“We have a situation here,” I tell Cross as soon as they reach us, then explain that Rogue’s team is pinned down inside the walls and that Hydra is shooting at them from every window.
“We brought additional weapons and ammo,” Cross informs me then sends three of his men to go scout out the situation and the warehouse.
Gunfire continues to come in jarring bursts from beyond the wall.It’s almost six PM.I wanted to be with Goldie by now, celebrating victory.I was going to have her mother and sister for a long overdue reunion brought to the house as a special surprise.Doesn’t look like I’ll get to do any of that any time soon.
Cross’ guys are unloading crates of weapons from the trucks they brought with them.A pretty brunette gets out of one of the trucks.She’s wearing what looks like doctor’s scrubs, and is carrying two big bags, which could be filled with medical supplies.And the expression on her face is a mix of sadness, worry and anger.
Her eyes light up when she sees Blade and she rushes towards us, dropping the two bags she’s carrying.
“What’s going on, Blade?”she asks.“Is Rogue OK?The Devils wouldn’t tell me anything.Said it’s useless to worry until you know there’s something to worry about.Which just made me worry more.”
“There’s something to worry about,” Blade says, and I could just punch him.This woman looks out of her mind with worry as it is, whether she knows there’s a reason to worry or not.
“I’m Matteo Rovina,” I tell her and offer her my hand.
“Melody,” she says and shakes my hand, but the look she’s giving me is full of anger.“You’re the reason they’re all here getting killed.Again.”
Her words slice through my chest, as I’m sure she intended them to.
“Melody is Rogue’s ol’ lady.And she’s also an ER doctor,” Blade tells me then turns to her, “You’ll patch anyone up that needs it, I’m sure.And so far, it doesn’t look like anyone needs it.”
He’s finally catching on that he should be trying to soothe her, not make her more nervous.He even grins at her, but she stays completely serious.“I want to leave this shit behind us.I can’t keep watching my friends and family bleed.I can’t.”
Cross’ guys finally return, and I give her an apologetic smile and go join them.I wish I could tell her Rogue and the rest of the Angels will be just fine.But I have no idea if any of us will be, and she seems like the kind of woman who can see straight through a lie.
“There’s a way in from the back,” one of Devils is telling Cross—Ace, I think his name is.“But it won’t be easy.”
Cross looks over his men before settling his dark eyes on me.Even with just his eyes visible, he gives off the intensity of a hundred men.
“Here’s what we’ll do,” he says.“A team will go in through the back, while the rest of us storm the gates.That should draw all the fire from the Hydras inside and give the team the time to eliminate them from within.My men will go.They’re trained and experienced for this type of work.And we are keeping this warehouse once we clear the Hydra’s out.”
The Devils keeping this warehouse was the original plan.The only reason Cross’ team went to take down the warehouse full of trafficked women was because saving women like that is also something they’re notorious for, and they have plenty of experience doing it without unnecessary loss of life.
The plan he’s suggesting is the same plan I’d made in my mind if I ever had to try and breach Moretti’s house.Sneak in and take the machine gun operators from behind.Not that I thought it’d be necessary.But plans change.I thought I’d have slit his throat by now and be celebrating in Goldie’s arms.Now both those things are drawing farther away from me, one short burst of gunfire at a time.
“All right, sounds good.Let’s do it,” I say, and Cross sends his team off.
Blade is already checking the clip of his machine gun, while Caputo seems to have reservations, but he’s not voicing them.
He doesn’t need to.I know how fucking dangerous this battle will be.We’re all tired.Our enemy has the higher ground, and we still have to live long enough to attack Moretti’s mansion.
But this is where we are now.This is the hurdle we must jump now.
I try not to think of anything as we slowly approach the wall surrounding the property, careful to stay out of the line of fire still coming from the windows.We have over fifty men here, including Codelli and Rafaelle.They’re taking up the rear and I stop advancing to wait for them.
“Stay with the cars,” I tell the old man.
The look of disgust in his eyes that’s always there when he looks at me turns even darker.
“I can fight.”
His shirt is soaked in blood not his own, clearly attesting to that.
“All the same, stay with the cars,” I tell him.“That’s an order.”
I could tell him I don’t want him to get killed for Gianna’s sake, but I’m not exactly in the mood to have that conversation while he’s looking at me like a piece of dog shit he just stepped in.He grumbles, I tell Rafaelle to stay with him and go join my men at the gate.
One of the Devils is planting serious-looking explosives on the gate.Another group, headed by Blade, is getting ready to rush through the gates as soon as they’re open.I join this group.
