“They’re too strong, Tank. May I remind you that the minute the Russians and Italians joined forces, they became a nightmare?”
“They’ve been quiet, and you know it. You’re just afraid they’re too strong. Powerful. You’re afraid they’re a fucking mafia monopoly, but hurting an innocent person just to get them to fight doesn’t make you better, sir. It makes you worse than them.”
“Anything else?” he snapped.
“Yeah.” I paced. “I’m handing in my badge and gun to Giana once I find her.”
“What the hell is Giana doing down there?” he roared. “Are you sure?”
My body went cold. “She said you sanctioned it. That you didn’t trust me to get intel on my own.”
“Tank, Giana was fired two days ago for insubordination.”
“Fuck!” I roared into my phone. “I left her alone, I left her alone!”
I hung up the phone as he was talking and ran back down the pathway to my bungalow, hoping to God I wasn’t too late.
Because Giana was clearly unhinged.
And if I knew her…
She was here to finish what she’d started.
Chapter Thirteen
Kartini
I woke up and stretched my sore body, throwing my arms over my head and wondering how the hell I’d put off confessing everything to Tank for so long. Oh, I was sure we’d argue like crazy despite the sex, but that’s what would make our relationship so fun.
The arguing.
And the making up.
And I had a feeling we’d have a lot of making up to do in the future since both of us had serious issues with backing down.
I reached for my phone and saw a text from Serena.
Serena: Hey, lover, going to the pool. When you pull that sore body out of Tank’s arms, come join us. Then tell us all the details! Izzy wants to know if he almost broke you in half, how are you walking? Okay, okay just meet us asap!
I laughed out loud. The text was only sent a few minutes ago. I fired one back.
Me: Tell Izzy I might need crutches after last night, but it was worth it. And if he broke me in half, I’d ask him to do it again.
Serena: You WHORE!
Me: Izzy’s just jealous because Chase cut down the tree Maksim used to sneak into the house and threatened bodily harm.
Serena: Um, he threatened decapitation but sure, same thing.
Me: Ughhhhhh, I’m tired. Okay, give me five minutes?
Serena: I’m ordering you booze, so you talk.
Me: That’s to be expected.
I threw the phone onto the bed and winced when I really did feel a bit of pain between my thighs. Geez, the guy had lost his mind last night.
Then again, I had, too.
I’d lost count after around six a.m.
And then I realized that I didn’t need to count, did I?
Because what I had with him, it felt…real. Like forever.
Still grinning, I put on my black bikini then grabbed my Airpods, sunglasses, and keycard.
I was still smiling as I pushed open the suite doors and lifted my head, only to see a complete stranger sitting on my couch, a Glock 17 in her hand as she watched me with hatred dripping from every pore of her body.
I kept my head high. “You the maid?”
Her nostrils flared. “Do maids typically carry guns?”
“Good question.” I crossed my arms and tried to memorize every detail of her face from her dark hair in a severe, tight bun, to her green eyes, to the way her pale skin seemed to glisten with sweat.
She was either nervous or unhinged.
Dressed in black leggings and a tight, matching t-shirt.
“You going to a funeral?” I joked.
She shook her head. “You really do have a mouth on you. Is that how you killed Jenner?”
I flinched. “Jenner?”
“FBI. My team member. Jenner.”
Shit, shit, shit.
“I don’t remember, there’ve been so many guys that…” I shrugged. “Is there a reason you’re in my room? I mean, I get it, you’re FBI, but have I done something wrong, agent…?” I waited.
“Giana,” she said. “My name’s Giana.”
“Pretty name. Italian?”
“You killed them. You killed all of them! You killed my brother. My father.” Her face went bright red. “And you killed Jenner, I know you did. And now, I’m going to kill you. That’s why I’m here. Funny how the downfall of the De Lange line didn’t break the Five Families but made them stronger. It’s complete bullshit.” She was almost talking to herself. “Do you hear me? Bullshit!”
I held up my hands. “I hear you. I do. I’m sorry about your brother and dad.”
“No, you’re not!” She jumped to her feet. “The mafia’s never sorry. Chase Abandonato is a motherfucking senator! You think he’s ever going to be tried for his sins? For assassinating an entire family line!”
I sighed. “I’m not justifying what he did, but you do realize what the De Lange Family is guilty of, right? Why they were pushed out of the fold? And even now, we still welcome them back in. But everything comes at a price.”