Three: The Mission

Anthony Kibble was appointed to lead a special task force to investigate national organized crime. Since the day it was created some ten years earlier, almost to the day when Diego decided to leave the police academy to be a hitman.

Tony was selected because of his experience in espionage, and he was highly skilled enough to be trusted for the grueling and demanding duties of the task force. He had led many successful operations within the force throughout the years, advancing his career significantly.

He had learned everything there is to know about how these families operated and knew almost every member of the family as if they were the characters of his own stories. At the same time, he was following Diego’s footsteps closely, as if he were his son. He knew everything, though he kept it all to himself.

When two of his worlds collided, he saw an opportunity to make the best of the circumstances. He could eliminate the network altogether or at least stop them from further expansion, and help Diego clear his name from Interpol’s most wanted list, so he could live a life away from the darkness of the world.

He had planned this mission carefully for the past 5 months since the news broke about Armand Lombardo’s coma. He had traced Diego’s whereabouts and closely watched him until the day finally came for him to approach him.

For the mission to succeed, he needed Ariana and Diego inside the family. It is anything but simple. They have to be able to gain the trust of the youngest Don in the history of the Lombardo family, or any family for that matter. Tony had laid down the ground rules for them to enter, but in the end, he had to rely on Armand’s volatile characteristics.

At 28 years of age, he was already the most powerful person in Lancaster’s biggest crime organization. He was known to be ruthless, reckless, and sadistic. But he was also known for how fiercely he loved his appointed wife, the woman he had been destined to marry since he was only 14 years old. Tony was willing to take his chance on that.

The next time Diego opened his eyes, he was in a different room. The room was similar to the holding cell he saw Ariana locked in moments before he was sedated the second time. The straitjacket was still tight around him, and Tony was sitting across the bed he woke up in.

He took his time to get his vision back, though his head was light from the drug and the fact that he hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for an extended period of time.

“It’s a suicide mission.” Diego’s voice was weak. “You’re sending her on a suicide mission ... he knew what she had done; she told him everything before he went into a coma.”

“We have received information that Armand has no recollection of what happened to him that night ... it is a common state for anyone who woke up from a coma not to remember the hours leading up to their unconscious state.” Tony stretched his arm and offered Diego a glass of water.

“And if he regains his memory? What then?” Diego engulfed the drink in a few gulps.

“The doctor said there is very little chance of that ever happening,” Tony said.

Diego shook his head. “You might as well just kill her now ... everything we did to get to this point ... you’re sending her back to her death.”

Tony sat back in his chair and inhaled deeply. “Do you think you would ever live happily with Armand Lombardo’s wife?”

Diego glanced at him. It was a question that didn’t need his reply.

“I’ve been following these families for years; I’ve studied their ancestral history from multiple generations before them ... I’ve seen how the network works. There is no way Ariana could ever free herself from her fate ... to be the bride of the Don, the matriarch of the family, whether she likes it or not ... that is her only destiny.”

Diego looked away.

“You are blinded by love, son. She is not the woman who can make your dreams come true ... the longer you convince yourself that this can be different, the closer you are to your demise ... there’s no good outcome for you if you keep this up. You have to embed this in your head ... she is not for you ... you have to let her go.”

“She doesn’t love him,” he said.

Tony leaned forward. “You keep telling yourself that, but why do you think she agreed to go back in there at the first chance she gets?”

Diego turned to look him in the eyes. He didn’t want to believe what he just told him.

“We promised her a safe return in exchange for the information she can get for us. We will clear your name from Interpol’s list and give you both a new identity once the mission is completed ... if she decides she still wants this after this is all over ... she cared for you deeply, and that was obvious; she’s doing this for you ... but to say that she doesn’t love her husband is a far stretch from reality ... I don’t believe that even a little bit.”

“She wanted to be free from him ... she wouldn’t want that if she loved him.”

Tony chuckled, “You would assume so ... but mark my words, son, she doesn’t have a place in this world without Armand Lombardo. Yes, she has you, but you’re not exactly someone who can provide her with the stability and the security that she needs, are you?”

Diego knew this, too.

“You’ve only known each other for less than a year ... they’ve been together for 10 ... once she is back by her husband’s side ... you need to forget you ever felt anything for her, do you understand? She will have to play her role to fulfill her duty for the mission, and we will never know where her loyalty lies until it’s all over ... she’s a smart woman, don’t be the fool.”

“I want to see her,” Diego said.

Tony put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m afraid that’s impossible ... you can see her through the lens, but you are not to engage with her in any way.”

Diego pressed his lips hard and kicked the table in front of him. He knew they were screwed. The law enforcement was as bad as the criminals. He knew that all too well. “Then put her in a monitor ... I want to see her every minute she’s here.”

Tony looked at him for a moment, and all he saw was a desperate man longing to know if the woman he loved was safe. In all the years he had known Diego, he had never seen him so vulnerable, all because of a woman.