Angelo and a few other men came with me in the private jet. The times where I moved on my own are over. My life doesn’t belong to me alone anymore. Now, I have an entire family to keep afloat, lands, farmers, people.

It’s almost surreal, but at the same time, it isn’t. I was raised on these aspects, and while I became a dog for another person, my fucking enemy, at some point, it doesn’t deny where I belong — with these people.

I motion at the men. “You two stay behind. Angelo, cover my back.”

After a curt nod and a final rundown of the plan, they scatter all around.

Angelo is antsy to go back to the latest widow he’s banging here in the States. He thinks widows are the most open for sex without strings attached.

Back to the plan; the idea is to disrupt Lucio’s shipments. Enzo and I have already ruined most of his Italian shipments, but we need to take care of the ones from China. Lucio has already lost some of his allies here, thanks to Paolo. I knew he wouldn’t stay still if he knew his dear brother was the reason not only behind his wife’s death, but he’s also trying to wipe out his only offspring.

Neither of them will have my little Petal, but they can dream.

This is the second storage facility my men and I will burn. The first was in the western part of the city. This one is a poorer neighborhood, near an old factory that’s out of business.

The reason I came personally is because I know this place best — perks of living as the family’s dog for decades. Enzo wanted me to send men and stay behind, but Enzo doesn’t know that a true leader gets things done himself. Maybe with time, I’ll learn to lean on others more, but for now, I can’t shake off the lone wolf’s state of mind.

Besides, I want perfectionism so Lucio can find his fall sooner rather than later. Neither Petal nor I will find peace as long as that fucker breathes.

Holding my gun, I flatten my back against the side of the building and motion at Angelo to keep his position. Then, I break the lock, letting the chain rattle to the side, before I barge inside.

There should be one or two guards in here. The rest must be preoccupied with the fire at the Costa property on the west side.

The storage is dark and smells of the wine Lucio keeps stocked here. I’m about to light my torch when the entire storage bathes in white light.

I blink but quickly jump behind boxes, Angelo follows suit.

“Buona Sera, Vitallio.”

My shoulder blades lock at the sound of Lucio’s voice. He’s not supposed to be here. What the fuck is he doing here?

Angelo and I chance a peek over the box, and there he is, Lucio. He sits on a chair in the middle of all of his stock and most of his men stand on either side of him, Stephan included.

Fuck!

He shouldn’t be here. No one other than my men knew it, and no one, absolutely no one from Sicily would betray me for Lucio’s sake. They all lost family because of that fucker, and they have more reasons to kill him than I do.

Blood for blood. That’s what we live for.

So how the fuck did he figure all this out?

Then, I make out the plump woman kneeling at Lucio’s feet. At first, I don’t recognize her. She’s bound, her hair in disarray and her limbs are purple and bruised.

It’s only after a close look that I recognize her.

Rebecca.

Rebecca Serrano.

The late Nathan Serrano’s wife who used to work as a nurse in my little Petal’s hospital before I kicked her out of the state.

She shouldn’t be here or with Lucio. He ordered her fucking husband killed.

Angelo’s face tightens and it all falls in place.

“She’s the widow you’re fucking?” I grit out from between my teeth.

“I didn’t tell her much.”

“Much? Fuck, Angelo. I killed her husband.”

“And she loathes Lucio,” he continues.

“What did you tell her during your fucking pillow talk?” I hiss.

“That you’re here. That’s all.”

“I’m so sorry,” Rebecca begs Angelo with her teary eyes. “He threatened my daughter. I’m so sorry.”

Lucio slaps her so hard, blood explodes from her lower lip and she shrieks. “Shut up, whore.”

Angelo’s hold tightens on the gun and I can feel the need to lunge, save her from whatever is going on in his head.

“Don’t even think about it,” I speak low so only he can hear me. “You’ll only get both of you killed.”

“So, Jasper,” Lucio muses. “Or should I call you Alessio now?”

When I don’t reply, he goes on in his smug voice. “You really thought you could ambush me on my own turf? Come on; you’ve been my dog for a long time; I can see your pattern. When Rebecca here mentioned you were back in town, I waited for your first move. You went after the smaller storage in the west, so I figured that was only camouflage and you’d go after a bigger one next, and here we are. On your deathbed.”

I send texts to the men outside and tell them to drive to the other end. The least they can do is save themselves.

When the reply comes, I release a breath.

“I’m going to kill you and finish the Vitallios once and for all. Then I’ll go to your beautiful Sicily and burn those fucking lands until they turn to ashes, along with the pretty Georgina.”

My shoulders tense and it takes several seconds to breathe straight.

Lucio will have to go through me first before he can get to Petal. I don’t care if I have to bring everything I planned to the ground because of it.

“You think you can take me, Lucio? Have you thought about my plan with Paolo?”

There’s silence from the other side and I know I’ve got him.

“Nothing you plan with Paolo scares me,” he finally spits out.

“Why, Luc, I think this one should. After all, it’s a tailored plan for you. Yes, you know me the best, but have you thought that I know you the best too? That I have all the susceptible information to cripple you?”

Silence.

Using the chance, I motion at Angelo to creep toward the entrance while still staying behind the boxes.

“What’s the deal?” he asks.

“You versus me. Everyone else out.” I don’t hesitate.

“Boss,” Stephan’s booming voice echoes in the silence. “Let me take care of the rat.”

Lucio shushes him. “Everyone out.”

“Send Rebecca this way,” I say and Angelo gives me a grateful look.

I’ll take care of him and her later, but she doesn’t need to die over this.

She’s sobbing as she trips before finally landing beside us. Angelo pulls her to his side even though his expression is tight.

When I make sure all Lucio’s men left through the other door, I motion at Angelo to use a small entrance by the back.

“How about you?” he whispers.

“I’ll be fine,” I murmur back. “Drive all the way to Wisconsin and stay there. I’ll find you.”

He hesitates, but I push him away, my attention falling back on Lucio.

After Angelo carries Rebecca out, I come out from behind the boxes. Lucio is still sitting on his chair; his face closed, neither smug nor worried.

He has something up his sleeve.

And so do I.

I point the gun in his direction. “The plan is simple, Lucio, you’ll fucking die.”