Off The Record (With Me in Seattle Mafia #3) -Kristen Proby Page 0,55

everywhere.”

“They are sneaky,” Igor adds. “And more intelligent than any of us gave them credit for, for many years. To our detriment. There’s still much we don’t know. We will not just burst in, guns blazing.”

“We want answers,” Carlo picks up. “We want to ask questions and get answers.”

“We’ll get them.”

We all turn in surprise at the sound of Mick Sergi’s voice. The New York boss steps onto the plane, his son Billy right behind him.

“What are you doing here?” Carmine demands, but Carlo holds up a hand.

“Thank you for coming,” Carlo says and then nods again when Maceo from Miami follows the Sergis onto the plane. “I’m sorry for your loss, Maceo.”

Maceo’s eyes are hard and cold.

“Thank you.”

“Please explain this,” Carmine says as he pulls his sidearm from its holster and lays it on a table.

“All of our personal beefs with each other, whether big or small, are set aside for today,” Igor says, watching the others. “Our only vendetta, our only focus, is destroying the Carlito family. But we have to get answers before we kill them.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Rafe asks. “We just march up to the front door and ring the bell?”

“Precisely,” Carlo says, smiling at his son. “My three sons and I will ring the bell. Say we’re there to talk, to ask questions. Be non-threatening.”

“In the meantime,” Igor says, “the rest of us will infiltrate the perimeter and take out their security.”

“It’s damn good security,” Curt says, still staring at his computer. “I have it up on the laptop, thanks to a late-night email from Ivie.”

“Wasn’t easy to find,” Ivie mutters with a mutinous frown. “Bastards.”

“I have a plan in place, and I’ll go over it with everyone,” Curt says and nods at Carlo.

“Excellent. While my boys and I are talking with Benji inside, you’ll all take out Benji’s men. And once inside, Igor, Mick, and Maceo will have plenty of time to get more answers before extinguishing the Carlitos and their bloodline. They will never be an issue for any organization ever again.”

“How do we know that they’re behind everything?” Nadia asks thoughtfully.

“They’re the common denominator,” Mick replies. “Crime families own up to what they do. If I have a beef with someone and have them killed, I’ll admit it. I don’t hide. No one claimed to have issues with any of the families killed over the past few weeks. No one.”

“And the Carlitos haven’t said a word,” Igor adds.

“How many Carlitos are there?” Ivie asks. “We’ve only heard of Benji. We know he’s young, only in his early twenties, and his father didn’t have an interest in the family business after his grandfather died.”

“We know that Benji is trying to run things.” Mick rolls his eyes. “He’s a fucking kid. His grandfather died twenty-five years ago.”

“Who’s Benji’s father?” Carmine asks.

“Francisco,” Carlo says. “Francisco Carlito. He was never one to be in the forefront of things. Happy to sit in his father’s shadow. And when his father died, we all assumed the family went to sleep.”

“They never slept,” Maceo says. “They’re just good at working underground.”

“Is Francisco dead?” Ivie asks.

“We think so,” Igor says. “We believe that Francisco’s death is what propelled Benji into action.”

“But it’s not been confirmed that Francisco is dead.” Rafe crosses his arms. “There are too many unanswered questions.”

“That’s what today is for,” Carlo reminds him. “Now, Curt, tell us your plan for getting inside and ambushing their security, and let’s finish this mission.”

“I don’t like this.” I’m sitting between Ivie and Nadia in the van, ready to jump out and set Curt’s plan into motion.

It’s a damn good scheme.

We watch as the four men walk down a driveway and up onto a wide front porch.

“Is it just me, or does something feel off?”

“It’s not just you,” Ivie says.

“I feel it,” Nadia says, her eyes pinned to Carmine’s back. “We’re missing something here. There’s a hole in all of this, and I don’t like it.”

I check my earpiece and hear Uncle Igor in my ear when he says, “They’re in. Let’s go.”

Curt’s in the lead, with Nadia right behind him, followed by Maceo, Uncle Igor, the Sergis, Ivie, and me. Once we’re near the fence line, we web out, ready to neutralize the security and get inside.

We all want answers.

Chapter 18

~Rafe~

“Remember,” Pop mutters as we approach the front door, “we’re going to make it seem like this is a friendly visit.”

“Right.” Shane’s voice is cool and hard. “I’m sure we look friendly. Their security has already figured out we’re