I had Marco by his throat against the warehouse wall before he could finish his sentence.
"You motherfucker. You bombed our own warehouse."
Marco's eyes went wide, but it wasn't with fear. Satisfaction. "Wondered when you'd figure it out."
"Why?" My grip turned harsh. "Why would you damage our own property?"
"To prove a point." He wasn't even struggling. "That you're so distracted by pussy you don't see threats coming. That you're making us weak."
"You've just lost us three million dollars to make a statement!" I pushed him back against the concrete.
"No, I cost us nothing. Your father approved it." Marco smiled through his split lip. "Ask him yourself. He's right behind you."
I turned. Thomas was twenty feet away, his four men with him, watching our showdown.
"Is it true?" I asked hotly. "Did you approve of it?"
"Lower your voice. We're in public." Thomas drew nearer, his face inscrutable. "Yes. I authorized the warehouse mission. Marco carried it out. It was needed."
This was outright betrayal. "Necessary to frame the Torrinos? To create a crisis? "
"To prove to you what happens when you stop thinking strategically." Thomas lit a cigar, his face a flamelit reflection in the motion. "You've been so engrossed in that woman that you've managed to miss three attempts at our own territory, lost the Sterling alliance, and now this? Marco's stunt proved my point aptly."
"Your point being what? That I should leave Katherine to prove my loyalty?"
"That's when you go blind because of your infatuation."
Thomas blew out smoke.
"And blind men don't live in our world."
Marco pushed himself away from the wall. "You've been different ever since she's been in your life. Softer. Weaker. The family realizes it, Tony. They're doubting your ability to lead."
"Let them doubt." I turned to my cousin. "But understand this - you ever do a stunt like that again, I'll put you in the ground. Family or not."
"You see?" Marco gestured at me as though I were a piece of evidence in a courtroom. "This is just what I'm talking about. You're threatening your family because of a woman you've known for three weeks. You're choosing her over us."
"I'm not going to let myself be intimidated by cowards who blow up properties just for dramatic effect."
Marco lunged. We went down hard, trading blows on the concrete. His fist smashed through my skin as it caught my jaw. I kicked at his ribs, hearing his bones snap. Thomas's men dragged us apart, both of us panting and bloody.
"Enough!" Thomas's voice cut through. "Both of you, back off."
We stood apart, glaring at each other across five feet of empty warehouse floor. Marco spat blood. "Choose, Uncle. Him or me. Because I'm not following a man who puts feelings ahead of family."
Thomas' eyes flicked between us, his face a stone mask. An eternity passed in which I was sure time itself was stopped.
"Marco." Thomas's voice was low, but it was absolute. "You're out. Now."
"What?" Marco's face turned white.
"You went behind my back. Manipulated my son. Used family resources without proper authorization, regardless of my later approval." Thomas took a step closer to Marco. "You wanted to prove that Tony was weak? You've proved you're a traitor. Get out of my sight!"
Marco glared at me with pure hatred. "This isn't over," he said.
"Yes, it is." Thomas nodded to his men. "Escort him out." Thomas turned to Marco. "And Marco? If I hear you've made any moves against Anthony or his interests, there won't be a third conversation."
Marco departed, and Thomas turned to me. "That's no reason to approve of your decisions. Marco's ways have been wrong, but his instincts have been correct. You are compromised, Anthony. That woman has gotten under your skin."
"Her name is Katherine."
"I couldn't care less about her name." He smashed his cigar under his foot. "But I do care about you. And I won't stand by while you tear yourself apart over a girl who will never understand this world."
My cell phone rang. It was Vincent's number. "What?"
"Sir, you have to listen to this. This is about Miss Blaire."
My stomach sank. "What about her?"
"She resigned from work today. Forced out because of the relationship. She's been at home alone for the last hour, and- "He stopped. "Sir, she just received a job offer from Torcano Financial. That's a Torrino front company."
"I know. She's told me." I headed for my car. "She's attending an interview tomorrow. I'm planting a wire on her."
"That's not all. We've intercepted a message from Torcano to Torrino's main office. It's not an interview they're setting up, boss. It's an extraction."
"The words froze my blood. "When?"
"They pushed back the timeline. They're coming after her tonight."
I was in motion before he'd even finished speaking, punching in Katherine's number, straight to voicemail. Then Elliot's. Same thing.
"Vincent, get as many men as possible to Katherine's apartment. Now."
"Already en route. ETA is twelve minutes."
I got there in eight, taking corners at speeds that should have killed me. But when I reached the entrance of the building, I knew I was too late.
Katherine's neighbor stood in the hallway, an elderly lady with frightened eyes. "Are you Tony?"
"Where is she?"
"She left about an hour ago. A man in a black SUV came for her. She seemed to know him... went willingly." The woman twisted her hands. "Should I have stopped her?"
"Did you see his face?"
"No, but it was a government-tagged vehicle. Maybe it was business," I said.
Government plates. Torrinos also had their influence in all tiers of the city's administration. Torrino could have borrowed any vehicle he wanted.
My phone rang from an unknown number. I picked it up, expecting what was to come.
"Mr. Marvin. We have Katherine Blaire. She came quite willingly, actually. Very cooperative,"
"If you hurt her-"
"Oh, we're definitely not hurting her. We're offering her a fabulous job with our organization. Now, if she takes it, well, that will establish all we need to know about her loyalties to you, won't it?"
"Where is she?"
"Meet us at Torrino Building. 32nd floor. Come alone and unarmed, then maybe we can all have a nice conversation." He paused. "Or don't come, and we'll assume Miss Blaire is open to new opportunities. Your call."
The line went dead.
Thomas materialized at my elbow. "I heard. Vincent filled me in."
"They have Katherine."
"I know." He got out his phone. "How many men do you want?"
I stared at him. "You're helping me?"
"You're my son. She's in your care. That's family business." His face was set in a determined line. "Anyway, Torrino's crossed a line. Stealing a woman from within her own house? That's a declaration of war."
"They said come alone."
"And you're seriously thinking about that?" Thomas shook his head. "This is how we do it - my way. Organized. Strategic. We get your girl back, and we make those Torrinos regret ever laying a hand on her. Deal?"
I should have said yes. I should have let my father handle all of this with military precision.
Instead, I got in my car.
"Anthony!" Thomas caught my door. "Don't be foolish. You go in there by yourself, they'll kill you both."
"Then I'll die with her instead of living with myself for letting them take her." I pushed back. "I'm tired of playing chess with people's lives, Dad. Katherine never asked for all of this. She's in danger because of me. So I'm getting her out."
"You'll get yourself killed."
"Probably." I started the engine. "At least I'll get to die in something that matters."
I left him alone in the street, his cell phone already to his ear, no doubt calling the backup that I wouldn't be waiting around for.
The Torrino Building towered over the darkened sky, all glitz and steel and corporate integrity. I found a spot in the loading zone and entered through the front door as if I owned the place.
Security didn't stop me. They were waiting for me.
The elevator ride to thirty-two felt like descending into hell. When the doors opened, Angelo Torrino was waiting, flanked by six armed men.
"Anthony Marvin. Right on time."
He smiled.
"The girl of yours is a real firecracker. Been entertaining hearing her negotiate for her life."
"Where is she?"
"Conference room. End of the hall." He stepped aside. "After you. And Mr. Marvin? We really do appreciate you coming alone. Makes everything so much simpler."
I passed by him, highly conscious of the guns pointed at me from behind. The door of the conference room was shut. I opened it.
Katherine sat at the head of the table, shaken but unscathed. Two men stood beside her. And in her hand was a contract.
"Tony." Her voice cracked. "They want me to sign it. A ten-year contract of employment. Exclusive. Non-negotiable."
Angelo followed me in. "It's a simple decision, really. She signs an agreement, and she is a wealthy woman working for us. She refuses, well, accidents do happen to those who disappoint the Torrino family."
I glanced at Katherine. At the fear and the rage in those eyes. At the grip, she held that pen in.
"Don't sign it," I said.
"Then you both die." Angelo's voice was agreeable. "Is she worth your life, Mr. Marvin?"
I met Katherine's eyes across the conference table. "Yes," I said. "She really is."
And that's when all hell broke loose.