shit.” Oh, how I hadn’t missed his loving ways. Just like a brother.
“What if they had cameras? We could go to prison, Tony.”
“Nah, we’re good; don’t stress. The boss will take care of it. He’s already got a crew on the way, and they’ll deal with it. Just forget what you saw and everything will be good.”
“ Wow, Tony, you didn’t even think you just acted.”
“At the end of the day, you do what you have to do. No one threatens the boss’ wife and walks away.”
“What if you hadn’t killed them?”
His head turned in my direction, his eyes looking up through his lashes. “What do you think?”
“Ah, okay I understand.”
“But that’s not why I did it. How dare that Russian fuck threaten a woman. I’d kill every last one of ‘em.”
“No need in starting a bloodbath.” I slipped on my sunglasses.
“Bella, what you saw in that restaurant was just the beginning. Shit is about to get bad really quick.”
“Fantastic—” I sighed, “—and the Gala is Friday.”
“Don’t get your hopes set on going anywhere for a while.”
Another sigh left my lips. This life sucked in so many ways. I’d continue being a prisoner.
Chapter 5
Jax
I didn’t know who I wanted to kill first. Anyone that got in my way was going to die, so I guessed it didn’t matter who went first. The Bratva went to my wife. They actually walked up to her and threatened her. Tony shot the fuckers, but now they’d retaliate with all they had. That only meant we’d have to kill them a lot faster than originally planned, but I was cool with that.
My phone rang. “Yeah?”
“Boss, I spoke with the owner. No one saw anything, and all is good.”
“Deliver them and make it clear no one goes near my wife.” Anger sizzled my blood.
“You got it, boss.” I disconnected the call.
Mickie entered my office holding a grim look. “What is it?” I growled.
“You told me to come in.”
“Yeah.” I rubbed the two-day stubble on my face. “The Bratva approached Bella at a restaurant, and Tony took care of them at the fucking table.”
“That good or bad?” Mickie knew this could go either way. I gave him a what-the-fuck look. “Just makin’ sure, boss.” He raised his hands with caution. “What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to prepare for war.” War meant many things to all people, but in the famiglia it meant that members of our family would die. Blood would be shed on both sides of the line. During a war there was also the likely hood that someone would screw up and get caught. Causing the worry that someone would rat. A war was bad on every level.
“Consider it done.” I knew without a doubt I could trust Mickie, but even he couldn’t guarantee anything now.
“I’m gonna need Sal here.”
“Boss? I thought?”
“You thought what?”
“Nothin’, boss, consider it done. I’ll get him here in a few hours.”
I nodded. “We need to lock up tight, don’t want the boogie man getting in.” In the famiglia— at least in the family I run—we wouldn’t go into a man’s home and hurt the women and children to seek revenge or make someone pay. But the Bratva, specifically Orlov, will do that and more. I don’t see any reason in hurting women and children. That gets me nowhere and quite frankly my moral compass ticks at that angle. I’m just not that fucking sick. Bella and Alessandra are my responsibility, and therefore I must ensure they’re safe and protected no matter the cost. “How the fuck are you getting anything done if you’re still standing in my fucking office?” I snapped.
“Yes, boss.” Mickie left my office without another word.
I picked up my phone to call Tony letting it ring once before Bella walked into my