Just then, I hear the sound I’ve been waiting for. A car engine accelerates on its way toward the door. I grab Marlena and duck, leaving Frankie to fend for himself. I’m pleased to see that he’s thinking fast. He takes a knee and then rolls out of the way as Giovanni comes barreling through the door at the wheel of a car.
CHAPTER 41
MARLENA
All I can hear is the sound of wood crunching and tires screeching. Then there are multiple explosions as Carlo Andretti’s men open fire. Francisco comes down on top of me, shielding me with his body.
My hands are free now, and I use them to cover my ears. The thunder of battle is deafening, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever heard before. I’m vaguely aware of Francisco and his son yelling at each other.
“I got her, Dad!” Frankie screams.
He reaches underneath my husband’s chest and grabs me by the arm.
“Get her out of here!” Francisco demands.
I’m dragged to my feet but forced to keep low to avoid stray bullets. I can barely see as I run in whatever direction Frankie is taking me. We slide to our knees near the wall, ducking behind one of the few crates left in the warehouse.
Frankie looks at me, putting two hands on my cheeks to check my eyes for shock. “Are you okay?” he demands. “Are you hit?”
“I don’t think so,” I say, touching my torso to check for wounds. I don’t feel any pain, but I’m not positive that the overload of adrenaline coursing through my system wouldn’t mask it. I look at my hands and see that there’s no blood. “Brandon!” I shout, remembering my brother.
“Hang on,” Frankie says, scooting away before I can stop him.
I hear shouting and the rapid pop of semi-automatic fire. I can’t tell who’s winning and who’s losing. There are boots on the pavement as more people arrive, and then more yelling and more gunshots. I sink lower behind the box, praying for it all to end. I can’t tell what’s happening to Francisco or to Frankie. And the thought of Brandon being killed fills me with dread.
I need more information. Crawling on my hands and knees, I peek out from behind my cover. The warehouse door is busted. One of Francisco’s cars sits in the breach, smoking from hundreds of bullet holes. There is a group of men hiding behind it, popping out to fire before ducking back under cover.
There are more men running around in the center of the room. I think they are Carlo Andretti’s men. I see one catch a bullet to the eye and fall to his death. The sight is horrifying, and I turn around in disgust.
But I still can’t see any of my family members, so I know I have to try again. This time, when I look out, I find Frankie along the far wall. He’s dragging my brother’s limp body behind another crate. I exhale in relief. At least, Brandon and Frankie are safe. But that doesn’t give me any clue about my husband.
I scan the warehouse anxiously, looking for any sign of the Don. He’s nowhere to be seen, and that creates a deep pit of fear in my stomach. If Francisco dies, it will all be my fault. Why did I ever think that I could rescue Brandon on my own?
I hear another sound, like a metal door opening. Looking to my left, I see a rectangle of light at the opposite end of the warehouse. Carlo Andretti slips through, leaving his troops to die on their own.
I glance around, checking to see if any of Francisco’s men are going after him. But no one seems aware of his escape. I wonder if I should go after him, but decide against it. The only thing I would likely do is get myself kidnapped again. And that would negate all the trouble that Francisco went through.
“He’s getting away!” I shout, hoping someone will hear me.
I look right to check on my brother. Brandon still isn’t moving, and Frankie is crouched above him, peering around the box they’re hiding behind. My son-in-law doesn’t notice me. He’s focused on the firefight.
I want to get his attention, but the battle is too loud. I’m trapped where I am, with no options. I can’t get across the room without risking my own life. So, I put my back to the crate and press my hands to my ears.
After what feels like forever, I hear the gunshots die down. In their absence, I can hear car wheels spinning. It seems like Giovanni’s car is lodged halfway into the warehouse, and no one thought to put on the brakes. People are still yelling, but I can sense a bit of hope in their voices.
I put my palms on the cement floor and crawl out from behind my box.
Dozens of bodies litter the ground, most of them belonging to Andretti’s men. My eyes don’t stop roaming the warehouse until I find my husband. He’s alive. He’s got his back to the wall beside the door, gun out and scanning the room.
I forget about Brandon for the moment, a more pressing concern captivating my thoughts. “He’s getting away!” I shout, climbing to my feet.
Francisco looks at me for clarification, and I point to the back door. Francisco and his brother Giovanni take off, leaping over corpses to chase down their enemy. I watch them burst through the emergency exit, hoping that they’ll be okay.
A few of Francisco’s men go after them, leaving the Italian soldiers behind. I’m about to follow them when Frankie calls my name.
“Marlena!” he shouts.
I hurry across the warehouse to where he’s hiding with my brother. I crouch down to check Brandon for signs of life. He’s still unconscious, but he’s breathing, and he has a pulse.
