Page 88 of Explosive Union
He swallows, his jaw tense. He no doubt expected me to make Niccolò my consigliere, but while Niccolò and I get along great, and I have respect for the man, he is as much of a hot head as I am. “I’d be honored,” he tells me.
“Niccolò, you will become my underboss for Chicago. You are a great leader, one that is better fit leading the soldiers.”
His smile is wide as he shakes my hand once again. “Honored,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion.
These men never expected to make it further than being captains. With me being the underboss and then having two younger brothers, the men would assume that the Famiglia would be led by family. But with the plans to expand, we’re going to need as many loyal men as we can leading our soldiers.
“Tomorrow,” I say, my back straight as I stare at them. “We will meet with the soldiers and let them know the plans. We’re expanding, gentleman. It’s going to take a while, but the rewards will outweigh the labor we’ll be putting in. I trust you all to be behind this move completely.”
“This is great for the Famiglia,” Niccolò tells me. “It’s time to take a stand and become the power that we all know we can be.”
I nod. “We learn from New York and the ties that the Italians have with the Irish. We work together with my wife and her family, and we become a joint force that’s unstoppable,” I tell them, and they all smile. They know what this means and how good it would be for the Famiglia. Having such powerful allies is never a bad thing.
Niccolò agrees instantly. “The plan is perfect. It will work. The men will be onboard, just as I am.”
I never doubted that he’d be behind me, that he’d be the one standing the tallest when the time came. Niccolò has always been the strongest of the men, always been on side no matter what.
“Then, gentleman, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I wait until the men disperse, so that only Elio and I are left. “Bro,” he says, his voice gravelly and filled with emotion.
“Don’t,” I tell him as we stride toward his car. “You are the only one I trusted to be the first to branch out. You’ve earned this.”
“Where to?” he questions, reversing the car.
“The Gallaghers. That’s where Jade is.” I want to know if they found out anything about the Masters. It’s been two months since their bar was torched and they haven’t retaliated.
“How is she?” he asks, and I know he’s just concerned about her.
He sees her in boss mode, not as my wife. Since she killed those men, she’s been keeping the two parts of her life separate. I get it. I do too. Having your enemies know how much you care for your bride will lead to them targeting her. That’s not something I’ll allow.
“She’s good,” I reply honestly. She’s able to sleep through the night. She still wakes up sometimes, but not as often.
My cell rings, and her name flashes on the screen. “Mia cara,” I say quietly when I answer.
“Hey,mo chroí,” she replies. Her husky voice always hits me in the gut. “I’m just finished here. I’m about to head home.”
“Stay,” I tell her. “I’m less than five minutes away.”
She sighs. “Okay, but just letting you know, you owe me. Mam is driving me up the wall. I thought I had managed to escape.”
I hear a deep chuckle followed by Liam’s voice. “Don’t worry, mo chailín milis, me and your ma are on our way out. Killian’s still inside.”
“Great.” The relief in her voice is clear to hear. “Thanks, Da.”
“Babe, I’ll be there soon,” I assure her.
“See you then,” she whispers and the call ends.
Within minutes, we’re driving toward the gate, just as Liam and Edwina are exiting it.
Boom.
An explosion sounds and the car shakes. My heart’s in my throat as I turn toward the billowing smoke where the Gallagher mansion is.
Where my fucking wife is.
I’m out of the car and sprinting toward the house, her name a roar from my lips. Never, not once in my fucking life, have I ever been afraid, but right in this moment, I’m scared that I’m never going to see her again.