Gunfire is still coming in sad little bursts, which are answered by louder ones coming from the warehouse.It sounds like Rogue’s team are all down to just handguns.
“We move in five minutes,” Cross says.“First the gate goes, followed by a few smoke bombs and flash bangs and then we breach.”
The order gets relayed down the lines, everyone is nodding.The minutes drag by, slower and slower.
Until the metal gate in the wall that we’ve been staring at for over an hour goes flying to pieces in a deafening explosion.Which is followed by smoke bombs and flash bangs.I see nothing but the man right in front of me as I rush to breach the gate.My eyes are watering, my ears are ringing, I taste smoke, ash and dust and have no idea which way is forward, which way back, up or down.
But as soon as the smoke clears enough for the outline of the warehouse to come into view, I lift my machine gun and start shooting towards it.As do the others who had breached the wall with me.
The sound of gunfire always wakes memories in my mind.
Right now, it takes me back to the night I was by my brother’s side as we attempted to storm Moretti’s mansion.Machine gun fire was raining down on us from most of the top windows, the air was thick with smoke and dust.I can still see the bullet that hit Ricardo.I see it flying in slow motion towards his chest.See him jerk as it hits him.See him go down.
And the next thing I remember is driving him to the emergency room in my car, begging him to stay awake, to fight, to stay alive.And for a few days he did stay alive.But he never woke up.
I’m shooting at the warehouse as fast as I can now.
I still have to breach Moretti’s mansion tonight.Avenge my brother.Avenge my father.All my uncles and cousins.
That’s the first step to rebuilding my family’s legacy, so that my child can inherit it.So that the child and Goldie will be taken care of.
The smoke grows thicker and thicker.The gunfire louder and louder.
I’m making my way towards the lorries, along with Blade and several others.The first sight that greets me as I’m finally under cover of the trucks is not one I wanted to see.
Nico is leaning against the large wheel of the first lorry holding onto Alice, the Angels’ Sarge, who is lying in his arms.They’re both covered in blood.Neither appear to be breathing.Another family member gone in Moretti’s war.Another one to avenge.
Gunfire is starting to die down.Smoke and dust are settling.The Devils must’ve succeeded in taking out the gunmen inside the warehouse.
Rogue reaches Nico and the woman before me.His face is covered in blood, but his eyes are blazing with life, and he seems to be unharmed.Nico raises his head and the relief that floods my chest takes my breath away.I run towards him.
“How is she?”Rogue is asking, just as I ask Nico if he’s hurt.
“I took one in the arm,” he says.“She wasn’t so lucky.”
He inclines his head towards his hands which he’s holding pressed over her belly.They’re swimming in blood.“She took one in the stomach.But she’s still alive.I tried to push her away from the bullet, but I was too slow.”
Melody comes rushing past me and grabs Rogue’s face in both her hands, asking him where he’s hurt.
He lays his hands over hers, looks at her with pure love and devotion.“I’m fine.Alice isn’t.Please look her over first.”
She nods and rushes to Alice, but not before giving me another dark look.Nico tells her what happened, and I look around to find Caputo.
These men and women are safe now.It’s time we finish this.It’s time to go storm Moretti’s mansion and succeed.To avenge Ricardo and everyone else I lost.
And give Goldie and our child the life they deserve.
Chapter36
GIANNA
Dante Moretti satus down at the kitchen table and had two of his guys watch us, while he went with the rest of them to check the house.It’s been a while and my heart is still racing, I still can’t catch my breath and the man outside, the one they shot has stopped groaning.I think he’s dead, but I don’t want to think about that.I’m sure all the rest of the guards Matteo left here at the house are dead too.
Matteo is probably dead too.
Every time that thought alights in my head, my throat closes up completely and I can’t draw a breath at all.Maria is sitting beside me, clutching her crucifix, her lips again moving soundlessly.But I don’t think prayers are going to save us now.
I keep glancing at the garage and if the men guarding us weren’t carrying such big machine guns, I’d try to make a run for it.
