Ruined in Vows (Marchetti Family #3)

54. Dante

Chapter 54

Dante

S itting in the back of the blacked-out SUV, I listen to Nico’s low rumble through the earpiece as he welcomes guests at the front of the church. There is an army of guards checking for weapons and even a metal detector set up at the entrance to ensure no one brings in anything they shouldn’t.

Leo and Enzo sit up front, arguing about some shit that I can’t even bring myself to fake interest in, so I ignore them, keeping my focus on my brother-in-law instead.

Tuning the assholes in the front out, I listen intently when Nico speaks a name that has the rage in my veins surging.

“Riccardo,” he greets tightly. And even though I can’t see him, I know he is clenching his jaw.

“Nico,” Riccardo responds coolly. “You know, I have been looking forward to this day. Counting down the minutes even.” His tone is smug with a hint of amusement, as if he is baiting him. From his next words, I know that is exactly his intention. He lowers his voice, but I hear it clearly. “I am going to fucking take every inch of your sister until I own her fully. And when she has no more left to give, I am going to take even more. I will mold her into my perfect little fuck doll, to speak only when spoken to, to spread her legs when I demand.” My fists ball, chest heaves, with every vile word out of his mouth. “She will be nothing but a womb to carry my heirs. A pussy to serve only me. And I will take her over and over no matter how much she begs me to stop. By the time I am done with your little sister, you won’t fucking recognize her,” he finishes sardonically.

My body shakes with the effort it takes to stay in this SUV and not go put a bullet in the mother fucker’s head right now.

“You’re a fucking piece of shit, Romano. And I promise you now, you will get everything you deserve coming to you,” Nico growls out.

A bark of laughter filters through the earpiece and from the mocking sound of it, it’s Riccardo. The asshole speaks again, a cruel lilt in his tone. “Not before your sister gets everything that is coming to her . She will be nothing but a broken whore by the time I’m done with her.”

The sound of a scuffle hits my ears, then a voice I know to be Matteo barks out.

“Get the fuck inside before he kills you on these steps.”

A long moment passes then Nico speaks, his tone low and cold. “I’m going to make sure that son of a bitch dies a slow death.”

“Keep it together, Nic. You’re a smart man, and he is purposely provoking you.” Matteo murmurs and I’m glad he is there right now.

Matteo is right, Riccardo is baiting Nico, no doubt hoping he will lash out in front of the commission. Little does he know, the commission are already aware of the asshole's traitorous ways and will not back him.

“I’m good,” Nico breathes out, sounding more composed.

“Right.” Matteo snorts derisively.

“Is everyone in place?” Nico ignores his friend.

“Yeah. Just like we planned,” Matteo shoots back, impatiently.

“Good. Because it's go time,” Nico throws out, then speaks to me through the small microphone on his jacket. “Dante, we are good to go. Let’s move. Elio, Tommaso, have your teams secure the side entrances.”

“Right assholes, we are up.” With my order, the two in the front both shut up.

Pushing the door open, I climb out of the vehicle, Leo and Enzo behind me. Glancing at them both, I pin them with a serious look. We have one shot at this, and I will not fuck it up, so they both need to understand the severity of the situation. Not that I think they aren’t taking it seriously, but I want to instill it one more time. “The snipers surrounding the church are in place. They will be watching our every move and guarding us from their positions on whatever surrounding building they are hidden in. As expected, Romano also has his own soldiers guarding the perimeter. We will take care of the back of the church while Nico has two other teams securing either side. Understand?” I ask, looking between them.

“Nico went over it several times. We’ve got this, Dante.” Leo rolls his eyes in exasperation, grabbing his gun from his pants pocket.

I want to chew him out for his attitude toward me – I am pretty sure, if this was his wife we were talking about saving from the hands of a monster, then he would be acting just like me – but I let it go. For now.

Nodding, I click the silencer in place before signaling to Leo and Enzo, who is holding wire cutters, to follow me.

As a unit, we move toward the wired fence at the back of the church, mindful to keep hidden enough that we can take out the soldiers before they even spot us. With careful instruction from the tactical team watching our every move, we make quick work of breaking through the fence and climbing through.

“Two guards out back. Both are currently distracted by something on a cell phone. This is your chance.” Gregorio, a hacker of Nico's, murmurs through the earpiece. He is pulled up in a van across the street, overseeing and coordinating everything.

Signaling with my fingers to the two men behind me as the guards come into view, we approach almost silently, taking out the two soldiers with one quick shot to each head – thank god for silencers.

They drop to the asphalt like the sacks of shit that they are.

“You’re clear, Dante. I cannot see any other soldiers in the area,” Gregorio rumbles.

Shoving the door to the back entrance open, we step inside the old church quietly. “Use the chains and padlock the door up. I don’t want to leave any openings for Riccardo to escape if he gets the chance,” I order.

Enzo removes the backpack from his shoulders, opening it up and pulling out what I requested. During one of our many meetings about how today would go down, I pointed out that I wanted Riccardo to have no chance of getting away and we came up with a solution. We would chain and lock every working exit.

Enzo makes quick work of threading the chains through the metal door handles and pulling it tight enough that even a mouse would struggle to get through, before locking it down with the industrial sized padlock.

“Done,” he grunts, turning to face me and Leo.

Nodding, I say. “Nico should be waiting on the steps. He needs to keep up appearances for Riccardo’s sake. We will hide out in the minister’s office until Nico tells us otherwise.”

We start down the long, dark, cold hallway toward the office. It was with Nico’s foresight that we got copies of the building’s layout from an associate of his that owes him a favor and who works in The Department of Buildings in the City. It’s the reason we know the layout of the building so well.

“What is happening with the women?” Leo asks. Confusion furrows my face, and I look at him, raising a questioning brow. “I mean, surely there are women and children here?” he elaborates.

Exhaling a weary breath, I pin him with an impatient glare. Despite managing the refurbished Gentleman’s Club that Nico owns, he was in every one of our meetings. “You know what is happening. The other families are going to do all that they can to get them out safely,” I say, irritated. “If anyone gets left behind, I am hoping they will be smart enough to lay low until we have disarmed the Romano soldiers. Once we have done that, we will secure Riccardo and then take him to one of our warehouses. In doing that, no innocents get caught up in the crosshairs.”

“Right. I remember.” He yawns.

“Are we keeping you up?” I ask derisively.

He shakes his head, his eyes widening in fear when he spots my ire. “Sorry man, long night.”

“Fucking get your head in the game,” I bark under my breath, careful not to be too loud. It’s an old building that echoes. We don’t want to draw any unwanted attention. He straightens, his face turning serious. Then he nods like an obedient soldier.

Huffing, I murmur, “Tell me how we were ever friends? You don’t seem like the sort of guy I would choose to be friends with.”

Leo snorts, slapping me on the shoulder. “Well, you did. And not only that, but we have also been friends for over twenty years now.”

Turning away from him, I start down the hall.

“Quit being a pussy. This isn’t a fucking Hallmark movie,” I mumble under my breath, trying to shake off the moment and get my head back in the game.

We move in stealthy silence; the only sound is the chatter coming from the guests inside the nave. When we round the corner to the office, we are startled to a stop by the armed guard waiting outside, not one of ours. Before he can pull his weapon, I aim my gun, shooting him in the head before he has a chance to call for back-up.

“Shit man. He didn’t stand a chance.” Enzo laughs.

“Get him inside,” I command, stepping over his body and pushing the door to the office open.

Enzo and Leo drag the body inside, kicking the door shut behind them. Sighing, I drop down in the chair behind the desk, holding up my arm to speak through the small microphone at my wrist. “We made it to the office, Nic.”

Crackles sound in my ear, then his voice comes down the line.

“Good. Allegra just passed the church. Part two of the operation can begin.” My blood heats in my veins, the need for vengeance a living breathing thing inside my body. “Oh, fuck.”

“What?” I grate out, my heart pounding in my chest as an ominous feeling falls over me.

“Vincenzo, his right hand, and his sister just pulled up,” Nico growls.

“What the fuck?” I snap, jumping out of my chair and pacing the small room.

“What’s going on?” Leo asks, watching me with concern.

“Vincenzo is here,” I grate out, my jaw clenched so hard I’m surprised I don’t crack a tooth.

“Fuck. That’s one situation we didn’t account for,” he breathes, running a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, because we never believed Riccardo would be so blatant. They are taunting us, it’s the only explanation for why he would bring him here.” I voice my thoughts out loud.

“Or they genuinely believe that you are dead and it’s safe for them to come here, because they are in the clear.” Enzo points out.

I pause, mulling over Enzo’s statement. It could be the case. But something tells me there is more to it. Listening through the earpiece, I wait as Nico greets them, then tells them to make their way inside. Once I know I am safe to, I speak.

“Talk to me?” I urge, but it’s more of a demand.

“This changes nothing, we stick to the original plan, but we take the Conti’s too.” Nico’s voice leaves no room for argument.

“Got it,” I grunt out.

“Everyone is in place. Time to show these fuckers just who they are dealing with. See you on the other side.” Nico rumbles down the line before I hear the tell-tale sound of footsteps as he no doubt enters the church, where he will then chain lock the door.

“It’s go time.” Determination laces every word as I look between the other two men. Blank masks simultaneously fall into place on their faces as they nod their agreement.

“As we know, the guards from both families have been allowed weapons. Always be alert, and make sure you shoot to kill any Romano scum.” I hitch a sardonic brow. “Please try to avoid hitting any of our own. Got it?”

“We got it,” they agree in unison.

Resolve works its way through my veins, every muscle locking into place.

Whatever the outcome, by the time today is over, my wife will be free.