Page 19 of Savage Angels
“May it never falter,” Dane replies, clinking his glass against mine.
We drink together, sealing our partnership in this unpredictable world. In the back of my mind, though, I cannot help but wonder what the cost of it all will be.
Dante Fontana approaches our table. “Are you ready?”
I throw back the whiskey, stand, and straighten my white shirt.
“Let’s do this.”
Dante leads us into a dimly lit room, shadows dancing on the walls as whispers of smoke curl around us. I sit at the head of the table, my heart pounding in my chest. This is it, the moment I have been waiting for.
“Salvatore Agostino, do you accept the title of Don and all that comes with it?” one of the family heads asks, his voice low and steady.
“Si,” I reply, feeling the weight of the responsibility settle on my shoulders.
“Then let it be known from this day forward, you are Don Salvatore Agostino.” He nods, and I can feel the eyes of everyone in the room on me. Dane stands by my side, his imposing presence a reminder of the alliance we have formed.
“Congratulations, Sal,” Dane says, offering a firm handshake. “I know you’ll do right by your family and ours.”
“Thank you, Dane,” I reply, gripping his hand tightly. It means a lot to have him here by my side, even though I know our worlds are vastly different.
As the room erupts into applause, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see Tony’s name flash across the screen. My stomach clenches.
“Sorry, I need to take this.” I step away from the celebration.
“Tony, what’s going on?” I ask, trying to keep the anxiety from my voice.
“Sal, I can’t find Kat,” he pants, clearly out of breath. “I’ve looked everywhere, but she’s just… gone.”
“Shit,” I curse under my breath, panic rising in my chest. “Keep searching and call me if you find anything.”
“Will do, boss,” he replies before hanging up.
I stare at the phone in my hand, my mind racing with possibilities. Dane notices my distress and approaches me with concern etched on his face.
“Sal, what’s wrong?” he asks, his voice tense.
“Tony just called… he can’t find Kat.” The words are like a punch to the gut to us. Dane’s face hardens, and his eyes fill with determination and rage.
“Let’s go,” he growls, already heading for the door. “We’ll find her, Sal. We’ll bring her home.”
As we storm out of the room, leaving my crowning moment behind, I cannot help but think this is only the beginning. Our world is dangerous, and no matter how hard we try to protect our loved ones, there will always be threats lurking in the shadows.
Chapter Eight
DANE
The roar of the engines vibrates through my bones as I look out the window, watching the clouds roll by like waves in the sky. The private plane is filled with Salvatore and my men, each lost in their thoughts or chatting quietly among themselves. We are flying to Hawaii, chasing leads on my wife’s last-known whereabouts.
“Any news from your guys?” I ask Salvatore.
“Nothing yet,” he replies, his eyes flicking back and forth between his phone’s screen and the various messages coming in. “So far, no one we’ve talked to seems to know anything.”
“Dammit,” I say under my breath, clenching my fists in frustration.
Is Kat even still alive?
Has she been taken by a rival force, or is this all some twisted ploy for power?