I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat. “How do you know?”
“Travis was driving her SUV. Surveillance of all soft targets was in the shooter’s vehicle, including Abby.”
“By soft targets, you mean …”
“The members of your family, Thomas. I’m very sorry.”
I blew out a breath, trying to remain calm. If they had surveillance photos, the Carlisis had Travis figured out for a while. They’d been watching my family; close enough to photograph. That explained Travis’s interrogation in Vegas. What we thought was Travis somehow blowing his cover leading to an impromptu kidnapping and beating while they tried to get more intel was actually planned. “Have they been located?”
The director paused. “Travis’s SUV hit a tree at a high rate of speed. They came back to finish it, but they didn’t walk away. The Carlisi family is now three made men down. Bobby the Fish. Nikko the Mule. Vito Carlisi.”
“Benny’s son. That means the Carlisis only have two possible successors left.” Benny had seven children but only three sons. The oldest, Angelo, was the underboss, with the other two in line for the job. Benny was old school, and he’d passed onto his children and his crime family that only men could inherit his illicit empire. I was hopeful that if their attempts left them without a Carlisi underboss, everything Benny built would fall apart.
“Travis took care of it,” the director said.
“Of course, he did.” My muscles relaxed. What could have been a huge clusterfuck was actually falling in our favor. I should have known. Once someone takes a swing at Travis, he always made sure they wouldn’t do it again. Even if they were three of the Carlisi family’s best hitmen.
“The youngest of the Carlisi boys, Vincenzo, and two soldiers have been traced to a silver Nissan Altima. They’re headed your way now. They are likely aware of Vito’s death by now.”
“Coming here? Now?” I asked, looking back toward Stella’s nursery. “What about stray bullets? Ricochets? We’re going to let them do a drive-by in front of my home with my wife and daughter inside? This seems sloppy, sir.”
“Can you think of another plan in the next eight minutes?”
I frowned. “No, sir.”
“Hyde will have Liis and Stella secured in the back of the home with vests. This is our one chance. It’s up to you, of course, but—”
“Understood, sir.”
“You’re sure?”
“You’re right. It has to happen this way. It’ll buy us time.”
“Thank you, Agent Maddox.”
“Thank you, Director.”
The bedroom door cracked open, and from my peripheral, I could see Liis leaning against the doorjamb, holding her cell phone to her ear. They had called her, too.
“But we just … they can’t possibly know—” She sighed. “I understand. Of course, and I agree, but … yes, sir. I understand, sir.” She looked at me with tears in her eyes, clearing her throat before speaking again. “Consider it done, sir.”
The phone fell from her hand to the floor, and her eyes lost focus. I rushed across the room to cradle her in my arms. I meant to be gentle, but I knew I was holding her too tight.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” she said, her voice muffled against my chest. Her fingers dug into my back.
“If there was any other way,” I began.
“Travis is okay?” she asked. She had already been briefed, I was sure, but she needed to hear it from me. I wouldn’t sugarcoat it just because she was a new mother, and she knew it.
“He’s a little banged up. They’re three goons short.”
She breathed out a laugh and then lifted her chin, her eyes wide and glossing over with realization. “I’m going to have to tell them, aren’t I? It will have to be me.”
I hesitated, conflicted feelings swirling inside me. I didn’t want to put her through that. My eyebrows pulled in. “The Carlisis will just send more, Liis. I know it’s a long shot … but you have to.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. I ….”
I clenched my teeth, trying to keep it together and stay strong for her. I cupped her jaw in my hands. “It’ll be okay. You can do it.”
Her chest caved, and she puffed out a breath. “How can I do that to them?” She touched her forehead, shaking her head in disbelief.
“We do what we have to do. Like we always have.”
Liis glanced back toward the nursery. “But this time, even more is at stake.”
I checked my watch and sighed. “I have to pack and make some calls.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “I’ll help you.”
Stella began to fuss, and I nearly lost it. “This is too much. This isn’t right, leaving you alone with her. She’s barely a day old, and you here, alone …”
She hugged me. “I won’t be alone.”
I squeezed my arms around her, breathing in her hair, memorizing the softness of her skin. “I can’t … I can’t tell her goodbye,” I said. I’d had my heart broken more than once, but this was torture. I was already in love with the tiny girl in the crib, and leaving her would be the hardest thing I would ever do.
“So don’t.”
I nodded and then crept into the nursery, watching Stella breathe easily, swaddled and happily dreaming of whatever newborns dreamed of—Liis’s heartbeat; my muffled voice. I leaned down and pressed my lips to her thick, dark hair. “I’ll see you soon, my love. Daddy loves you.”
I walked across the room and reached down for my vest, slipping it on as she watched with a pained expression, then I stuffed some clothes and toiletries into a bag and raised my phone, tapping out Trenton’s number. I tried to keep my voice casual while telling him to expect us sooner than originally planned. In less than five minutes, I’d done everything I could do to prepare.
“Who’s out there?” Liis asked when I hung up with Trenton.
“Dustin Johns and Canton,” I said, putting on a light jacket.
“Brent Canton?” she confirmed. When I nodded, she sighed, relieved. They were the best snipers in the Bureau.
“They’d better not miss,” she snapped.
“They won’t,” I said. I hoped not. I was putting my life in their hands. I took Liis into my arms, holding her tight, and then pressed my lips against hers, hoping it wasn’t for the last time. “I’m going to ask you to marry me when we see each other again, and this time, you’re going to say yes.”