Chapter 99

Marabella’s POV

“Can you get me a thermal reading of the building? I also need to know if there are any buildings around it”, I told Trey, as I strapped a holster to my leg. I wanted to make sure that I had any weapons or tools I might need. “Yes ma’am”, Trey said, typing away at his computer. I turned towards Rex and Cal, “This needs to be a quietly executed plan. We study the layout, determine where we go in at and quietly take down each person”, I instructed.

They both nodded in response as they dressed too. “I have an algorithm running to receive the thermal readings. But I did find a few buildings that might do”, Trey said, catching my attention. “Perfect. Do we have a sniper?” I asked Cal. “Yes ma’am. Two, actually”, he answered. “Awesome, we are going to utilize both of them”, I responded.

“I’ve got it”, Trey cheered meekly to himself. I walked over to the desk and peered at the screen. “There seems to be about twenty bodies in the building. Multiple rooms though. Some only have one person while others have two to five”, Trey explained. I studied the layout of the building.

Some of the bodies look as if they are standing and walking around and three look as if they are sitting down, maybe even tied up. I spotted a set of shoulders that I would recognize anywhere, “That’s Luca”, I said, pointing at one of the two bodies that sat in the back room. Trey gave me a skeptical look, “How do you know that?”, he asked. “I know my husband”, I shrugged.

“Cal”, I called. I pointed to the two building on either side of the rear buildings. “Tell the snipers to set up here and set eyes on the target”, I instructed. “Yes ma’am”, he nodded. “Get me a print-out”,Cal told Trey. “We are going to slip in from the side. Silently take as many out as possible”, I announced, showing them both on the screen. “Now let’s load up. Cal you go meet the snipers first”, I commanded.

Cal nodded and left first. I waved at Rex to follow me. I jumped in the driver’s seat. There’s no way I’m going to be driven there right now. I need to be able to do this so that I can clear my mind. “Mrs. Barello?”, Rex asked, confused. “I’m driving”, I said, as if it wasn’t obvious.

Rex obeyed and proceeded to get in the passenger seat. Trey already had the address inputted into the computer screen, showing me the way. The drive was only ten minutes, estimated time. I made it there in four. Cal’s lot of trusted soldatos sat patiently, waiting for me to arrive, when I pulled in.

I parked and exited the vehicle with as much confidence as I could muster. This was not easy, knowing that my husband was just inside the building at the end of the hill, killed me internally. I looked at the soldatos and instantly felt courage flow through me. I could feel Luca’s power traveling through my veins. The power to command his men. Our men.

“Listen up, your king is in there, and so is your brother in arms. We have to execute this plan down to the exact detail or one and/or both of those men could die”, I began. “We will go in the east and west sides, and silently sweep each room. No guns until absolutely necessary. Use your knives or your hands, whichever is your preference. I don’t care. But I do care about the two people inside that building. Be quiet. Am I understood?”, I clarified.

“Si Mia Regina. Famiglia per sempre. (Yes My Queen. Family Forever)”, the soldatos said in unison. Goosebumps spread across my skin with the amount of respect I could feel in their statement. “Let’s not waste another minute”, I said, throwing my hand up to gesture us moving forward.

The team split off into two groups. Rex was with me, while Cal lead the other group. We carefully moved forward, closing in on the house. I approached the west side stealthily, cautious of each step that I took. I peered into a window that was next to the door. A guard stood a little ways away from the window and door with his back turned. Giving me an opportunity to quietly open the window.

Lucky for me, the windows were pretty new and didn’t squeak. I gingerly hoisted myself onto the window ledge and slid inside. I pulled my knife from my side sheath and crept towards the man’s back. I quickly reached up and slid my knife from ear to ear. Effectively slicing his throat and keeping him from making any noise.

I caught his falling body and pulled him to the side out of sight. Rex and the rest of my team quietly slipped into the window. We noiselessly inched down the hall. The first room came up on the left. This room shows one person inside. I sent Rex in first. The guard looked up, alarmed, but Rex stabbed him in the juggler vein before he could react.

We continued down the hall, quickly and quietly clearing the room. The satellite showed around twenty people inside, and we knew that at least two of them were our people. Surprisingly, things have gone smoothly so far. We have done well with silently entering each room and eliminating any threat.

As I opened the next door, I noticed Sergio tied to a chair. His head was slumped down, as if he was passed out. “Serg”, I whispered. Sergio stirred on the chair, as I approached him. I cut the ropes off of his wrists and ankles first, then the one around his chest. Sergio grunted as he opened his eyes.

“Sorella, what are you doing here?”, he groaned. “Saving you, you big dummy”, I growled, as Rex helped me lift him up. “Luca is going to be so pissed”, he uttered, hanging his head as we carried him out. “As long as I get him out of here safely. I don’t fucking care”, I said. “Take him. Get him to safety”, I told two of the soldatos. “Yes ma’am”, they nodded, carrying Sergio out the way we came in.

The rest of us continued on. Only a few more rooms remained, as Cal and his team rounded a corner. “Y’all finish clearing the other rooms”, I commanded. I walked towards the double doors, towards the back of the house. My heart pounded in my chest, fear of how bad this could go, settled over me.

You’ve got this Marabella. You can do this. I pep talked myself. I drew my gun, knowing that only two to three people were behind this door. I took a deep breath and placed my hand on the handle. I could hear muffled talking behind the door. I slowly opened the door.

My eyes first found Luca. He was battered and beaten. My heart clenched at the sight. “Marabella Rose”, a deep voice said, pulling my attention to a man standing on the side of the room. He looked to be in his late 40s, his hair had gray strips in it, showcasing his age.

Luca’s head snapped up, and his eyes met mine. Fury, pain, love, anticipation, and fear, all swirled in his irises. “How do you know my name? So personally”, I asked, my voice level. The man chuckled as he walked into the light for me to get a better look at him. He looked awfully familiar.

He had aged since the most recent picture in Luca’s file. But he was in fact Franky Vaughn. “You would think you would recognize your own father”, he said, a fake tinge of hurt masking his voice.