“You had a pickle craving?” I ask Mamma
“Oh dear girl, she had everyone at her baby shower bring a jar of pickles each. Poor Gregory had no idea where to put the dam things!” Madre bursts out.
We all laugh together before things quiet down and the atmosphere shifts.
“I’m going to bring them home…”
“But what about the baby?” Mamma asks, putting her hand on my stomach.
“The baby needs their fathers…and I can’t ask all the retired elders to go into this alone. I know Alexander. Hell, I might be the only person to be able to take him down. I have to do this.”
“Right…well I knew there was a reason my son loved you so much. You’re a fighter just like my Tony is.”
“And you have the biggest heart like my Luca does.”
“And Luciano? What do I have that resembles him?”
They smile at me softly.
“You have his determination to protect what he loves most.” Madre starts.
“His family.” Mamma finishes.
“Donna?” Gregory says walking in.
“Plans are set?”
“They are. We’re ready for phase one.”
“Alright Papa.” I turn back to Mamma and Madre who give me a big cuddle, lots of kisses and sweet words to their unborn grandchild, then I make my way back to the office.
Phase one is just for Jeremy and me. I originally wanted to do it alone because that is how I work best, but of course there were many objections around the room, so we compromised, and Jeremy is coming with me. We’ve suited up in skintight black long sleeve shirts, tights (much to Jeremy’s objection), balaclavas and earpieces and tracking devices. The plan is to case the building, making sure we know for certain every entry and exit, guard stations and rotation times, building layout and exactly where my guys are being held.
“The trackers are online and working.” One of the tech guys said.
“and the earpieces?”
“Yep, online, ready to go. We’ll be able to log every detail you give us and work an accurate map with the trackers.”
“We ready, little violence?” Jeremy asks.
“Not yet, we’re not. Take off your shoes.” I say kicking mine off. He wines and throws his head back.
“But its cold outside and my feet will get all gross!”
“You want to come? We do this my way. Tonight, we are not big bad mafia men going storming in with guns blazing, making a big show. We’re silent assassins casing a very important job and your shoes will give you away with the tiniest squeak. Off with them.”
“Ugh, fine! But I want a warm bath when I get back here waiting for me.”
“Awww, you want some bubbles too and a little rubber ducky?” I say pinching his cheeks.
1/2
Chapter 83
Bigger off He laughs, swatting my hand away.
1 had Matteo drop us off over half an hour’s walk from the residence. Can’t be too careful, and then I had to listen to Jeremy wine about his feet as we tekked through bushland because we’re not risking a path. We want to take every avenue that no one would comfortably take. Once we’re ten minutes out, we turn on the discreate cameras connected to the trackers in our balaclavas. This should give everyone back at Nonno’s the perfect visual to match our descriptions and mapping. We’ve scaled a tall tree and sit perched in the darkness watching the house from over the tall brick fence in front of us. We stay like this for a long while, watching the guards move around and quietly counting off positions, numbers and movements. I make note of a drainpipe that connects to a couple bakonies, trailing up towards the roof, that’s where we will make our entry. After our silent discussion and making sure the coast is Clean, we shimmy down the tree and over to the fence. Jeremy crouches down, using his hands as a step for me to get to the top, I then hold on for dear life as he uses my leg to pull his big ass up and over. According to what we’ve witnessed from guard rotations, we have roughly 5 minutes to get up to the roof and out of sight.
I’ll admit, I don’t like working with people, not that I’ve ever really had the chance to before, but I trust my body and enjoy not having to watch out for someone else, how they move, the noise they make, but Jeremy is a quick learner, he’s become stealthy very fast and mimics my every move. Not to mention, it’s an advantage to have someone taller to help me reach a bit further with a boost or ten. We work silently together like butter on bread, he lifts me to a good foot hold and I hold on for dear life as he uses my length to hoist himself up, constantly leap frogging the balcony, drain pipes, window ledges and then just as leremy swings onto the roof like a very quiet, giant man, I pull my feet up and we peer over to see the guards walk right past where we were on the ground exactly five minutes ago.
On top the red shingled, slanted roof we stay low and stealthy as we make our way over to the air vent that the blueprints said would be right….there! Bingo Bingo! I love when things work to the plan. I pull out my flick knife from the side of my tights and get to work on the screws to the casing as Jeremy takes the rope from around his shoulder and begins fashioning knots. There will be quite a drop immediately in the vent so I’ll use the rope to help slide downwards, meanwhile, chunky but over here who can’t possibly fit inside a vent will keep casing the grounds below, all around the building.
“Okay little one… You remember what you promised me?” Jeremy whispers.
“First sign of trouble, two clicks of the tongue and you’ll have the old guys waiting storm this place like hell has risen. I got it.” I whisper back. I swing my leg over the vent, but he grabs my arm and looks deep into my eyes.
“I’ll be okay, I promise.” He nods and I swing the other leg over, grab the rope and every so carefully descend into the lion’s den.
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