Luca's pov
Grigori was waiting for me in my father's study when I was done with the intruders. I had thoroughly enjoyed breaking and mangling them so much that I almost didn't remember I needed to wring details out of them. To be honest, I didn't care. I just wanted to punish them for posing a threat to my family and Cara.
The investigator's eyes grew wide when I walked in and I wondered just how much of a mess I looked. I hadn't bothered with cleaning up and probably had blood on my face. My hands were still stained with blood.
Grigori stealthy masked his initial expression as I got around the wide desk. The taut leather padding of my swivel chair grumbled as I sank my weight on it.
"I was shocked upon entering the mansion. The bratva caused quite a mess." He mentioned, pulling out his latest findings.
My fist balled up on the desk and I was feeling murderous again. The mess alone on the patio would take weeks to repair, my father's once untouchable abode was now in the same boat as every other ordinary civilian's house, its title of invincibility thoroughly desecrated.
Shooting Grigori a grim look, I asked. "What do you have for me?"
His gaze lit up. "Quite a list of things." He pushed some printed pictures of a few documents I recognized to be slush funds records.
My eyes narrowed. "This is…"
Grigori gave a solemn nod of his head. "Alexei Mikhalov's leverage on the DA."
So that's why the spineless government official went against me. He was being blackmailed with his corruption. I dropped the papers with a toss. That was no business of mine, I'd be doing a lot more than blackmailing him with his embezzling activities if he tried to go against me again.
"Also…" Grigori continued as he handed a new set of files to me. "I discovered some really interesting information about the pakhan."
I took the files from him, my focus intent as I flipped through the content, dark excitement growing inside me with each turn of the papers.
"It appears we now know two of Alexei Mikhalov's biggest weaknesses." Grigori said.
The dark excitement spread across my lips. Indeed, we did and I was about to have it in my grasp, at my disposal. I was going to tear Mikhalov apart with it.
My gaze bored into the papers, the audacity of the Russian brat to have such weaknesses yet still parade with the bravery of a man with nothing to lose. Seemed like the older Mikhalov did a poor job of instilling strategic thinking into his son.
The thought of the looming destruction I would bring him filled me with malignant delight.
"The war is over once you use it." Grigori prompted.
Consideration floated in my mind but I shook my head, tucking the files back into the envelope. I would save these for later. Use them at the last minute.
A sardonic smile tipped the corner of my mouth, guess I was a stickler to the old rules of revenge after all.
"I have another surprise for him." I said, pushing the envelope to my side. Alexei Mikhalov would deal with that for now, I was only getting started with him anyway.
The naive prick has successfully elevated himself to the top one most annoying bastards on my blacklist in just the few months he became pakhan. I would applaud him for it, nobody else has achieved such a fit.
My mind drifted back to what Dominic had told me earlier and my expression turned sour. "What about the rat?"
Just the thought of them doused the dark pleasure at having Alexei's weakness in my palm with cold water. I might have said this before but there was one thing I hated the most in this world, and it was funny business.
Snitching, pretense, manipulation to name a few, fell under the umbrella. I wasn't the type to show mercy on a usual day but I was completely merciless with these misdeeds.
They were sins I never ever forgave.
Grigori locked his fingers on the desk. "We have reasons to believe it was a don in the Costra Nostra. Intel came in about don Torrio, don Russo and don Scuderi walking into an exclusive restaurant thirty minutes after Alexei's right-hand man last week's Tuesday at exactly 6:45pm."
The muscles in my jaw flexed as the black shroud of murderous rage overtook me.
Cazzo.
The three men were close with my father and had been important figures in his circle when he was still don. If it turned out that they indeed betrayed their oath to the Costra Nostra, it would mess up the old man, although he would not admit it.
"Have you confirmed their betrayal?" My voice was cutting steel.
Grigori shifted in his seat, obviously discomfited by the darkness oozing out of me. "No, not yet." He shifted again and added. "They will be identified by Wednesday."
Wednesday… that was next week and precisely five days from now. Chilling eagerness washed over me. I couldn't wait to gut their throats and pull out their tongues.
I pushed out of my chair, grabbing the envelope.
Grigori got up as well, gathering the rest of his files into his brown leather suitcase.
"Just for security sake, do not speak about your latest findings to anyone else. Not even Dominic. I don't trust the ratting don, whoever they are, to not plant ears around him."
Grigori nodded in compliance. "I'd report back to you on Wednesday morning." He declared before tipping his head and bustling out the study.
I stared down at the brown envelope in my hand, the bratva would receive my response before the next Monday.
Wednesday morning, I will deal with the scemos who had the audacity to break the omerta, the oath they're sworn to and are expected to live by.
Next week, I will deal with all of that but right now, I needed to find Cara.
I could barely keep myself from running as I drew closer to the place I had left her. Half of my fear dissipated when the last of the intruders were caught and I confirmed that she was safe where she was. The other half of it would only fade away once I saw with my own eyes that she was indeed safe. Some things just weren't trusted based on the words of my soldiers and Cara's wellbeing was one of it.
I found her shaking where she sat on a chaise, Gina trying and failing to get her to relax while Dante just stood straight beside his wife like someone who had zero idea on what to do.
Amanda was the first to notice me and I could barely focus on the insincere relief she displayed over my obviously unharmed form.
"Oh, thank heavens! You're okay!"
Cara's head snapped up and the sight of her shaken expression melting into unbridled relief pulled at me in areas I didn't know existed. I decided then and there that I never wanted to make her worry.
I wanted nothing more than to go over to her and pull her in for a mind-blowing kiss but we had an audience and it made me irritable.
"Luca, you're safe!" Gina bounded over to me and hugged me tightly. I held on to her, happy that she was unscathed yet sorry that her wedding party had been completely ruined.
I had made her marry Dante for her safety only for the said safety to be threatened on her wedding day.
"I'm glad you are too, principessa." I said, kissing the side of her head, my gaze flickering to Cara now and then.
Gina let go of me and returned to her husband's side. The man acknowledged me with a small bow before saying. "We're relieved to see that you're fine."
I nodded then said in a grim voice. "You'd have to leave for Italy much earlier than intended."
The two of them were supposed to be bound for their honeymoon in Rome early tomorrow but the recent development will have to change that. My sister needed to get to the impenetrable safety of our 7788 back home.
Dante answered with a nod of his own. "Yes, my jet has been readied. We will be leaving tonight." He squeezed Gina's hand in reassurance when she looked up at him with worry.
I looked back at Cara, I wanted to reassure her too. I could see the jerkiness of her movements, it was like she could barely keep herself from flinging into my hands.
That did it.
I got everyone to leave, ignoring Amanda's look of suspicion. The door had barely shut behind us when she flew into my embrace. I held onto her like my life depended on it.
"I was so scared." She admitted. "I thought- I thought-"
"Shhhh bambina. It's okay. I'm okay."
She drew back to gaze into my face with a softness I've never seen before. It caused my heart to squeeze with a tightness.
Her eyes flickered like she suddenly realized how vulnerable she was being. "Well I'm glad." She said, releasing me and stepping back.
I pulled her back in and her gasp was a warm breath on my chin. "Not as glad as I am to see you safe." I said, my voice thick with emotion.
She stayed silent, weighing her words before sighing and letting it out. "You came back, just like you promised."
My hand cupped her face. "I'll always keep my promise to you, Cara mia." Was my declaration before I dropped down for a heart stopping kiss. Cara instantly opened up for me and I ravished her beautiful mouth. Completely certain that this was what heaven tasted like.