𝐏𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢

42 | Intruders

I'm sitting at a table with all the Rossi brothers,  tonight's dinner has been very intense but it's amazing watching their family all come together, laugh, and chat. I've finally realized I'm home, with my family.

My phone dings in my pocket and I take it out and read over the text, it's an alert saying we have trouble at the front gate.

My gaze connects with Mez across the room, he nods before excusing himself from his table and walking over to me.

"Sup Mez, everything good man?" Rome asks when he reaches our table.

"Yeah, Felix and I just have to check something," he nods, I stand to follow him.

"What do you think is happening?" I ask, grabbing my gun and checking my ammunition.

He sighs, "I'm not sure but let's check to make sure everything is okay and we're not under attack."

As we walk out the main doors, a few men race over with their guns out and their eyes wild. We hear some shouting coming from the end of the driveway near the front gates, something doesn't feel right.

"Boss, there's trouble at the gate," one man says, breathing heavily.

"Explain," I demand.

"There's an armored vehicle out the front, our guns are trained on it but we've confirmed it's no one we know of. They haven't exited the vehicle and they haven't made a move either, they're just idling at the front," he explains.

Mez looks down where the commotion is nodding, "inform the Don but don't cause panic, we need to figure out what's happening before raising an alarm."

The man bows and then walks inside to tell Luc what's happening. I seriously hope this isn't the war starting all ready, we aren't fully prepared yet if it is.

Mez starts walking in the direction of the commotion, I follow along and keep an eye on our surroundings since this could be a distraction or trap.

As we reach the front gate there's an armored vehicle idling there, the windows are tinted so we can't see who is in the driver's seat or how many people are in there.

Mez walks into the front guardhouse and then exits not long after, with a sniper, he stands behind the gate aiming it at the vehicle on the driver's side.

"Turn off the vehicle and step out of it with your hands raised in the air or we'll shoot," I shout, aiming my handgun as well to make the message clear.

For a tense silent five minutes nobody moves, I don't even think any of us are breathing at this point.

"Stand down, let them enter but make sure you have your aim on them at all times," Nate says, walking up behind us, warily watching the vehicle.

"You know who this is?" Mez asks, his eyes never leaving his target.

"No, but Valentina has an idea on who it may be and she said to let the vehicle in and I trust her decision," he informs us.

"We're opening the gate, follow the driveway to the end and park up. We have our guns aimed at you at all times, don't pull anything funny!" I shouted, motioning for one of our men to open the gate.

The vehicle flashes its lights twice, once the gate is fully open they slowly drive forward and enter the property with all our men following except for those who are on duty at the front gate.

As we reach the mansion, the vehicle turns off, people are coming out of the house and staring at the vehicle. I note that most of Val's brothers are here with their weapons trained on the vehicle, except Luc who's eyeing it warily with Val standing next to him looking confused.

Why is she confused? I thought she knew who this could be.

"Exit the vehicle slowly and raise your hands in the air and walk to the front of the vehicle!" Mez shouts.

The driver's side door opens and a man in his, I'm guessing forties gets out with his arms raised high up in the air. He's wearing a white button-up and black slacks, his black and silver hair is combed back and his beard is neatly trimmed. His eyes dart around but I don't think it's nerves, I think he's assessing the situation most likely.

The passenger door opens and an older woman gets out with her arms raised high up in the air, her eyes darting around as well checking her surroundings. She's wearing a blood-red pants suit, her black hair is up in a slick ponytail and she's wearing silver heels.

Valentina steps forward to get a better look and when she does her eyes widen in surprise and she sucks in a breath.

The woman and man's gaze snaps over in Valentina's direction, they both smile at her in dear I say relief?

Who are these people?

"Valentina, darling please we've come here to talk," the woman confidently says, smiling warmly at her with affection.

Valentina regards them for a couple of minutes before nodding and whispering in Luc's ear. Luc regards the two intruders before informing us all to lower our weapons, he orders Mez and me to check them for weapons.

Mez pats down the man and removes the weapons he's carrying, I do the same to the woman but she has nothing on her.

Nodding to Luc, he nods back and tells everyone to go back inside and continue the dinner.

"Please come in and follow me, we were having a family dinner so a lot is going on inside. If you don't mind we'll take this to our conference room," Luc notifies them.

The man and woman nod before lowering the arms. Luc and Val walk in with the two intruders closely behind, Mez and I are at their backs watching their movements.

As we pass the dining room, it is eerily silent, I notice everyone at the dinner tables is watching us walk past their gazes snagged on the two unknown people.

As we enter the conference room Val gestures for the two intruders to sit down, and they both take a seat next to each other. The man wraps an arm around the woman and looks down at her with an unreadable expression.

Val eyes the man's arm before grinning, "María Lopez, this is a pleasant surprise."

Wait — What? María Lopez as in Carter Lopez's wife? What the actual —