Under His Protection

Chapter 59: Setting the Trap

In the heart of Kansas City, Travis, Patrick, and Isiah sat around a large oak table in Travis's childhood home. The faint scent of fresh coffee mingled with the sterile tang of the antiseptic from earlier hospital visits to see Travis's father. It had been a long few days, but now that his dad was stable, it was time to shift their focus.

"Let's recap," Patrick began, his voice low but firm. "What exactly does Santino know?"

Isiah leaned back, his arms crossed. "He's got his eyes on all of us, but his intel is incomplete. We made sure of that before we left Italy."

Travis nodded. "Santino doesn't know where the girls and kids are. He thinks they're still in Kansas City. That's his mistake."

Patrick's jaw tightened, the protective edge in his voice unmistakable. "And we're going to keep it that way. If he even suspects they're in Italy, it's over."

Isiah tapped his fingers against the table, his brow furrowed in thought. "We need to make him believe we're vulnerable here, that he's got us on the ropes. Draw him out. If he's chasing a shadow, he won't have time to think about anything else."

"Exactly," Travis said, his voice sharp. "We use his ego against him. He's desperate to win, to take us out, but that desperation makes him reckless."

Patrick smirked. "Reckless enough to walk into a trap."

Travis leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "So, here's the plan. Isiah, you're the bait. You'll be seen in all the right places, dropping hints about a big 'deal' going down. Nothing concrete, just enough to get Santino's attention."

Isiah raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Got it. What about you two?"

Patrick pulled out a map of Kansas City, spreading it across the table. He pointed to several marked locations. "Travis and I will be setting up the trap. We've got three decoy locations and one real meeting spot. Santino will bite, and when he does, we'll have the upper hand."

Travis glanced at his phone, checking for updates from Ross. The thought of Taylor juggling the twins while also managing Bronze and Sterling tugged at his heart. But he trusted her—and Ross—to handle things. For now, he had to focus on keeping them safe.

"Ross says everything's good back at the villa," Travis said, his tone softening briefly before returning to business. "That gives us some breathing room to make this work."

Patrick looked up from the map. "Good. The last thing we need is distractions."

Isiah grinned. "Speak for yourself. I thrive on distractions."

Patrick rolled his eyes, but Travis chuckled, the tension in the room easing slightly.

"Stay sharp, Pacheco," Travis said. "This isn't a game."

"I know," Isiah said, his grin fading. "I've got your backs. We're gonna end this."

Santino's View

In an opulent, dimly lit office, Santino sat behind a large desk, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His second-in-command stood nearby, updating him on the latest movements of the Kansas City crew.

"They're making moves, boss," the man said. "Pacheco's been spotted downtown. Word is, he's meeting with some heavy hitters."

Santino's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "Interesting. And what of Kelce and Mahomes?"

The man hesitated. "They've been quieter. But there's chatter about a deal going down. Big money."

Santino's lips curled into a smile. "They think they can operate in my city without consequences? Fools. I want eyes on them, every move they make. If they think they can outsmart me, they've got another thing coming."

His second-in-command nodded. "What about their families? Should we—"

Santino raised a hand, silencing him. "No. Not yet. If we move too soon, they'll see it coming. Let them feel secure. Then, when the time is right, we strike."

He swirled the whiskey in his glass, his eyes cold and calculating. "This is my game. And I never lose."

Later that night, Travis stood on the rooftop of a downtown building, scanning the city skyline. Patrick joined him, handing over a cup of coffee.

"You good?" Patrick asked, his voice quiet.

Travis nodded. "Just thinking about Tay and the kids. I hate being away from them."

Patrick clapped a hand on his shoulder. "We're doing this for them. For all of them. Once Santino's out of the picture, we can finally breathe."

Travis exhaled slowly, his grip tightening on the cup. "Yeah. I just hope this works."

"It will," Patrick said confidently. "We've got the upper hand. Santino doesn't stand a chance."

Travis nodded, his resolve hardening. "Let's end this."