I had no idea where there was, but I followed my bodyguard out of the living room and down the hall. He seemed to know his way around the house which surprised me.
“How often have you been here?”
“A few times.”
“I see.”
He let out a chuckle. “I only ever acted with your safety in mind.”
“I know.”
I did.
It just seemed weird that a man once so loyal to my father was now on the other side. Although after the wedding, maybe we were all on the same side now.
Luis kept going until we walked right out of the house to his SUV. He popped the trunk and pulled up the interior flooring revealing a hidden compartment. “One bulletproof vest. Put it on under your hoodie.”
My hands trembled as I took it from him. “Is this really necess—
He gave me a pointed look. “Scott is unhinged, Arianne. I know you want to do the right thing, and I agree, I think this is our safest bet at saving Nora, but it doesn’t change the fact we could be playing right into his hands.”
“I know, I just... okay,” I let out a weary sigh. “I’ll put it on.” Slipping out of my hoodie, I let Luis help secure me into the vest. It felt strange, restrictive, and heavy, like a vice around my chest.
“It’s not infallible, but it gives you some protection. Knife.” He handed me a blade, the one he’d given me before, the one I’d stabbed Scott with.
“I...”
“Take it.” He pushed it toward me. “There is no way I’m letting you walk in there unarmed and you know Nicco will agree with me.”
My fingers closed around the handle as I stared down at the blade, remembering how it had felt jamming it into Scott’s thigh. A shudder rolled through me.
“Ari, look at me. “Luis’ hand landed on my shoulder. “You’ve got this. We’ll be there every step of the way.”
I nodded, too choked to reply. Earlier I’d been running on adrenaline, on the sheer desperation of saving Nora. But now I was running on fear.
“Arianne,” Antonio’s deep voice startled me. “Nicco has filled me in on the plan.” He came over to us, and Luis gave the two of us some space.
“I have to do this,” I said as if I was talking myself into it.
“I know. She is your friend.”
“Nora is family. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do this and she...”
“She will be fine. It is you Scott wants. Just keep him talking and Niccolò will take care of him, okay?”
“Okay.” Tears burned the back of my eyes.
In a rare display of affection, Antonio pulled me into his big arms. “You are a part of this family now. We will not let any harm come to you. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“Good.” He eased back. “You and my son have your whole future ahead of you. We shall not let Scott Fascini take that from you, either of you.”
“All set?” Nicco stalked over to us. He looked deadly, his eyes dark and stormy. He didn’t like this, but I had to do it.
“Call me when it’s done,” Antonio said.
And I realized then, that this was a suicide mission.
But not for me or Nicco.
For Scott.
The industrial unit was a big place on the edge of Romany Square near the border. We rolled to a stop and Nicco went into full protector mode.
“Luis and E, go scope it out.” His eyes were narrowed dangerously as he stared out at the warehouse as if it was the enemy.
Maybe in some ways, it was.
Luis and Enzo left, splitting up and sweeping the area.
“It will be okay,” I said, breaking the thick silence.
“Bambolina.” He exhaled a heavy sigh, fixing his eyes on me. “Why do I feel like this is a bad idea?”
“It’s the only option, Nicco. If you go in there, he could hurt Nora, or worse. I won’t take that chance.”
“So I’m just supposed to take a chance with your life?”
“Scott is a psychopath. I can appeal to his ego.”
“You know how this ends, don’t you?”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “It’s okay. I understand.”
Scott couldn’t walk away from this. No matter how much I didn’t want Nicco to kill him, to carry that burden, I knew they would never let him live after this. And I had to make my peace with that.
“I think I understand now. He threatened Nora and I would do anything to save her.” I laid my palm on