Crawling on all fours, I followed him to the top then ran down the staircase. When we reached the bottom, I took a minute to scope out the place before slipping through the doorway at the end of the hallway. As we rounded the corner, we walked straight into two D’Angelo men. I was quick to take out one and before I could hit the second one, another sprang forward, grabbed Rayden from behind and held a gun to his head.
I glared at the two men and when I took a step forward, the one holding Rayden, pressed the gun tighter to his head.
“Harm one fucking hair on him and you will die,” I gritted.
I recognized the one holding Rayden as Tino, a D’Angelo capo. The fucker was fast and sneaky. He motioned for the other man to take his place behind Rayden then took a step toward me. For a silent moment while I waited for his next move, his beady eyes remained on me as he tapped his lips with the muzzle of his gun. Hostility roiled through the air between us, the foreshadowing of death itself. We’d gone up against each other twice and both times he’d learned not to fuck with me. This time was no different, only I had to think about Rayden. I would rather die than let any harm come to him.
“It would be so easy to take you out,” Tino finally opened his mouth. “One bullet and that would be end of the mighty Lorenzo Rossi.” He grinned.
I flicked a glance to Rayden, the aggression on his face surprised me. He looked ready to kill, nothing like the sweet innocent boy I knew. His eyes met mine and I saw the trust there, he knew I wouldn’t let anything happen to him. “If you’ve got the balls, then do it, Tino.”
“You know what will happen if I do, don’t you? Queen mother will go berserk. She’ll rain hellfire on D’Angelo. She’s feisty that one. Both in and out of the bedroom. One crazy bitch that fucks like a goddamn crackhead in heat.” He licked his lips.
If he expected anger from me for speaking so crassly about my mother, he’d have to wait until I was dead. I merely cocked a brow, feeling nothing but revulsion for her and her sexual deviants. “Cut to the chase. What the fuck are you doing here?”
“We just want the baby you’ve been hiding here.” I hid my surprise with a grimace, catching the sudden flare of Rayden’s eyes behind Tino. “I must say I’m impressed, man, I didn’t think you had it in you to fuck a sixteen-year-old, then again who wouldn’t resist a sweet fuck like her.” He looked at his partner and they laughed. “And then hiding the baby from his grandfather, that takes balls, man. “But you made a deal with D’Angelo and he wants his grandchild.”
I smirked at the man. The D’Angelo’s thought the baby was Alessia’s. Pathetic. “I don’t give a shit about that deal. D’Angelo will have to wait his turn,” I tilted my head to the side, my deadly glare pinned on him. “So, if you know what’s good for you, I suggest you get the fuck out of my city and crawl back up D’Angelo’s ass, or I’ll return your body the way you like it, as his suppository.”
He looked confused for a second and I figured he didn’t understand the words. “That’s a sweet threat coming from a man whose men are all dead.” We stared each other down before Tino’s hysterical laugh filled the hollow hallway. “Look at us. Two predators, ready to fight a battle for control. A lion against a hyena. Am I right, Lorenzo? You’re the lion, right? The king. Yet here this little hyena,” he pointed to his chest, “has you by the balls.” The last time I gave him a black eye, I’d equated his laugh to a hyena, and he’d gone back to D’Angelo with his tail between his legs, yet I didn’t doubt the need for revenge had filled his bones.
“The difference, Tino, is that a hyena never learns the hunt, because he’d rather have the lion’s leftovers than do the dirty work. And he won’t take on the lion alone. Ultimately, the king always wins, even if he’s cornered, he finds a way.”
“Fuck you, Lorenzo,” Tino yelled. “I’ll give you one last chance to hand over the baby or I take this fucker down.” He jerked his gun at Rayden.
And I saw red. Before Tino could anticipate my move, I had his neck in my hand and his body up against the wall. His gun dropped from his hand as he clawed at my fingers. He was tall but I was taller and bulkier. He gasped for air, his eyes bulging in his eye sockets. With his arm around Rayden, the other man pointed his gun at me, screaming in Italian for me to let Tino go.
I looked at him and about to release my hold on Tino when Rayden reared his head back and cracked the man in the nose, his gun falling to the floor. He stumbled back against the wall, clutching his nose, and screaming curses. Rayden turned and kicked him in the balls. “Fucking pussy,” he cursed when the man fell to his knees. Blood ran from his nose and dripped off his chin while his hands cupped his balls, his body writhing in pain.
Stunned by the ferocity in Rayden’s eyes when his gaze met mine, I let go of Tino. He doubled over, sputtering, and cursing between coughs.
“Still think I’m a boy, old man?” He grinned before his features morphed into a scowl and he dropped to his knees, picked up the other man’s gun, pointed at me and fired. My head snapped to my side as my widened eyes watched Tino crash to the floor, the gun he was about to use on me, still in his grasp. Blood gushed from his brow, his body jerking in the aftermath.
I had no words as I slowly shifted my gaze back to Rayden. When had he become this callous, this hardcore? A perfect shot. Did I have a hand in making him this way? Did I steal his youthful innocence or was he just proving he could be like me?
“Jesus fucking Christ, I can’t leave you alone for a minute, can I?” Remo’s snarky voice pulled me out my reflections as he came bounding down the hallway with Dario in tow. “You hurt, brother?” He clasped me in a quick embrace.
“Dario.” I nodded a greeting to my bodyguard. “Someone knew about this place and the baby. I need to know who.” He nodded.
Remo’s gaze shifted. “You know how to use that thing, boy?” He pointed to the gun Rayden was still holding.
“He just did.” I gestured with my chin to Tino.
“Fuck.” Remo laughed. “I’m betting that’s your first kill and you take down a fucking capo. Fuck, I’ve said this before, you’ve got balls, boy.”
Instead of cocky comeback, Rayden lifted a brow at me. I wasn’t sure what he was waiting for me to say. As I turned, I caught my brother’s frown. His gaze shifted between me and Rayden then he turned to Dario. “Let’s get that fucker out of here.” He kicked the guy with the bust nose in the thigh then between him and Dario, they walked the guy out.
I looked at Rayden. “I thought you left with the baby.” I kept the emotion out of my voice.
“I was just an innocent boy when you asked me if I’d kill a man for the person I love.” He stared at me, his expression one of surrender. “I just did.”
I swallowed down the shock, unsure what I should say to that. Was it a declaration or a goodbye?
