CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE.

Sleeping is for the dead.

Phoenix I SLEPT LIKE c.r.a.p.

So many lives hung in the balance, mine included, but I didn't really value my own life, especially when measured against theirs.

In an hour we would leave for The Commission. My stomach was in knots. I closed my eyes and brushed my fingers across the tree where the guys and I had etched in our names... the names of the Elect. The place where we swore we wouldn't become our fathers.

d.a.m.n, but I'd become him without even knowing it.

I felt for Tex, I really did, because I knew better than anyone else what it was like to have ugliness as a legacy. I understood it because I lived with it every d.a.m.n day, no escape, nothing.

The wind picked up causing a chill to reverberate through the air as the cool air bit through my jacket.

"Crazy," Nixon said suddenly from behind me.

I didn't turn around. "What is?"

Chase answered from my left as Nixon stood to my right. "It doesn't even seem real that we were kids."

I shook my head. "Childhood? Did we even get one?"

"No." A fourth voice answered.

Tex. "Pretty sure we skipped that part."

"I would have loved to have had a fort." Chase stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"At least a treehouse." Nixon added.

"Or a bad a.s.s lawnmower to ride."

Tex chuckled.

We fell silent, nothing but the wind whistling through the trees and the tension dripping off every one of us.

"How deep does blood go?" Tex asked breaking the silence.

"To the death." I croaked. "Until the last breath leaves my body."

Chase lifted his palm to the inscriptions on the tree and pressed his hand firmly against it. "Sangue in a.s.senza." Blood in no out.

Nixon placed his hand over Chase's. "Con la morte a trovare la tu liberta, ma e la vita dove si e veramente liberi."

I closed my eyes as the truth of his statement poured over me. "In death you find your freedom, but it is life where you are truly free." My shaking hand went over Nixon's. I didn't expect Tex to join us, after all, he had to stay numb to the emotions if he was going to follow through.

I was shocked when his hand pushed across mine, he whispered gruffly, "Se il mio sangue, non sia vana." He repeated it in English. "If my blood spills, let it not be in vain."

"Amen." Nixon whispered.

"Amen." We joined removing our hands.

The back door slammed, jolting us out of our moment, possibly the last moment the four of us would have together alive.

"We should go." Sergio called from the back porch. "Now."

Tex walked away first, then Chase, and finally Nixon.

I watched as my three best friends held their heads high, no fear visible on their faces, and I had to wonder. Was I leading them to their deaths? Or had I done enough to save them? By telling Tex, had I saved more lives, or just added to the body count?

I made a quick cross with my hands and kissed my knuckles. "May G.o.d be with us."

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX.

A corrupt heart elicits all that is bad within us...

Mo I WAITED FOR THE GUYS to leave before taking off after them. Tex had already given me instructions on where to go. I was about to start the car when I heard a knocking on the window.

Trace stood, arms crossed, glaring.

I hit the down b.u.t.ton. "What's up?"

"You're going to The Commission aren't you?"

"No."

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not."

"You're a c.r.a.p liar." Trace opened the door and pulled out her gun, making sure the chamber was loaded.

I groaned.

"Don't worry, I'll wait in the car but I'm not letting my best friend go there without backup."

"And what?" I laughed. "You don't even know what's going on, Trace. It's best that way."

"Mil's there." Trace swallowed.

"You're going and Nixon may die. I'm going to be there, in the car, but I'll be there. If I hear gunshots I won't run in the line of fire, Nixon's already threatened me, but if I'm the only one not injured I can at least drive everyone straight to Stephens's hospital and make sure n.o.body dies."

I closed my eyes and nodded.

"Fine."

"You're going to help him aren't you?" She stuffed the gun back in her purse and c.o.c.ked her head towards me.

"Tex, I mean."

I shifted uncomfortably and turned on the car. "Maybe... if I can."

"You're going to just waltz right in there?"

"I'm Nixon's twin." I grinned. "I have just as much right to be there as he does. After all, I'm a Mafia princess, the guys will be p.i.s.sed but it's not like they won't have bigger issues, plus I have a great excuse."

"What? Insanity?" Trace rolled her eyes.

"No, of course not." I slipped Nixon's phone out of my pocket. "He has my phone instead of his, d.a.m.n iPhones, can't tell which is which."

"Scary brilliant." She nodded approvingly, her lips pressed together.

"Try not to die, okay?"

"Say a prayer that I don't."

"Been saying a lot of those recently."

"I believe it." I pulled out of the driveway and made my way down to the warehouse. The thing about The Commission... there were going to be too many people in one place to actually meet at a hotel besides the whole possible gunfire thing was kind of an issue. So we were meeting at one the Abandonato family dealerships. The warehouse behind the dealership was normally used for packing and merchandising but it worked and it was extremely clean, plus it helped that when it was built the windows were double enforced along with the fact that there were video cameras everywhere.

We controlled the environment, but we sure as h.e.l.l didn't control the outcome. My hands were sweating by the time we made it to the property. It was only twenty minutes from the house, but I felt each one of those minutes as the time slowly ticked by.

"So-" "Trace clasped her hands together. "-here we are."

"Yeah." I licked my dry lips. "Here we are."

The parking lot was littered with Mercedes' and black SUVs were parked outside.

"I'll get in the driver's seat so we have a fast getaway."

"Right." I snorted. "Like in the movies."

Trace smiled sadly. "Yeah."

"Love you." I hugged her quickly and hopped out of the car as she whispered, "Love you."

My boots clicked against the pavement as I made my way towards the door. With a deep breath I pushed against the metal handle and let myself inside. No going back now.

It sounded like a hive of bees as the talking buzzed around me. I walked further into the room. Long rectangular tables were lined in a large U. Coffee and tea sat in pots on each table. Black cloths were blanketed over everything. If I wasn't in a warehouse I'd think we were in a restaurant.

I cleared my throat. The talking ceased as all eyes fell to me.

I offered a simple shrug and walked up to Nixon holding out his phone.

"Figured you may need this."

He frowned taking the phone from my hands. "I wouldn't have answered my phone anyway, Mo, you know that."

"Yeah, but I'm your sister." I smacked him upside the head for effect.

"I worry."

A few of the men chuckled while others whispered, "Women."

Nixon didn't miss a beat he took in my dark clothing and glanced down at my tall boots, a flicker of silver must have caught his eye as he froze and then met my gaze. "What game are you playing at, sister?"

"My favorite,"

I.

whispered.

"Hunters and foxes."

He nodded once then turned.

"Gentleman, I'll be sure she leaves before the meeting starts."

They waved him off while I walked over to one of the tables and poured myself some coffee.

A hand shot out to touch mine. "My, my, look how you cleaned up."

Alfonso's voice made my blood run cold. I jerked away from his grasp and sneered, "Looks like they invited everyone to this party hmm?"

"Only the important ones were invited, the filth just arrived." He lit his cigar and leaned back in his chair. I seriously almost punched him across the face, instead I rolled my eyes and grabbed my full cup and moved back towards Nixon. Lifting the cup to my lips, I scanned the room, taking in each solid detail. The Campisi's were seated at the head of the table; Tex was standing near them, but wasn't speaking. The Nicolasi clan was to the right of The Campisi Family and the other three, Alferos, De Langes, and my family were to the left. Nixon and Chase were talking in hushed tones while the men all laughed and pretended like the world wasn't ending.

Any minute now, Tex.

Any minute.

He had to strike before the meeting.