Break All Ties

That feeling of nervousness didn't dissipate over the next few coming days. It worsened when I caught word of Luca Columbo's call. Assante told me about it, face blank, revealing nothing. I was given a date. The plan was set.

There was more nervousness to come as that date drew closer. With a wince, Assante made me aware of what would happen if Ida decided not to go along with our plan. Since she'd know of our plans to betray Luca, she'd have to die. It was with that in mind that I was going to give her a warning before revealing anything to her. I was tired of the people around me dying. If there was anything I could do to stop that from happening, then that was what I'd do.

It was starting to feel like everyone was dying. That it was something I'd have to get used to. It didn't matter where I looked. Someone always seemed to be dead.

On the day of our arranged meeting, Assante and I stood on the drive before the doors as mafia men spewed in and out of the house. Though none were permitted to live in the mansion going forwards, their presence had become something of permanence once more.

It wasn't something I was particularly happy about, but I was dealing.

"Are you ready?" Lorenzo asked me as we stood hand in hand watching the gates.

"No, but there isn't any time for that, is there?"

"We've got time. We don't have to go through with this immediately if you're not ready. We can reschedule the plan and distract them today. There's no rush Bellezza."

"No," I sighed. "I'm ready. I'm just..."

"You have nothing to worry about," He assured me. "Luca won't find out the plan, and even if he does, nothing will happen to you. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise you that Bellezza."

"I know. I'm just nervous."

There was every chance in the world Ida would hate this plan. After that, the first person she'd tell would be Luca. There'd be no coming back from that.

Why did the good plans always have to come with a huge risk?

"You have nothing to be nervous about. Trust me?"

"I trust you."

"Then trust that I have this handled."

With a sigh, I dropped my head to his shoulder. He'd once told me there was nothing he couldn't fix. As the years went on, I was really starting to believe that.

"Would it help if we recap the plan?" He asked.

At this point, we'd been through it so many times that I could recite it like a script.

He took my silence as a yes. "I'll distract Luca in my office whilst you take Ida somewhere out of sight. You tell her the plan and I'll be ready in case she disagrees with it."

I didn't like what he meant when he said he'd be ready.

"I'll take her to the women's quarters," I said softly. "The men still won't go there."

Even though the women that had once worked here were out doing God knows what now, the men still wouldn't step anywhere near the women's quarters. The punishments for entering were drilled too deeply into their minds.

They were here within the next ten minutes. A pricey sports car came hurtling down the drive after Turtle had been instructed to open the gates.

My palms were sweaty but I was otherwise ready.

There was no going back now.

When they pulled to a stop, Assante had his game face on.

"Ah! Lorenzo!"