Chapter 11

Emiliano

The headlights of my Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 illuminated el Patrόn’s gate as I flashed my badge beneath the sensor. The gate moved slowly to the side. A new set of guards stood at either side of the interior gate as I parked amongst many other vehicles.

“Busy place,” Nick said as he unfastened his seat belt.

My skin prickled as I scanned the different cars, noticing my father’s. This was more visitors than would usually be at Jano’s house after nine on a weeknight, filling the confined space. Nick and I had gotten word out about tonight’s meeting, and this gathering crowd was no doubt here for the same reason.

The guards nodded as Nick and I opened the inner gate. The usually quiet courtyard contained more than a handful of cartel guards, soldiers, and lieutenants. Nick walked toward his father, my Uncle Nicolas, while I made my way to Horace Torres who was talking to José Pérez, Liliana’s bodyguard.

“Hola,” I said. “How has your first day with Isabella been?”

“Quiet. She’s been content inside. Mañana, we go to the apartments.”

Yeah, I wondered how that would go. Currently, there were too many other things at play for me to give Isabella too much thought. I turned and nodded toward the house. “Jano in there?”

“Sí. Rei too. El Patrόn wants everyone to stay outside.” Horace looked at the growing crowd. “I don’t blame him. He said he’d talk to those of us gathered before we head over to the warehouse.”

José lowered his voice. “The rumors aren’t true, o sí?”

Rumors?

What I knew: Kozlov’s men attacked our soldiers, or we could have a traitor among us.

I flashed a grin. “I guess you’d need to be more specific. What rumors have you heard?”

“Kozlov is gone. Volkov’s men gunned him down.”

The fuck?

My expression stayed stoic, despite my shock. This wasn’t a rumor I’d heard. “When and where did you hear this?”

“Happened last night,” Horace said. “Stories started circulating on the streets this afternoon.”

“Took him out at his home,” José said, “Up in Hidden Hills. That’s why Rei is down here. It could be a fucking game changer.”

“Well, fuck, that’s news to me.” I searched for Nick in the growing crowd. He was still with his father and mine. I joined them and kept my volume below the growing din. “Is the news about Ivan Kozlov real?”

“I hope not,” my papá replied. “If Kozlov is gone, Volkov is even more powerful. Add Herrera to that equation and shit’s going to get real.”

As if shit wasn’t already real.

Everyone turned as Silas came out of the house. He scanned the men, his gaze landing on us. “Emiliano and Andrés, come with me.”

I immediately stepped forward. It wasn’t lost on me that my papá hesitated. Taking orders from Jano and Rei was upsetting but taking orders from Jano’s guard… Papá made up the difference and got to Silas at the same time as I did.

“What do you need?” I asked.

“The first wave of reinforcements from the famiglia will arrive soon—ten men. Dante Luciano is with them.” Silas scanned the cartel men. “Jano wants a friendly welcoming committee.” He lowered his voice. “We don’t need anyone with a stick up their ass about the alliance causing problems.”

Papá and I were friendly. Dante was married to my sister, Papá’s daughter. And my other sister, his other daughter, was married to the capo dei capi himself.

I nodded. “Silas, is the rumor true about Ivan Kozlov?”

He pressed his lips together in a straight line and nodded. “Found the same way Jorge was found. We didn’t get the official news until after you spoke to Horace. They took out his wife, two children, staff, and guards. I heard his fucking dog was shot.” Silas shook his head. “An akita. I only hope it took a bite out of the motherfucker’s leg who slaughtered them.”

“Why would Volkov do that?” Inhaling, I closed my eyes and exhaled. “Kozlov’s men attacked our soldiers last night. Why kill him?”

“The aftermath is eerily similar to Bella.”

My mind was swirling with a tornado of thoughts. “Are you suggesting that it was Volkov’s men who attacked the Bella instead of Kozlov?”

Silas shook his head and shrugged. “We don’t know. As for Kozlov’s soldiers, either they’re now with Volkov or they’re dead.” He gripped my arm and tugged me a few feet away. “With Myshkin gone in Kansas City, the bratva world is fighting for supremacy.”

“Is there any proof that Herrera’s in on this?”

“Dante wants to talk to Jano in person before the meeting. I need you and your father to meet Dante at the airport. Keep word of their arrival under wraps. We’re keeping our trusted close. Nicolas, Nick, Felipe, and Diego need to lead these men” —he gestured with his chin— “to the warehouse. Tell them to keep the crowd there until Jano, Rei, and Dante arrive. Tell Nick not to mention anything about the famiglia coming until they’re all in the warehouse.”

“Will do.” I gritted my teeth. “These men are expecting to hear from Jano.”

“They will—at the warehouse. This crowd is getting too loud. They need to go. We don’t need any uniforms showing up.” He started to head toward the door and turned back. “Oh, and if you see José Peréz, tell him Liliana will spend tonight here. There’s no use spreading people out.”

I nodded as I pushed my way through the growing crowd. Once I’d passed on Silas’s message to José, I found Nick. “Silas said for you, Felipe, and Diego to take the lieutenants and soldiers to the warehouse.”

Nick narrowed his gaze. “They expect to hear from Jano.”

“I know. Silas said they will at the warehouse.”

“Where are you going?”

“Taking my father” —I looked around— “with Horace and José” —I need to tell them— “to meet Dante Luciano’s plane. He’s bringing ten men with him. I’ll need a few drivers.”

Nick’s jaw clenched. “What the fuck about Volkov and Kozlov?”

“Seems to be true. It’s fucked.”