“You makin’ demands on me?” He pointed to his chest, the rope dangling. He lifted the gun, pointing it at me. “Who’s got the gun?”
“You fucking rat bastard,” I said, my voice starting to shake when Anna moaned.
He laughed. “He must have the men staying far away from this room. That’s why they haven’t riddled me with bullets. Martina was right. He’s fucking worried you’ll find a new him and leave. What a pussy. I heard he stopped fucking all the girls, too. You really must be a witch. You got some voodoo going.” He tucked the gun in again.
“By the way, after this, I’d stay away from Martina. She told me how to get in this place, and that you’d be all alone tonight. The family left with the old lady. Now if you’ll just play nice with me for a little while, while we get the fuck outta here—”
He started to advance on me, and I started to move back as fast I could, until my back slammed against the mantle of the fireplace. I went to turn around and he grabbed me by the hair, yanking my head back. The hair tie slipped out of his grip, and I was able to reach under the mantle again, my fingers clawing the wood to get my hands on the hidden gun underneath. He yanked me back again, before I could get to it. They slipped and I lost my grip.
“I’m not dying over you, lady,” he said, hitting me so hard with the gun across my face that my head spun. The gun was pointed at Anna when my eyes focused. “You or your sister. Make your choice.”
It wasn’t in me to surrender to the enemy. I never surrendered to the bull, not fully, and my mind worked a million miles a minute trying to decide what to do.
He lifted the gun. I turned my body some, preparing for the hit again.
Instead, he snatched my arms, securing them behind my back with the rope. He went around once, and on the second, a force knocked us both to the floor. My shoulder slammed against the wood when I hit.
It happened so fast that all I could register was noises. Two men grunting on the floor, fighting like animals.
I got to my feet, ran to the mantle, and snatched the gun. Corrado was on the floor, the man on top of him, a knife close to his face. It glinted silver.
I did all of the things Corrado taught me how to do, and when the gun was ready, I hit the man in the shoulder first. When he went over, I was prepared to hit him in the chest.
“I am not dying for you either,” I said, keeping the gun pointed at him. “You could not kill me before. I will be damned if I let you kill me now. Or anyone thatIlove.”
Two shots whistled through the air, but it did not come from my gun. The force of the bullets made his body jump as two holes appeared in his chest.
“Alcina.”
It took me a minute to realize that Corrado was talking to me. That he had taken the gun from me. That his hand was on my head and he was trying to get me to pay attention.
“Eleonora,” he said, his phone to his ear, tucking his gun and the one I had behind his back when I looked at him.
I pointed behind me. He pulled me close, kissing my head, and then he started to talk to Uncle Tito. As he did, he dropped to the floor beside Anna, checking her pulse. I followed him. I took her hand, holding it close to my heart. The breath left me in a rush when Corrado ran his hand through her hair and she hissed.
He spoke a few more words. Hung up. Dialed again. Spoke a few more words. Men started to flood the room. Corrado stared at me again. Got up and went to the fireplace. He did something and it opened. He brought me Eleonora, and I held her close to my heart, kissing her head over and over.Mammasat beside me, taking care of Anna until Uncle Tito arrived and checked her over.
Corrado stared at me again, studying me.
I will be damned if I let you kill me. Or anyone thatIlove.
Those were the same words I had spoken to Junior after he almost beat me to death. After he told me he would have my entire family killed. Right before I cut his balls off.
I took a deep breath, released it, and then kissed Eleonora on her head. I stood, just like I had done after Junior had tried to snuff me out, and started to get my fire back.
My life was my own.
I had something to live for—something I always knew would be mine someday. Life and the freedom to live it with my family. I had risked it all for this moment, no matter how dark it was.
I would be damned if I let this steal my light now.
32
Corrado
Iwas living proof that devils didn’t only creep in the night. They claimed in broad daylight and then hid their prizes in the darkness.
My wife was trying to fight the demons Vito had brought to light again.
