“Yes, sir.”
“Tell the driver to meet me out back at the carriage house. I’ll meet you guys at the front of the house.”
I end the call as I finish dressing.
“Baby, what’s happening?”
I turn and stare at her. I don’t want to burden her with this right now. Not when I’m leaving, or she might be scared, knowing someone was after our family.
“Some business that has to be handled. Bones is on his way to secure you and the kids. I won’t leave until he’s here, but you stay in this house and don’t leave for any fucking reason! You got that?”
“You’re scaring me, Ales.”
“Good! Be scared, but baby, be safe,” I say, pulling her against me and kissing her lips.
“I’m scared for you. What are you going to do, Ales?”
I look into her beautiful brown eyes and see my heart reflected there.
“Mila, remember when I said there are three important things you always gotta understand?”
She nods her head.
“Yougotta trust me, Mila, even when you don’t understand because enemies are always around. The second is loyalty. No matter if you’re ever under pressure, even if your fucking life depends on it, you’ve gotta remain fucking loyal to me and that I’d never leave you unprotected. And the third thing was don’t trust no-fucking-body, don’t listen to anybody, and suspect every fucking body?”
“Yes,” she whispers.
“This is one of those times, babe. Trust me, I’ve got you protected. Don’t trust shit. You stay still right here with the kids,” I say.
I hear Bones downstairs, and I know it’s time for me to leave.
The one thing that I don’t tell Mila is that I will be okay. There’s never a reason to give false hope or promises. I won’t lie to her about things that I can’t control. I can only hope that I’ll return safely to her.
Kissing her one last time, I ease into the nursery and kiss Aris before going to Bianca’s bedroom and kissing her forehead. These three are what I live and breathe for. For that reason, I’ll do all I can to remain safe, but there’s no guarantee that I’ll return home, especially when I don’t know who the enemy is.
It could be the Colombo family coming to retaliate against me for Frederico’s murder.
Heading downstairs, Bones starts to walk with me towards the door. Stopping, I place a hand on his shoulder. “You spoke with Rocco?”
“About half an hour ago when he called to say there’d been a hit at Marco’s.”
I nod. “I need you to stay here with Mila and the kids.”
Bones frowns at me. “Boss, you need—”
Placing two firm hands on his shoulders, I stare into his eyes. “You to cover my wife and kids! I don’t fucking trust nobody with them but you. Got it?”
“Got it,” he says.
“Good. Mila’s upstairs worried sick, and the kids are asleep. I’ll be in touch when I can.”
He nods, and I head out the back door in the kitchen and walk through the dark backyard. Looking up on my roof and all around, I see my men patrolling the grounds and the roof to ensure our safety.
Marco’s always accused me of going overboard with my security since I’ve married Mila, and I have kids now. When a man loves, he’ll do anything to ensure the safety of his loved ones. Perhaps that’s my brother’s problem.
By the time I arrive at the carriage house in the back of my home, I’ve pulled out the spare key. I never use this, preferring to give Serena her privacy. Tonight, I have no time for privacy or other concerns.
After unlocking the door, I head down the hallway and to the master bedroom, banging on the door as I open it. My brother, Marco, is balls deep inside of my cook.