Chapter 48

**Raffaela…**

I left Annika and the children in the kitchen and made my way to my office. “Is everything ready for the attack?” I asked my men.

"Yes, boss,” they all replied.

“Good, Flavio. You are with me. Everyone else gets into the cars and meets me at Tony’s warehouse. Today we end that fucker.” I growled. The remaining three mafia bosses will be attacking his other warehouses in different countries. We finally finalized our plan. I can't wait to end that fucker’s life. He had done enough damage to people, especially girls, just like his two bastards.

I walked out and turned to Flavio. “I will be right back,” I told him.

“I will wait at the car. I want to call Thea as well.” We both knew that missions like this were dangerous. We never know if this might be our last day with our loved ones. I hated this part the most but I always try to keep my promises to my children.

I went to the living room, where I heard laughter and saw Annika and the kids watching a movie. “Guys,” I called out.

All four of them turn to me. “I am heading out; I just wanted to say goodbye.” I smiled. The older children knew what I meant; Enzo was still too small. I couldn't tell him that I might not make it back home. Speaking of the little rascal, we can’t get him to sit still or rather, lay in his bed. He is a busy body, for sure, and I'm glad that he is getting better.

Catarina and Romeo got up and hugged me. “Take care, dad. Please come back to us." Catarina whispered.

“Alway.” I kissed her cheeks and next was Romeo.

“I love you, dad.” 

“I love you, son. Remember, if anything happens, you are the man of the house.” He nodded and stepped back.

Enzo came running up to me. “Are you going to work, Daddy?” he asked as I picked him up.

“Yes, buddy. I will be back later tonight. Now I want you to be a good boy and listen to Annika.”

“Yes daddy.” He threw his arms around me and gave me a thigh hug. “I love you, daddy,” he yells, making me chuckle.

“I love you too, buddy.”

I put him down and he ran back to the couch. “I love you.” I say this as I look at my children.

“We love you too, daddy.” I hated seeing those looks in the older kids eyes. They knew this was dangerous. They knew that this might be the last time they saw me alive.

Annika walked up to me. “Why does this feel like you are saying godbey forever?” She asked, looking into my eyes as if she were trying to search my soul for answers. Dammit, she is smart but I can’t let her worry. I need her here, save and sound with the children.

“No, but I always greet my children when I go out.” I lied. I didn't want her to worry. I did this when I knew my mission would be dangerous.

She just nodded and looked at the children. “I will be right back. You can play the movie.”

She took my hand and we walked out of the living room. Once we were at the front door, she stopped and looked at me and said, “Promise me you will come back. Save.”

“I promise I will try to come back safe.” I smile at her.

“It’s not funny, Raffaela,” she glared.

“I promise. I will see you tonight. Take care of yourself.” I said that and kissed her. When I pull away, she looks at me and says, “Take care.”

I walked up to the car where Flavio was waiting for me. I got in and looked at him. “Ready?” I asked. 

“Yes, Chiara and the others are already there.”

I nodded. “Did you talk to Thea?”

“I did but she was suspicious. She told me that if she finds out I am lying to her, she will cut off my balls and feed them to you,” he chuckles as I look at him in horror.

“That woman of yours is crazy.”

“I know and I love that about her.” I roll my eyes. 

We made it to Tony’s warehouse and I looked around, trying to see if my men were there. I called them through our earpieces, “Is everyone here?” I asked.

"Yes, Don,” they all replied. Good. My men knew I hated it if they were late on missions like this.

“Good. Take out their men.” I ordered. 

I looked at Flavio and said, “Be safe.”

He nodded and looked at me. ‘You too. You have a family to go back to.”

“Let’s go.” We got out of the car and went towards the warehouse. My only mission is to find Tony. Flavio and I took out a few men as we made our way to the warehouse. Once we were inside, Flavio looked at me and said, “Go, find Tony. I will take care of this.” He told me and I made my way up the stairs.

As I made it to the floor that led to Tony’s office, someone appeared from behind a door, trying to stab me, but I saw it just in time. I looked at the person and saw that it was a woman.

“It looks like Tony can't fight man to man.” I chuckled.

“And it seems the only thing you have going for you is your looks.” She smirked as she tried to stab me again but I dodged it.

She tried again and I grabbed her hand and swung her against the wall. She glared at me and said, “No wonder your wife left you. You don't know how to treat a woman,” she said.

“Women like you and Blanche don’t count. You give women a bad name,” I smirked, making her angry.

I grabbed her throat and asked, “Where is he?” 

She just laughed and I took out my gun and held it against her head. “I’m going to ask you again. Where is Tony?” Would she sacrifice her life for someone like Tony?

She just shrugged and I pressed the gun against her shoulder and shot. I stepped away as I let her scream in pain. “The next one will be in your fucking head. Tell me.”

“You don't have the balls to kill a woman.” I shot her in the head and walked away.

“And you talk too much. I made my way to his office but something felt off. It was too easy to get inside his warehouse and only a handful of his men were here. “Flavio, did you find anything?” 

“No, something doesn't feel right. There weren’t many men here and I only found one container of yours. I will try to open it and check if everything is inside.”

“That's what I thought. I’m almost at his.” I stopped talking when I saw a large television in his office showing something that pisses me off. I walked over to the TV, showing my children and Annika where they were sitting in my living room watching a movie. It’s happening now.

“Raffaela?” I heard Flavio say it in the earpiece.

I ignored him. How the fuck did he get a video? Is someone spying? I switched off the television.

“Flavio, I want you to call Nick and check to see if everything is alright at the house.” I couldn't take any chances. I had to know that my children and Annika were safe.

“Why? What's happening?” I could hear the concern in his voice.

“I will explain; just do it.” What the fuck is going on here? I walked to the table when the phone started ringing. I picked it up: “Ah, Raffaela. Glad to see you finally showed up.” I hear Tony’s voice on the other end.

“I'm going to kill you, fucker.” I growled. He was testing my fucking patients and I had it with him.

“I don't think you would be able to.” He started laughing.

“You are dead meat once I find you. You leave my family alone.” I threatened him.

“Ah, I see you didn't like the little show on TV. Well, I give you two options and you have to choose wisely.” What is this bastard up to now?

“I don't have time for a game, Tony!”

“Who would you rather save, your family along with that hot nanny you are fucking, or would you choose your men and yourself?”

Did he just ask me that stupid question? He knows we will give our lives to protect the ones we love.

“My family.”

“Very well. Now I want you to go to the TV and switch it back on.”

I did as he said and once I switched it on, there was a timer counting down from 2 minutes.

“I hope you enjoy hell.” Tony laughs as he hangs up.

That fucker! 

“Flavio, get the men out of here now! It's a trap!” I yell. Just as I was about to leave, something caught my eye on the table. It’s names.

“What do you mean?”

“There is a bomb. Now fucking get out of here; I’m coming!” I looked at the timer and saw that there was only one minute left. 

It had all his shipment details on it, except for the fact that it was mine. I looked down on the names and saw Aldo’s name on the papers and TJ’s name. 

I knew we had a fucking snitch among us. I had my suspicions about TJ. That little rat will wish he never turned on me once I am finished with him.

I looked at the timer and saw that I only had a few seconds left. I ran to the door when a man appeared in the hall and shot me in the shoulder. Fuck! Tony made sure I wouldn't get out of here alive. 

I shot the man in the head and ran to the stairs. Another man came running up the stairs. I was just about to shoot him when someone grabbed me from behind. I hit him with the back of my head and grabbed his arm. I punch him in the face, making him stagger back. The other one also came running up to me but I kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying over the rail. I turned towards the other man, ready to shoot him but he kicked my gun out of my hands. “I am getting fucking tired of you.” I said that and kicked him. Once he was down, I grabbed him by the neck and snapped it.

“Raffaela!” I heard Flavio yell but I couldn’t see him. 

“Flavio, are my children alright?” I asked as I ran down the flight of stairs until I heard a loud explosion.

It felt like everything was going in slow motion as the impact from the bomb sent me flying over the stairs. I knew that it was going to be a long way down. Once I hit the floor, everything went black.

**Flavio…**

I told all our men to go outside, as Raffaela ordered me to do. I run back toward the warehouse. “Raffaela!” I yelled when I still didn’t see him. Where the hell is my fucking brother?

“Flavio, are my children alright?” I heard him ask. I was just about to answer when I heard a loud explosion. 

I stopped in my tracks as I saw the warehouse going down and, in flames, “Raffeala!” I screamed as I ran towards the building.

There was smoke and dust everywhere, making it hard for me to see.

“I want everyone here now!” I order our men over my earpiece.

Fuck! We need to find Raffaela fast!

Once all our men were there, I started giving them instructions. I called our people in the police and fire departments. I needed as many hands as I possibly could. I needed to find my brother.

It took us hours to get through the building when my eyes landed on a figure lying on the ground with part of the rope on him. “I found him!” I yelled as I climbed up the trash to get to my brother.

Once I reached him, I saw that he was barely alive. “Don't you fucking die on me. I will find you and fucking kick your ass!” I yelled as I tried to take the concrete off of him.