Alright, here’s how it’s going to go down…”