The first I shot in the legs while Dante disarmed him.
The second Rafa caught in the throat with a shuriken he’d produced from fuck knows where, killing him instantly. ‘Oops, my bad.’
The third was scurrying back to the truck when I pulled out my Beretta and shot him in the spine, disabling him.
One hour later, the compound was free of guests, and the two soldiers had squealed that indeed, they’d been sent here by Bonafacio Mancinelli.
Another hour later, the chopper holding Orazio’s high-level FBI inside man landed. I handed over the pen drive of El Topo’s confession and one mil in bitcoin, and a warrant for Bonafacio’s arrest was issued immediately.
It was the legit cover for our illegal manhunt to end Mancinelli once and for all. But if the FBI did our job for us beforehand, that was fine too.
Bloodied and arms folded, I watched the chopper take off.
‘Helluva fucking night,’ Renzo rasped.
‘But an excuse to have another party, eh?’ Orazio said from my left.
I said nothing.
He could have as many parties as he wanted.
I had married the love of my life tonight, no matter how it ended. That was all I needed.
As the last of the red haze disappeared, a deep, ravenous hunger took its place.
The hunger to see her face. To touch my Maddelena.
Still without speaking, I turned from the helipad, my strides lengthening as I headed for the bunker.
‘Hey, Cesare, wait.’
‘Fuck no,’ I growled at Rafa.
‘Frate, you’re covered in blood. Maybe wash up first?’
I looked down at myself. My vest and shirt were ruined beyond repair. My knuckles, arms and face were covered in blood spatter. But the need clawing through me was greater. Besides, I was proud to let her see how I’d protected her.
So I kept walking.
The soldiers guarding the door took one look and sprang into action, throwing the bolts securing the bunker.
She was the first thing I saw.
In the middle of my nearest and dearest. She was the jewel of my heart.
I stopped in the doorway as her eyes darted frantically over me.
‘Not my blood.’ I answered her silent, screaming question.
She nodded once, then threw herself into my arms. I caught her tight. Tighter. Breathed her in. Took her mouth. Revelled in my naked adoration and obsession.
When we broke apart, I whispered against her mouth, ‘I love you, and I will always come back to you. Do you hear me,bedda?’
‘I hear you, my love.’ She pulled back, looked deep into my eyes. ‘But it’s over for now, yes?’
‘It’s over,’ I echoed. ‘Shall we begin our beautiful, crazy life now?’
‘Yes. Absolutely yes.’
