FULL NOVELXO Devoted: Chapter 61
I hit dial on Rosa’s number for the twentieth time. It cuts off on the second ring.
“Everything okay?” Frankie asks. I look up and he raises a brow.
“Fine,” I lie.
“You said you wanted to speak to me?” He sits down heavily in the chair across from my desk.
I drop my forehead against my hand, propping myself as I stare at the silent phone in front of me. “We need to kill Romano.”
“Yes, we established that, Luca. In time, we will.”
I don’t have time. I need it done before Rosa’s wedding.
“I mean now.”
He leans back and hooks his arm behind the corner of his seat. “And how do we plan on that? Fly out to Italy? Start a war over there? The commissioner made it clear it has to be done here.”
“How do we get them here?” I knock back the scotch, hitting dial on Rosa’s number again.
Frankie’s lips thin. “Who the fuck do you keep calling?”
I swallow, unable to tell him.
“What is going on with you?” His eyes narrow.
“Just leave it. How do we get Romano here? You know him well enough. Kidnap Maria?” I’d love to have her gone.
He throws his head back and laughs. “No. We want him and his family on their own with minimal protection. Not an entire army.”
“Okay, so the plan is—” He cuts me off with an exasperated sigh.
“After Rosa’s wedding. I invited the whole family, and they accepted. I also arranged a meeting at one of our units the next day. That will be when we make the hit, if you really can’t wait any longer. We just have to hope he doesn’t bring his whole organization. It depends on how much he trusts us.”
My jaw ticks. Rosa’s wedding.
I need to do this before the wedding. So I have all of three days.
“When do they fly in?”
“Friday night, I’ve made it clear that the wedding will have high security. No one will be ruining Rosa’s big day. If you want him gone, it’s the night before or at the meeting.”
“The night before it is, then.” Only two more days. I can do that.
I hit dial on her number again. If I kill Romano before her wedding, she won’t need to marry him. Everything will be out in the open. I’ll deal with the consequences with Dante and Maria.
“I’ll get everything arranged. This is one big fucking headache, Luca.” The crisp lines of his suit twitch as he bounces his knee. A frown forms on his face as he looks at a text on his screen.
“I know. Once it’s done, we have it all.” I’ll have everything I need: Rosa.
“Or, we start an all-out war in New York.” He shrugs, clearly not giving a shit about that option.
The phone rings in my hand. My heart races until I see the caller ID. Dante.
“Hello,” I greet him.
“Luca, I’m throwing a little pre-wedding party tonight at Trance, the club where me and Rosa fell in love. Will you be there?”
I mute the call, mainly to get a hold on the seething anger that his words raise. “Did you know about a wedding party for Rosa tonight?”
He shakes his head. “No, I just had a text from Eva. She said she’s gone to Italy to visit her aunt? I’m trying to get hold of my sister. She’s not talking to me at the moment, though.”
Why would Eva up and leave before her sister’s wedding?
I hit unmute. “Yes, I’ll be there. We all will.”
“Great. See you then.” Dante sounds particularly happy with my answer.
He cuts the call. That’s the most he’s ever said to me, let alone with such a cheery tone.
A bad feeling settles in my gut.
“Have you spoken to Rosa?” I question, swallowing past the lump in my throat.
“Not since Italy. I’ve been a bit preoccupied. Why?”
He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, studying me. “Please don’t tell me you’re doing all this to stop her wedding, Luca?”
I open my mouth to answer and can’t. “And what if I say yes?”
He stands, shaking his head with disappointment. “Love is a weakness, Luca. You need to let her go, keep her out of this mess.”
With that, he slams the door to my office.
Come on Rosa, answer your phone.