Page 45 of Greed

All Tony wants is the right to operate in the marina, which is my territory, and a cache of stolen guns, which I have obtained from the Russos.

Despite their problems with police raids, they still had stores for me, and Juliano is happy to assist. For a price, of course.

Trying to go for these casinos has cost me more than I bargained for, and it’s sitting in my stomach like a rock. It’s one of my deepest regrets right now.

Tony also has invaluable information about Matteo, his men, and how they operate. Tony seems to know more about the Mafia families than I thought he would, being a gangbanger and all. I suppose, what is the difference between a crime family and a gang anyway?

The call comes in while I’m with Lorenzo. Matteo has left his precious safe mansion and is on the road, and Gia is with him.

This is it! They’ve been stuck in that mansion until now, and although we had a plan to assault the place, this will be much easier.

We scramble to get our people together and formulate how and where we’re going to stop them.

Francesco keeps track of them and reports back that they’re taking a hike. We have about two to three hours to get everything we need and get there to intercept them. I tell him where to meet us with Carlo, the bodyguard with him.

We will outman and outgun Matteo and take Gia, and maybe… maybe I will let Matteo Ricci live. Depending on what my sister says.

We race to the hiking trail with a description of the car Matteo is driving. We reach the road just as they’re pulling out.

Tony and his men come from one side, me and mine from another. We block off the roads and get out, guns drawn. I don’t know what I expected Matteo to do, but I didn’t expect him to shout something, probably to whoever is in the car, and get out shooting.

We all exchange shots, bullets flying everywhere, and I realize that any stray bullet can hit Gia. This is going to get the wrong person killed, and then I’ll never forgive myself.

“Stop shooting!” I yell.

My brothers and Carlo stop immediately.

I shout again, “Stop shooting!”

Tony and his men stop. Matteo doesn’t, and we keep ducked down until he runs out of bullets. I stand up again and see Matteo standing there with his teeth bared.

“What the fuck do you lot want?” he shouts.

Tony approaches him with his gun drawn. “Well, we’re not here for you.”

Matteo glares at Tony, but then glances at movement in the car. Tony doesn’t hesitate, and clocks him hard on the head with his gun. The Don crumples to the ground.

Tony’s men run up to their boss just as the passenger side door of Matteo’s car opens. One of the men drags out a screaming Gia. She struggles against him, fighting him with everything she’s got. Another man takes her other arm, trying to control her.

Anger flares in my chest, and I step out from behind our car. “Gia! Gia! It’s okay.”

She hears my voice and stops struggling. “Andrea?”

“Gia, it’s fine. We’re here to rescue you.”

Tony yanks the back door open and drags out a screaming, crying child, and my stomach drops. A kid, shit. But then I swallow hard and shake my head. What he does with Matteo’s kid has nothing to do with me.

I walk toward Gia. “Let’s go home. I’m so sorry.”

Halfway to my sister, Tony’s men train their guns on me. My men draw their guns, too, but we’re outnumbered twenty to four.

I look at Tony. “What the fuck is this?”

“A business opportunity.” Tony hands off the screaming kid to his men. “I’ve changed my mind, you see. I feel like your sister and the boy are worth more to me if I keep them rather than hand them off to you lot.”

He motions to his men, and Gia starts fighting again as they drag her toward their cars.

“I won’t let you get away with this,” I growl, taking a step toward him.