Page 110 of The Wrong Mafia Bride
"But also easier for us to extract her from," Gabriel adds, his tactical mind already working through the possibilities. "The basement connects to the old tunnel system Seamus built during Prohibition. Those tunnels run under half of Brooklyn."
"And open up three blocks from the compound," Callahan confirms. "If you can get into the basement, you can get Erin out without ever going through the main house."
I glance at Gabriel, see him already mapping the approach in his head. Then I look at Luca, who has pushed off the wall and moved closer, his expression sharp and focused.
"What do you need from us?" I ask Callahan.
"Create chaos at the docks. Make it messy enough that Patrick has to respond, but not so destructive that we lose the weapons—I will need those to consolidate power after Patrick is gone. Andgive me one hour after he leaves the compound. That is how long it will take me to get Erin to the basement and signal you that she is ready for extraction."
"You will have your chaos," I promise. "And Callahan? When this is over, the Irish will need a new leader. Someone who understands loyalty and honor. Someone Seamus trusted."
"Are you offering me the position?"
"I am offering you the alliance Seamus wanted when he arranged the marriage between his daughter and my family. A partnership between the Irish and the Italians that benefits both. With you in charge of the Irish and Erin as your heir—protected by the Salvatore name—we can build something stronger than what existed before."
Another pause. Then: "Seamus would have liked that."
"Then we have an understanding."
"We do. I will wait for your signal. And Dante?" Callahan's voice softens, just slightly. "Tell Rosalina that her father loved her. That he talked about her every day after she left for your compound. That the birth certificate was not a last-minute gesture—he filed the paperwork the day after he adopted her. She has always been his daughter. He just wanted to make sure no one could ever question it."
My throat tightens. "I will tell her."
I hang up the phone and turn back to Gabriel and Luca, who are both watching me with expectation.
"Callahan is in," I say simply. "We have inside help. Eight men loyal to Seamus who are ready to move against Patrick."
"That evens the odds considerably," Gabriel says, already adjusting his calculations. "Twenty-three minus eight leaves fifteen men actively loyal to Patrick. Plus Patrick himself. Sixteen total."
"Against three of us, eight of Callahan's men, and whoever else we can mobilize from our own ranks," Luca adds. "I like those numbers."
"We are not mobilizing our full force," I say, shaking my head. "My father cannot know about this. If Giovanni finds out we are attacking the Irish compound, he will either try to stop us or try to take control of the operation. Both options end badly."
"So it is just us," Gabriel confirms. "The three of us, and whatever support Callahan can provide."
"Just us," I agree. "Which means we need to be smart about this. Gabriel, you are on tactics. I want a plan that gets us in and out with Erin alive and Patrick dead. Luca, you are on the docks. Create enough chaos to draw Patrick out, but do not destroy the shipment."
"How much chaos are we talking?" Luca asks, and there is a gleam in his eyes that suggests he has some ideas already.
"Enough that Patrick has to leave the compound to deal with it personally. A fire, maybe. Or make it look like someone is trying to steal the weapons. Use your imagination."
"My favorite words," Luca says with a grin that does not quite reach his eyes. The levity is forced, a mask over the cold fury we all feel. Dolan was Luca's friend too. They trained together, drank together, got into trouble together when they were younger and stupider. His death is personal for all of us.
Gabriel pulls out a second map—this one showing the tunnel system beneath Brooklyn. "The entrance closest to us is here," he says, marking a spot with his pencil. "An old speakeasy that the O'Connors maintained as an emergency exit. When the alliance was formed, I made it a point to get the access codes and memorize the tunnel routes—standard security protocol for allied territories. I can get us in, navigate to the compound's basement, and extract Erin once Callahan has her in position."
"Time frame?" I ask, my eyes still fixed on the map spread across the table.
"From the moment Patrick leaves for the docks, we have approximately thirty minutes before he realizes it is a diversion and comes back,” Gabriel says, tracing the route with his finger. "Callahan needs sixty of those minutes to move Erin and secure the basement. That gives us thirty minutes to get in, get her, and get out."
"Tight," Luca observe, rolling his jaw.
"Very," Gabriel agrees, eyes glued to the map."Which is why we need to go tonight. Right now. Before Patrick decides Erin is too much trouble to keep alive."
He is right. We have been planning for three hours, ever since Rosalina collapsed and the doctor sedated her. But every hour we wait is another hour Patrick has to hurt Erin, to change his mind about keeping her alive, to move her somewhere we cannot find her.
"Luca," I say, turning to him. "How long do you need to set up at the docks?"
"Forty-five minutes to get there and position the charges." Luca ticks the steps off on his fingers. "Another ten to make sure everything is wired correctly. Call it an hour total.
