76. BEFORE THE STORM

CALLAN’S EXPRESSION softened and he squeezed my mind. He did not say anything immediately instead, his lips moved but was still thinking very carefully.

“She could fire a gun,” somebody spoke breaking the silence inside the room.

Two men stepped inside the room. It was Capo Mariano and his son Alec.

I stood up from my chair and smiled. “Oh my god, you’re here.”

“Sorry, we were late,” Alec shrugged his shoulders apologetically. But extended his arms for a quick embrace.

On the other side of the table, Capo Mariano shook hands with his peers who immediately offered him a chair.

“Where have you been? I didn’t see you earlier.”

Callan answered my question instead of Alec. “They were asked to keep a look out at the highway where father and my relatives passed through.”

He also stood up and nodded at Alec as a greeting.

“I can look after Esme when we’ll be in Italy when we assassinate that fucked up ass Aldo Cato.”

“I can protect my wife,” Callan said without hesitation.

The men a