“It’s in the car.” He coughed. “Fuck.”
The drone of the horn was cut off abruptly as Gunner no doubt pulled the dead man off it.
“Who sent you?” I demanded, standing over him as he stared blankly up at the sky.
“Bruno. He wants the girl,” he wheezed. “He’s always wanted her.”
My gut clenched, fury lighting my veins. “He’ll never fucking have her.”
“Won’t stop until he does,” he replied, as though it was a simple fact. “Shit, it’s cold,” he murmured a moment before his eyes went glassy.
“Fuck,” I grumbled, wrenching a hand through my hair. Every fiber of my being needed to be with Francesca. To assure myself she was safe and whole after the brutality aimed at taking her from me.
“Got a couple prospects en route for cleanup,” Cash shared. “I’ll stay. You three ride back.”
He didn’t need to tell me twice. With a chin lift I strode to my bike, pulling onto the road a moment later. I noted absently that Max and Gunner were behind me as I pointed my bike for the club and my girl.
****
When we walked into the club a short time later I scanned the room, unable to take a real breath until I set eyes on Francesca. I noticed absently that Cole and my pop had emerged from the office at the sounds of distress the women made. Then I saw her, her gorgeous brown eyes wide with fright as she stood from her spot on the couch, racing into my arms. “What happened? Why is Gunner bleeding?” she demanded as Liv, Wren, and Emmie drew near.
I held her close, kissing her head in reassurance. I noted absently that Max did the same with Wren. “We’re good. Ran into a bit of trouble is all.”
Her delicate hands skated over my frame, no doubt assuring herself I was unharmed.
“You’ll need to stitch Gun up,” Max told his sister.
Emmie’s eyes lit with trepidation. “But I’m still in training…. I’m not…. Someone else should…,” she blathered.
Gunner cupped her neck in an uncharacteristic display of affection. I’d never even seen him touch her. If the blush on her cheeks was any indication, she didn’t hate it. “I don’t want someone else, I want you, Em.” His voice was low and without any of his typical levity.
She looked up at him. “I don’t want to hurt you,” she murmured worriedly.
He squeezed her neck delicately. “You won’t.”
“He’s right, Em.” Wren spoke up. “You’re a natural. You got this.”
After another moment of hesitation, she nodded. “Okay,” she agreed, accepting the medical bag Liv had run to get. I had no doubt her hesitation came more from this being Gunner than the task at hand. Because Wren was right, like her mother, Jill, Emmie was a hell of a nurse, certified or not.
“Come on, Em,” Gunner coaxed, taking her hand with his good arm and guiding her back toward one of the offices.
“What happened?” Cole demanded once they were out of sight, his blue eyes arctic. My pop looked on, his arms crossed.
“Caught a couple of Rossi’s men at the border,” I explained, hating the way Francesca trembled at my response. “We exchanged fire. They’re both dead.”
“Bruno or Angelo?” Cole wanted to know.
“I fucking wish,” I muttered. “Just a couple of soldiers.” I had more to say but wanted to shield Francesca from knowing details that would only serve to increase the fear I could already feel rattling her frame. “Baby, why don’t you go curl back up on the couch with the girls?” I suggested gently. “I’ll be right behind you.”
She looked like she wanted to press as Wren took her hand. “Come on, girl, let’s go grab a beer and finish our conversation.”
After a moment, Francesca nodded. I shot a grateful look Wren’s way. Liv followed her friends, and I strode to Cole’s office.
“They’re gonna keep comin,” I announced without preamble once Max had shut the door behind us. “And the thing is, I got the sense that this is more Bruno’s gig. The guy said he’d always wanted Francesca.” I growled, the very thought making me want to put my fist through something.
“Where are we with the Carpino family?” my pop broke in, his eyes on Cole. My family had already embraced Francesca as one of their own, and the threat to her was a personal affront for a man like my father. For a man like me.
“They want the Rossis gone as much as we do. There’s a hit out on both Angelo and Bruno,” Cole explained, leaning against the edge of his desk, his boots crossed at the ankle. “Word is Bruno’s gone to ground. Angelo too. The good news is that their organization is already crumbling. With the Carpinos making a play for power and already chipping away at their ranks, it’s only a matter of time.”
