Page 74 of I Would Beg For You
I don’t care that he can’t get his hands dirty. I’ll wade in any muck on my hands and knees if I have to so Naomi can be safe.
I listen carefully as he exposes the plan. I just have to handle the logistics—which my crews are trained to do—while he’ll tackle the storm this will unleash in the political realm. Another reason why Carson Felix is here, I’m supposing.
“You got all that?” he asks when he’s done.
I nod. “Sure did. I’m not letting her in there a minute longer than it’ll take to get there and get her out.”
His face grows dark. “This will set you both on an inevitable course… You realize this, don’t you?”
My jaw clenches when I think of what he’s asking of me. I can’t ponder it too much right now. All that matters is getting her out of that hell hole.
“Let’s get her home safely,” is all I say, and it seems to be enough. For now.
***
I need a crew for this. But firstly, I need to let my family know what is going on, and especially what I am up to. I send texts conveying a meeting in an hour just before leaving Tribeca. I ask Marco and his father, Roberto—one of my most trusted soldiers—to head to my house already. Antonio should be waiting for me when I get there.
I park in the garage, and I’m not expecting Luciano in the study with my consigliere when I enter it.
“Luka?” I ask.
“Ina has him.”
I nod, then go to the computer, waiting for our three other siblings to join. I also asked Francesca this time, because this concerns us as a family. Because it concerns me directly.
They pop up one by one on the screen, just as Marco and his dad make it in. Carlito has coffees circulating around the room. I down a double espresso then come to stand behind the desk where everyone can see me.
It strikes me how not right this moment is. It’s not how I should’ve announced this to them, but I don’t have a choice. And I need their help. The judgement can wait for later when this crisis has been dealt with.
I take a deep breath as I meet the eyes of everyone one by one, even across the screen.
“I’m going to talk, and you’re all going to listen. I’m sure you’ll have an opinion, but I care fuck all about it right now, and I don’t want to have to repeat myself. Capische?”
I’m aware I sound somewhat like my father when he had something important to say. I’m sure Franco would’ve jumped on it and pointed that out, but he is listening carefully.
“Naomi Smith has been involuntarily placed in a psychiatric hold in an establishment in upstate New York by her father. He wants to marry her off to one of his backers’ sons, but he’s misunderstood some things and believes she is gay.” I pause and gulp softly. This is it. “Why should we care? Because Naomi and I are together. And she has no one who can help her right now.”
Stunned silence resonates in the room. The only ones not surprised are Marco, Luciano, and Carlito—I never did tell him anything, but he saw our gift exchanges, knew I’d had her inside the house.
Roberto Benedetti is the first to clear his throat. “What do we do, boss?”
It seems to be the cue for everyone to speak.
Franco’s voice is louder. “It’s not about you two being together, Val. No one deserves to go through that.”
“He’s right,” Francesca concurs.
Antonio is nodding. I glance toward Victor. He gives me a nod, which I know means he’s agreeing with our siblings.
I glance back at the people in the room. “Marco, Roberto, you’re with me. Carlito, get—”
“The Range Rover,” he states before I can finish. “On it.”
“We’ll deal with the shitstorm later,” Antonio tells me as he stands up. “Go get her.”
“Yes, Val.” It’s Francesca on the screen. “Get her out of there.”
I nod then close the laptop. Luciano falls into step behind me as I head to the garage.
