It had two windows open. One was linked to Amelia so we could all listen, and then the other one was the page that Amelia had given Micah with the studio’s cameras and security information on it. Stewart had the same access, but was watching from wherever he lived. Although he was helping us out, he was still keeping his distance, trying to stay undercover as much as possible.
“Say something, baby,” I said, needing to have the reassurance that we could hear everything easily. I was a flipping the fuck out inside and needed to make sure everything was working perfectly.
“Stop worrying,” she said, running her soft hand down my cheek.
Her voice came over the speakers clear as day, but it didn’t stop my heart from beating uncontrollably at the mixed emotions I was feeling. I couldn’t even begin to explain how fucking proud of her ballsy braveness I was, but at the same time, I was worried as shit that something was going to happen to the only person that ever made me happy.
I looked up at her, studying her confidence. She wasn’t showing any sense of regret or distress about following through. She was good … cool as a fucking cucumber.
Dammit, she was amazing!
I grabbed her face in my hands with authority. “I love you,” I said hoarsely, “so fucking much.” I kissed her long and hard, reveling in the sensation of her tongue on mine, praying that everything would be okay.
We were breathless when we separated, our bodies so full of every goddamn emotion. It was unreal how much passion and devotion we could show each other in just a brief, simple kiss, because even though our relationship was anything but simple at the moment on the outside, our love, affection, and the way our lips and bodies connected when touching … it was nothing but simple. There was no effort needed. It was real, natural, and so fucking amazing.
She smiled, our foreheads still touching. “I got this,” she said with a smirk. “We’re good.”
At 5:15, we pulled up to the curb outside the art studio. Stewart had untraceable false plates put on a random, tinted-out car for us, which was pretty fucking amazing. It was only Micah, Amelia and myself that went. Everyone else waited at home with a separate laptop to listen.
My knees were bouncing uncontrollably as I put the car in park, looking at Amelia a final time before she went in. “You can still back out,” I reminded her, placing my hand on her thigh.
She gave me a calming grin. “I’m fine, babe,” she said before leaning over the middle console to kiss my cheek.
“You better give me a better fuckin’ kiss than that before going in there.” I nodded my chin towards the entrance.
She smirked and placed her lips on mine, pushing in and resting her hand on my cheek as she kissed me like a fucking hungry, needy woman that was totally in fucking love with her man would. “How was that?” she asked with a sly grin.
I tilted my head back and forth, contemplating my answer. “I expect better later,” I raised my eyebrows, joking, “but that was acceptable to hold me over.”
She shook her head with a smile before pecking me again.
I pulled her arm before she got out, making her turn to look at me. “I love you, baby,” I said with complete seriousness.
“Love you, babe,” she said and shut the door behind her.
It was then that I let out a huge exhale, revealing the mounds of nerves consuming my body. I was still a fucking wreck and couldn’t hold it in any longer.
I looked back at Micah. “Everything frozen, man?”
He nodded his head confidently. “We’re good, dude. Everything is in check.”
I exhaled again as I turned to face the entrance Amelia disappeared through just in time to hear them talk.
“Wha … what the fuck are you doing here?” was the first thing we heard from a male’s voice. I’m assuming Joey’s.
“Is everyone gone?” Amelia asked, her voice low.
“Yeah … yeah, everyone’s at dinner.”
“They’re frozen,” she said, probably about the cameras.
“Amelia, you gotta get outta here. They’re searching high and low for you … Antonio’s pissed.”
My stomach turned at the affirmation. Unfortunately for Antonio, I can bet my left testicle that I wanted him dead more … pissed isn’t even a question with how I felt about him.
“Yeah, I know, but I need your help.”
There was a pause.
“Do you still want out?” she asked.
Another pause.
“You got a plan?”
Micah and I both exhaled. He was intrigued. That was good.
“We have things in the works, but we need an insider.”
“You know the only way out, Milly.”
Milly?
“And that’s the plan.”
More silence.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m in.”
True to Amelia’s word, exactly five minutes from entering the door, she walked out, a bright, victorious grin spread across her face. If it was possible to love that girl any more than I already did, it happened. I was so goddamn proud of her and so fucking happy that she pulled this off that my heart was swelling with an emotion that I couldn’t even begin to describe.
As soon as the door closed behind her, I pulled her over the console, kissing her fiercely. “You are fucking amazing, baby,” I whispered after letting go, turning the car back on and putting it into drive.
“I knew he’d be in,” she answered confidently as she put her seat belt on.
“Good call, Milly.” I smiled.
She slapped my arm. “It was a nickname. I hate it.”
“Okay, Milly.”
This time I got a full blown punch. “Antonio called me it,” she added with an eyebrow raised.
“And now I fucking hate it,” I snarled as she grinned, claiming another victory.
This girl was fucking rock star at her shit!
It was a much better feeling walking in when we got back home to the apartment than walking out earlier. Everyone was already sipping on wine and chatting when we arrived.
Kayla leapt for us before we could even get two feet in. “That went perfect!” she sing-songed as she gave both Amelia and I a hug.
I think Micah pretty much assumed he wasn’t getting one … at least for a little bit. Maddy was right there anyway to fill the void.
“Here,” Kayla handed Amelia a glass of wine, “I’m sure you need this.”
I took the glass from Amelia’s hand. “My girl doesn’t drink these pansy drinks—get her a beer,” I joked, handing the glass back to Kayla, who was already rolling her eyes.
Miles was next in the line, holding out his hand to give me a congratulatory shake before giving Amelia a half hug. He was still stiff and not very talkative, as he’d been all week, which I couldn’t hold against him. He’d already said before that if their identity were revealed, he and Kayla would be on the next flight out to a random island, yet he was still here, and helping. They were the epitome of good friends.
“Good to have you home,” he told Amelia with a genuine grin.
She smiled back. “It is.”
We played it chill for the rest of the night. We’d all had enough stress for one day, so we took it out on the booze and fancy ass wine. You could call it a fun night if you excluded the lingering situation in the back of all of our heads, but we made the best of it, getting drunk off our asses instead.
The apartment looked like a fucking frat house the next morning, and poor Mrs. Doubtfire was cleaning away when I moseyed out into the living room. I hoped Miles paid this woman well!
I laughed when I saw Miles hanging off the recliner. How fun would it be to post a picture of that somewhere—New York City’s richest man passed out drunk, his suit a hot mess. That’d get the media’s attention in no time.
The fucking media!
They stalk Miles and Kayla like fucking psychos. One of those paparazzi assholes must be involved with the Antonacci family!
I shook Miles awake imme
diately.
He sprang to life instantly. “What? What?”
“It was the paparazzi—they had to have given some photos or info to Antonio,” I said in one breath.
He rubbed his face, awakening himself some more. “Fucking assholes,” he swore groggily and mostly under his breath while he pushed his disheveled hair out of his face. Miles was very GQ—wavy hair slicked back, always in a suit, well-kept … one of those guys. He looked almost normal this morning. “I’ll get Stewart on it,” he said, looking around for his phone. “He knows all those bastards. We’ll find out which one it was and what information he forwarded.”
“I’m gonna fucking kill ‘em!” I said through gritted teeth.
Miles held up his hand while he sat up, adjusting himself. “Calm down, Drake. You’ll be spilling as much blood as Antonio and his guys if you get this fired up with every asshole.”
I exhaled, agreeing. When did I turn into a blood-driven, malicious whackjob? This whole … thing is driving me to the fucking loony bin. “Yeah, yeah, you’re right.”
“This is what happens when you get involved with these people. I warned you,” he schooled. “They have people working for them in every direction. They won’t stop until they’ve found what they’re looking for.”
“That’s refreshing,” I kidded.
He stood, fixing his tie. “I feel good about this, actually. It’s more than I’ve ever been involved with, but Antonio’s ring is one of the weakest as of now. I wouldn’t disregard their power; however, they’re not who they think they are, or once were, either.”
I nodded my head. Small mercies, I guess. “We just gotta figure them out, find their weakness.”
“We’ve got Joey coming over this evening. Hopefully we’ll be able to pull enough from what he knows. I’d like this to be over soon.”
“That’d be nice,” I agreed. I was ready to have it done yesterday, to go on with life and be with my girl like normal people. I didn’t care where that was, but I was ready regardless.
We all just hung out for the vast portion of the day, doing our own thing. Kayla and Amelia were stuck on the web planning Kayla and Miles’ wedding, I watched footage of racing since it was one of the things I was missing most, and Miles played businessman in his office, going back and forth between his laptop and phone.
It wasn’t until a little after six when Micah and Maddy showed up, Joey arriving soon after. The pleasantries and introductions came first. I tried to put on a friendly face for Joey, but it wasn’t the easiest. He looked liked the typical dark-haired, gelled out, dressed up, pompous ass mobster, not to mention he was a blood relative to the most hated person in my life at the moment. You could say I had a hard time seeing past it.
Amelia nudged my side, acknowledging my anxiety, whispering, “We need him on our side, remember?”
I rubbed my face and sighed. “Yeah, I know. Sorry. I’m trying.”
“Well, try harder.”
I heard her threat loud and clear. I couldn’t fuck this up; he was our only link to the inside. I had to let the angry gorilla inside chill the fuck out. Joey wanted out—he hated his family—he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t.
“Wait, you’re Merrick?” he questioned, looking at me, puzzled.
I looked at him just as confused, yet intrigued. “Yeah, why?
“You hardly match the picture Antonio has hanging for you.”
The dude had a fucking picture hanging of me? Like a fucking hit list? Jesus fucking Christ!
“What picture does he have?” I asked.
“Dude, you looked like a homeless guy in it. You should’ve seen Antonio’s face when Donny pulled it up.” He snickered, looking at Amelia, who was just as confused.
I smirked. “He must have my old driver’s license pic, the one I use for everything linked to the bar.”
Micah laughed from behind us. “Oh my God, that is the funniest fucking picture of you,” he agreed.
Amelia and Kayla looked me up and down, confused. Neither of them had seen me looking much different than this—tattooed but clean-cut, solidly built, not the least bit haggard.
“That picture was taken when I was a strung out mess,” I explained, “right before I ran to the city. I looked like fucking Jesus tatted out, with glasses!”
The girls chuckled.
“I think I need to see this photo,” Amelia kidded.
“Baby, I can’t let you do that,” I laughed, “you would never want to fuck me again.”
She tilted her head, doubtful.
“Let’s not chance it, okay?” I winked.
“But that’s good, though, right?” Maddy asked. “That means his identity is still somewhat uncertain to them?”
“Indeed,” Miles agreed.
“They’d have to look long and hard,” Joey said. “I’d have never have picked you out of a lineup with that picture.”
I nodded my head, pleased. “At least something good came out of that era of my life.”
“What other pictures or persons of interest have they mentioned, if I might ask?” Miles was quick to question.
“It was just three until …” his voice wavered, making Amelia’s chin drop to her chest and her eyes close.
“Why was he a person of interest?” Amelia asked after looking back up.
“Closest family,” Joey answered, but in a careful tone. “He’s been on a rampage, Mil.”
“Please don’t call her that,” I demanded, frustration seeping from my pores.
“Uh, yeah. Sure,” he answered back shakily.
“I just …” I shook like I had chills.
“No, I get it,” he replied.
“God, I hate him,” Amelia said quietly as she tilted her head back, looking up at the ceiling.
“I think that’s a mutual feeling amongst us all, baby.” I pulled her into my side and kissed her temple. I noticed Joey staring, but he didn’t seem bothered, maybe even happy …
“He’s a fuck,” Joey assured Amelia. “They all are; we know that.”
Amelia nodded her head. “Thanks for being here,” she told him. “I just want him to get what he deserves. I’m done.”
“Yeah, totally. I’m with ya.”
Joey was slowly building brownie points with me, and as I glanced over at Miles to get his take, I could see he was getting the same feeling. This guy felt exactly how Amelia explained. How shitty was it to hate your family so fucking much that you wanted in on putting them ten feet under? I guess when your family equals a bloody mob, it isn’t so farfetched.
“I gotta tell ya, though. I’m a little fucking nervous,” he admitted, visibly freaking out. His words were shaky and he seemed almost jumpy, his posture showing very little confidence. “We gotta do this soon. If they …” He shook his head nervously, ostensibly thinking about the repercussions he could face.
I patted his upper arm. “We want this finished just as fast.”
There was silence for a minute as we all came to the realization of what we were facing and how quickly it was happening. I sure as shit was ready for it, but it was still a tough pill to swallow. We were going to do the unthinkable, something almost unrealistic. Something bad.
“Well, let’s sit,” Kayla interrupted, motioning to the living room behind us.
We mumbled in agreement as we shifted to the couches and chairs. Coffee and mugs were already on the end table, compliments of Mrs. Doubtfire.
As soon as we all were seated, business began.
“We need to get knowledge of the business end of things,” Miles started, his gaze on Joey. “That seems to be our most viable option.”
Joey stood silent for a moment, the wheels visibly turning.
“Are there any big game nights coming up or deals being made?” Amelia asked.
“Yeah, yeah,” Joey was quick to answer. “Franco and his guys are coming in the night after next.”
“Who’s Franco?” I asked.
“The leader of the other ring,” Amelia cl
arified.
“The one they’re joining with?” I asked.
Joey and Amelia both nodded.
“They got a poker night scheduled; supposed to be a laid back thing.”
“Not if they suspect any wrong doing,” Maddy said from the other side of the room.
We looked at her, intrigued.
“Gamblers are protective of their money. If they ever feel that they’re being cheated,” she raised an eyebrow, onto something, “well, it doesn’t matter who you are,” she added.
Joey looked at her with an amused smile. “Yeah, she’s right. Antonio would flip shit if he thought someone was cheating him.”
Suddenly, all of our expressions turned hopeful. This was something we could work with. Micah pulled Maddy into his side with a huge grin, impressed with his girl.
“I guess there’s an upside to being raised in a crappy house in Vegas,” Kayla commented with a smirk.
I snickered. Our shitty ass pasts were actually working out in our favor.
“Are you dealing that night?” Amelia asked, ignoring the side comments and keeping the business in sight.
“As of right now, yeah,” Joey answered.
“How many tables?”
“Only two.”
“Who’s doing the other one?” she continued to ask.
We all watched and listened as the two insiders conversed.
“Johnny.”
Amelia nodded her head, seeming pleased.
“Is Antonio playing?”
“That’s the plan.”
“He’ll be at Johnny’s table, though.”
Joey nodded his head. “Most likely.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Johnny’s still fresh meat, only eighteen. Antonio likes to watch the young ones,” Joey explained.
I nodded my head, understanding.
“Who’s doing the seating?” Amelia was super focused, the wheels apparently turning faster as they spoke. She was working up a scheme as I watched, impressed. This was a side to Amelia that turned me on like a dirty dog, but at the same time, it was scary as fucking hell that she could think like this at the drop of a dime. No doubt, Amelia had a devious side to her, one that I would never want to be on the wrong side of.
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