Ruthless Monarch

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Lorenzo mutters. Clearly, he does not trust Julia at all. I don’t trust her, either. But it’s beside the point.

“I think it’s the only one we have,” Jonathan says. “And trust me, I don’t say that lightly. There’s a good chance Salvatore will call you. When he does, you’re walking into a trap. The only thing we have going for us is the element of surprise.” Jonathan points at his sister. “She brings that element.”

“No.” I shake my head. “There are too many unknown variables. Just tell us where she is, and we will take him out.”

Jonathan interjects. “And risk her getting hurt?”

I’m about to say more when Julia walks over to me and places her hand on my arm.

“I’m going. You have no other choice. Please . . . trust me.” It’s true, we don’t. “Use me as bait. Then kill Salvatore once and for all.”

“Matteo, can I speak to you . . . alone?” Lorenzo says to me, and I nod my head and then turn to Roberto. “Stay with them.”

Once we are alone, he crosses his arms at his chest. “You’re going to work with them?” I nod. “It will make you look weak.”

“It’s not weak to admit you need help. They are our in. Our only in, and before you argue about the past, I get it. I don’t blame them. I would have done the same thing to find out about my parents.”

If we are going to let her go in, we will make sure it’s not a trap.

“Get Jaxson Price on the phone.”

The phone rings through the car speakers.

“Matteo. I’m starting to think I should up my prices. What can I do for you now?”

“Salvatore has my wife.”

There is a pregnant pause at my words, followed by a cough. “Fuck, man. I’m sorry. What do you need?”

“We have a location, but I need to know if it’s legit,” I tell him.

“You want me to check if there are people?”

“I want you to tell me exactly where they are, so I’m not blindsided.”

“No problem.”

I feed him the location, and in the background, I can hear him typing furiously on the phone.

“Okay, I hacked into a satellite. There are two men outside in the front and two in the back. Once you get inside, there are only two more.”

“You sure about this?”

“One hundred percent. Unless your cousin is wearing an ice suit, the heat index won’t lie.”

“You sure you don’t want to come work for me directly, Price?”

“I’m not for sale.”

“Everyone has a price.”

“You couldn’t afford me.”

“Debatable, but right now I have to get my girl, so let’s table the discussion.” I turn to my men. “You guys ready?” I ask.

“What’s the plan?” Lorenzo asks.

“If Julia isn’t lying, and she’s been here before, his men should know her,” Roberto says, obviously still not trusting her.

“I’m not lying. I understand why you don’t believe me, but I’m not.”

“As Roberto was saying, we send in Julia . . . when she is distracting Salvatore, we take out the men on the outside. But we have to do it quietly. Let’s put on an earpiece. That way, she can hear us, and we can hear her. Once we signal that everyone is dead, we come in guns blazing.” I turn to Julia. “Can you handle this?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, let’s go. Pull the car over a block outside the factory. We go on foot.

“Roger that.”

Roberto pulls to the side of the abandoned road before the turn that will lead to where Viviana is.

When we are all out of the car, Julia gets in the driver’s seat.

“Can you hear me?” she whispers.

“Loud and clear.”

“Okay, I’m pulling up.”

The line goes silent, the only sound coming from her rapid breathing.

“Calm down, Julia,” her brother says through the earpieces we are all wearing.

“Sorry,” she mumbles so low we can almost not hear it.

The sound of the car door opening is the only indication of what is happening.

“What are you doing here?”

“Here to check in with Salvatore.” It’s obvious she was deeply ingrained in this plot as there is no objection. Instead, we hear the sound of the heavy, metal door opening.

Then the sound of her footsteps on the concrete.

“The bitch is still alive.”

“Julia?” Viviana says, her voice clearly shocked. I wonder if she knows this is all a part of the plan, or if somewhere inside her, she fears her friend has gone against her one more time. She doesn’t know yet about what we found on the USB drive.

“Yep, it’s me. Although I have to say I’m rather disappointed that you’re here, and to be honest, you don’t even look hurt,” she snarls, but now we know Viviana isn’t hurt.

“What are you doing here?” Salvatore’s voice booms through the earpiece.

The sound of footsteps echo again. “I missed you.”

When we hear the sound of Julia kissing Salvatore, I lift my hand, signaling my men.