My gaze lands on Niccolò’s gun that’s on top of the dresser.
I reach for it just as Niccolò stands up, doing the same. My fingers brush against the cold metal. I get to it a second before he does, which makes all the difference in the world. Batting the gun away from him, I dive to the floor and snatch it up.
No words. No hesitation. I pull the trigger.
But not soon enough.
Niccolò grabs my hands, forcing me to point the gun in every direction, except at him. I scream in frustration.
Julianna appears on the bed behind him. She takes a running start and launches herself onto his back. Like a feral cat, she claws at his eyes, scratches his face.
He roars. “You fucking bitches are dead! You hear me?Dead!”
Not if I kill you first.
CHAPTER 57
Maximo
The GPS leads me to a city dump. Slowing, I navigate through the towering mounds of trash until I arrive at the pinned location and cut the engine. What a place to die.
Who knows how many bodies are already rotting away amid the debris, feasted on by feral animals, rats, and crows.
Stupid as it may be, I’ve done as Lazaro demanded and come alone. This is between me and him now. I’m not going to risk fucking this up. Or giving him any reason to hurt Elena.
Stepping out of the car, gravel crunches beneath my boots. As soon as I shut the door, six men appear from the rubbish, guns drawn and pointed at my chest. I raise my hands in surrender.
Lazaro appears, sauntering around a pile of trash. “Search him.”
One of his soldiers does as he’s ordered, removing my weapons one by one. With a sharp nod, he says, “That’s all, sir.”
Lazaro flashes a smile. “Get on your knees, Pontrelli.”
I remain standing. “Where’s Elena? Where’smy wife?”
“You didn’t really think I was going to bring her and let her go free, did you?” He cocks his head. “Oh you did! What a naïve boy you are. You’re brave enough to trade your life for hers, buttoo stupid to realize I’d lie about the terms.” His tone hardens. “I said, get on your knees.”
When I don’t move, one of his men kicks me in the stomach. The air whooshes from my lungs. Another soldier jabs the back of my knees, and I fold, coming down hard. I catch myself, coughing as I rest on my hands and knees. Jaw clenched against the pain.
“That’s much better.” Lazaro stalks in front of me. “There’s where you belong, Pontrelli. You’re no don. You were a placeholder—nothing more. Fucking pathetic.”
He kicks my ribs, and I grunt.
I may be pathetic to him, but since Elena’s not here that means she’s at the other location. Baron will be there soon to rescue her along with Julianna. Her safety is all that matters. I’ll gladly sacrifice my life for her to live another day. That’s not weakness, it’s unconditional, irrefutable love.
Drawing myself up to a seated position, I stare at Lazaro. He grins. He’s got me right where he wants me.
His meaty fist slams into the side of my face. Blood fills my mouth. I spit it out, then straighten, ready for whatever’s next. He punches me again, and again. My lip splits open. My cheekbone pulses. My ears ring. But I don’t give a fuck.
Lazaro thinks he’s won. He’s wrong. I’m the only one who wins today. I’ve fulfilled my greatest need—my wife’s safe. My sister will be too. Now I can die a happy man.
Though I’d give the world for just one more moment with Elena. To gaze into those soft grey eyes, to kiss her warm lips, to hear her say my name one last time. My memory summons up visions of her, and I know she’ll be the last thought on my mind before I die.
If only we had more time. I could have spent decades proving my love to her every single day. She may have even confessed that she loves me too.
I double over, coughing up blood as I take another hit to the solar plexus. But as I continue to focus on her, I barely register the agony. My body can die, but my soul will live on for her.
Forever.
