“I’ll explain later,chica.”
Pablo and Javier fall into formation, suddenly back to being bodyguards rather than Alejandro’s cousins and best friends. Joaquin and Jorge meet us in a vestibule outside the elevators.
“Any problems getting down here?”
Pablo shakes his head in response to Jorge’s question. I’d noticed the men had earpieces earlier, so if anything had come up or there was a barrier to our escape route, the men would’ve communicated that way.
We’re on the lowest parking level now, so when we step out, the floor’s nearly empty. It means the scattered bodies stand out.
“What the fuck?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Vita
I glance up at Alejandro, his expression fierce.
“Those are our men.”
The moment the words finish falling from his lips, the sound of gunfire echoes in the concrete jungle. All of us twist toward the sound as men in black balaclavas, turtlenecks, and cargo pants emerge from the far side of a delivery van.Tres J’sand Pablo draw their weapons, returning fire. Both Javier and Joaquin reach down to their ankles and pull out their spare handguns.
Javier gives me his while Joaquin hands the other to Alejandro. Now that we’re all armed, we move together, keeping Alejandro in the center since he’s the most likely target if it isn’t me. He’s not at his full strength, despite amazing me at how he’s hanging on.
“How many do you count?”
I wonder the same thing Pablo does. I scan our surroundings as Javier answers.
“Five by the van. But there have to be more to have gotten so many of our guys.”
I wish I could see through metal and concrete to know what’s on the other sides of the vehicles and the floors above us. Parking all the way down here would’ve made getting Alejandro out of here less noticeable. However, it also means our attackers can use the emptiness as their defense. No witnesses mean they don’t have to hold back.
“There are two more near the east wall.”
I jut my gun in the direction I mentioned before shooting a man who thought he was out of sight. We position ourselves so our backs are away from our attackers but not open to anyone ambushing us from behind. Car windows shatter, bullets ping against metal as they hit doors and hoods and trunks. The cacophony of noise makes it difficult to tell where our targets are and how many of them lurk.
We fight our way to one of the four SUVs that have bodies surrounding them. There’s burning pain along the bottom of my left ribs. I force myself to swallow the grunt as I suck my stomach in. I know it’s just a graze, but it still hurts like a motherfucker. However, I remind myself that Alejandro’s injuries are worse than this minor scratch. If he can muscle through this, then so can I. He hasn’t complained once, and neither will I.
While bullets hit vehicles in our way as we move, we’re not shooting indiscriminately, much like Alejandro and I didn’t when the two SUVs attacked us on the road. We’re all firing wide to hit as many as we can, but we’re not shooting just for the sake of wasting bullets.
“Get in on the passenger side, Vita.”
All of us sprint the last couple of feet. Pablo jumps in the front passenger seat while Jorge goes to the driver’s side. Joaquin opens the trunk while Javier opens the rear passenger side door. I get in and slide across, reaching for Alejandro as his cousin helps him into the SUV. Doors slam as Jorge turns on the ignition.
I glance over my shoulder to see Javier and Joaquin shutting the back hatch with them inside. They pass rifles like Alejandro gave me in the town car. I hand two to Pablo while Alejandro insists upon getting one. Ammunition follows, and I hand that out as well. ThenDos J’sclimb from the trunk into the third-row seats. Jorge’s got a lead foot as he peels out of the parking spot.
Drivers backed all four SUVs into their spaces, clearly prepared for the possibility we’d need to make a hurried escape just like this. Bullets pepper the doors and windows, but it doesn’t slow Jorge. In fact, he plows into two men, sending them flying. There’s no way their bodies survived the impact of this tank slamming into them at fifty miles an hour. We race through the garage and out onto the street.
I glance back periodically, watching the van follow us. When I’m not sweeping my gaze over our surroundings, I’m watching Alejandro grow paler by the moment. I fear what his wounds must look like. I don’t doubt he got sweat in the ones on his back while we had sex. Now all of this jostling and running must be horrible on them, especially his leg. I know it wasn’t burned, but it has to be sore as fuck. I wrap my arm around his shoulder, encouraging him to lean against me.
“Alejandro, Alejandro.”
I tap his cheek when he sags against my shoulder. He’s not just tired or falling asleep. He’s dead weight from passing out. Pablo looks back at me as my fingers find Alejandro’s pulse on his neck.
“Let him rest, Vittoria. It’s the best thing for him right now. His body and mind need it, and he’ll be in absolute terror if he wakes. If it’s before we get to the safe house, knowing you’re in danger will make him lose his shit.”
“But I can defend myself. I helped all of you defend him.”
Jorge glances back at me in the rearview mirror. “What about any of the men in this family makes you think Alejandro wouldaccept any risk to your safety? Your ability to fight is neither here nor there.”
