Garden of Roses ✔️

Chapter 19

Zara

         The night is warm, too warm. It is midsummer, and the air is heavy, making it hard to breathe. It's time to move.

Black SUVs are lined up in the underground garage, and the people are lined up in front of them. We are all dressed like ninjas, black from head to toe. Our intention is to go unnoticed in the dark for as long as possible. Hopefully, the snipers will take their positions in the trees before anyone notices that we're even there.

"Is everyone clear on what their assignment is?" Dante asks, his voice echoing through the garage, loud enough for all of us to hear.

"Yes," everyone confirms in unison, and Dante nods his head in approval.

"Alright then, time to go," he says and motions for me to follow him. "You're going with me and Camilla."

"Oh, okay." I expected to go with my team, but I didn't want to question him now. It was definitely not the time.

We get into a sleek black Escalade, the same as all of the others. Camilla and Lorenzo are already inside, sitting in silence. We are the first to exit the garage. In the car behind us are Carlo, Alex, and Bianca, and behind them is everybody else. The thirty-mile ride to Isabella's estate suddenly seems too damn long. We are all nervous and eager to get there.

"Camilla, I would've preferred if you'd stayed at home." Dante's voice breaks the suffocating silence in the car.

"You knew that I wasn't going to stay at home and do nothing while you go after Isabella. I have a right to be there, so get over it," Camilla snaps at him as she looks through the car window, not turning her head toward him.

"I know you do. I'm just saying. This is going to be dangerous." Dante spoke calmly and quietly, while Camilla's tone was the complete opposite.

"Are you serious right now? Do you think I don't know that? We've been trying to get to this point for three fucking years. Why are you saying this now?" Camilla is practically shouting while she looks at him with raging eyes.

"You don't have to release the fury on me. It's just that the moment finally came, and I'm worried. I would feel much better if I knew you were safe at home." Dante still manages to keep his voice calm, despite Camilla's outrage.

"Well, that's too bad. I'm not here to make you feel better. I'm here to make sure that Satan is captured and destroyed."

"Fine, Jesus. Just don't get yourself killed," Dante says, looking at Camilla with a small smile. She glances back at him and suddenly bursts out laughing.

"Not making any promises, brother," she responds, trying to control her laughter... unsuccessfully.

This family is so weird.

"Lorenzo, when we get there, take the snipers and lead them to their positions immediately," Dante says, ignoring Camilla's laugh outburst.

"I know, boss. We've been over this a hundred times already," Lorenzo answers with a dramatic sigh.

"Just making sure."

"Dante, don't worry. We have everything under control. I've been through this with my guys. I know what to do, they know what to do. It's going to be fine," Lorenzo says as he violently loads his gun.

"What about you, Amore? You good back there?" Dante asks and I catch his glance in the rearview mirror.

"I'm fine. I know what to do," I reply, looking back at him in the mirror. He seems like he doesn't believe me and is trying to find something else in my facial expression.