He would probably be much less agitated if I were safe at home.I know that, but it’s not something I’m going to be able to give him today, and maybe never.“I want to be there, by your side.I know it’s asking a lot, but I need this.”
His face turns and the deep intense eyes observe me for only a moment.“I know you do, or you wouldn’t be here, but you understand what you’re asking.”
There’s also the fact that I know he’ll keep his word and do everything he can to make Barcelo tell us where my father is if he’s alive.His huge hand engulfs mine, and he draws me close as we pull to a stop.“You’re sure?You could stay here with Jimmy.”
I shake my head softly.“I’m not ever going to be the kind of girl who sits around waiting for you, wondering if you are coming home tonight or not.I’m going to be by your side.”
Jimmy pulls into the cover of the brush and Massimo opens the door quietly, holding a hand to let me out to join him, while Jimmy gets out the passenger side and joins us at the front of the car.Massimo pulls his Glock and hands me one.“Stay on my hip.If I say down, you don’t hesitate, capisce?”
He gives Jimmy a solemn look.“You take up the rear, someone moves in on you from behind, shoot the fucker, no questions.Leandro and the others are close to the house.”
“Got that, boss.”
Massimo turns to me.“Down immediately, understand?”I give him a nod, but he tips my chin.“You do it immediately, without thought.Tell me you understand, with words, kitten.”
“I understand.I promise.”I don’t miss Jimmy’s raised eyebrows, but Massimo starts to move and there’s no time for me to say anything smart even if just to relieve some of the tension that’s weighing heavy on my heart.Massimo’s hand reaches above him to keep the branches and leaves bent back until I make my way through, while Jimmy takes them from him as he follows us.
It takes me two steps to every one of Massimo’s, but I try like hell to keep up and be stealthy at the same time, which is agonizingly hard walking over crunchy snow mixed with dry dead leaves and small branches but I wanted to come and I’m not going to fucking slow them down.
Leandro and his brothers step out of the shadows and almost scare me to death but clearly Massimo knew where they were meeting, or he would have shot them on sight with no warning at all.
“Let’s move,”Leandro tells everyone as soon as we reach them.
We move as a group with the shadows of the Roselli soldiers flanking both sides of the house, and I have no doubt covering the back.Gunfire ripples through the back.“He knows we’re here,” Massimo says, as the eruption continues and shatters the windows.
“Down!”he suddenly growls.
I hit the dirt and everyone crouches, his soldiers closer to the house returning a rapid stream of fire, shredding the door with their autos.The soldiers burst down the door yelling out the count so loud we can hear them clearly from here.“We’ve got two, three, and four fuckers down.One injured on the floor, and one made it out the back door,” he yells as Massimo urges us closer to the open door that Leandro and his soldiers have already breached.
His eyes search around the house that looks lived in but surprisingly clean.Leandro and the soldiers are already in the back.Massimo turns to Jimmy.“Find out if Barcelo made it out.I don’t see him here.We’ll deal with this piece of shit,” he says, kicking one of the Gallini soldiers who lies on the floor.
Massimo puts a gun to the guy’s head, giving me a chance to find out if he knows anything about my father.“Tell me where my father is, or we’ll bury you in the ground almost dead but still alive.”
His breathingis already ragged; he won’t be long for this earth.We’re running out of time and we both know it.Massimo steps on his chest.“Answer the lady or you’ll live a very long time in a very bad way.I can’t imagine a death worse than being buried half alive.”
“Tunnel, floorboard, tunnel,” he gurgles before his head slumps to the side.Massimo leaves the man there to die, moving quickly toward the kitchen with me close at his heels, our eyes scanning for signs in the floorboards, anything that looks like it may be an opening for a trap door.It’s not hard to see now that we know what we’re looking for.One of Massimo’s soldiers pulls open the square door while three others hold guns downward in case of a surprise.
“Clear!”one of them yells.
“Let’s move,” Massimo says, his soldiers, Leandro, and his other brothers rejoining the group, leading the way with autos pointed in front of them, guarding us as we make our way down the dark tunnel with only flashlights to guide our way.
“There!”A shadow darts from the corner and Massimo and his brothers give chase while I stay right on their heels.He’s fast but we’re faster.We chase him around the corner until there’s nowhere left for the asshole to go.Massimo himself corners Barcelo, pinning him against the wall while Leandro pats him down, taking all of his weapons.“Where is old man Cassone?”Massimo growls.
Barcelo sneers.“You’ll never find him.”
Massimo catches him by the throat and squeezes.“I think you’ll talk after a while.I’m sure it will take more time than we’d like but in the end, you’ll talk.They always do.And we’re going to take our fucking time with you.When we’re done cutting your balls off, we’re going to cut you balls to neck, watch you bleed out, and then I’m going to cut your fucking heart out and send it to your brother.A little retribution for what you did to my mother you sick fuck.”
Barcelo’s not as cocky anymore but he’s also not saying a word.“Take him to the warehouse and find out where Sophia’s father is,”Massimo orders.
My heart swells.I know how much Massimo wants to avenge his mother right this very moment, and the fact he’d allow Barcelo to live another minute to try and find my father means the world to me.
The soldiers take him away and we follow them to the other end of the tunnel, coming out at the far end of the docks.Another secret my father kept, one that maybe could have allowed us to get to Barcelo sooner if I had known and not been kept in the dark as a female Cassone.
Leandro walks by our side.“Keep me posted.Talk to you later,” Massimo says before taking my hand and walking with me to the car where Jimmy, Leandro, Gino, Tristano and Renato and are quietly talking.
“I’m taking Sophia home.Message Leandro with updates.”He opens the car door for me, guiding me in before he follows.
“Which home, boss?”Jimmy asks.
