“Jesus Christ, and I thought we were dysfunctional,” Ant mutters.
I rub the back of my neck where a stress knot that feels like it’s the size of a grapefruit has taken up residence. My eyes don’t leave Serena’s frightened ones as Via stalks toward her, still waving the gun around.
“So here we are again.” Via’s lips twist into a grimace. “Principessa in the flesh. You know, I’m sick to fucking death of hearing you on your fucking soapbox, bitch! You wouldn’t get a goddamn ounce of support from anyone if it wasn’t for your father!” She creeps closer, nostrils flared. “You parade your bony ass up and down the red carpet flaunting your fucking designer shit while the women you claim to want to help have next to nothing! I think that makes you a hypocrite, principessa,” Via hisses. “Be true to yourself. People would respect you more.”
Serena jumps out of her chair with a loud gasp. “Who the fuck are you to criticize me? I give everything to this cause! I live it! You don’t know me at all. Don’t you dare judge me! And since your father here just promoted me over you, I’m thinking you’re in no position to throw stones.”
“Oh, shit. It’s throwdown time,” I mutter. I know Via, and I know her fuse is short to begin with. Now she’s got a gun, facing off with the woman who just took over her role in Nic’s organization.
Not good.
I cock my gun. “I’m going in. Cover me.”
“Fuck, here we go,” Ant mumbles, his own gun in hand.
“Via, leave her the hell alone!” Nic shouts in an exasperated voice. “It’s not her fault you’re a complete fuck-up.”
Via recoils and spins in Nic’s direction.
I put my arm out, holding Ant in place. Via is now moving toward Nic. I need her out of the way so I can get Serena out of the line of fire.
My girl must hear my silent pleas for her to look in my direction. Her eyes widen and she drops to the floor when I point downward, slithering away from Via.
Get to the door, Serena! Get there fast!
“Ant, I’m going around to the other door to grab Serena. Keep an eye on this shit, okay?”
He nods and I back away, running down the now-desolate hallway to get Serena away from the Fortunatos.
“A complete fuck-up, is that right?” I hear Via’s voice as I approach the open door. She taps the barrel of the gun against her cheek. “Well, how about this? What would all of your so-called fans think if they knew you bought my mother when she was only sixteen? That you raped her repeatedly like the sick fuck you are? And that I was the product of that disgusting perversion of yours? Hm?” She points the gun at Nic. “What would they all think of you then?”
“Are you threatening me, Via?” Nic growls. “After everything I’ve given you? The perfect life? You never wanted for a goddamn thing, and this is the thanks I get?”
“I hate you!” She screeches. “You killed her because she wanted her own life! How many other women’s lives did you destroy?”
“Holy shit,” I say under my breath as Serena approaches the doorway where I’m standing, her gaze a mix of panic and rage. “What the fuck did we walk into? It’s like a soap opera, for Christ’s sake. No wonder Via is such a twisted bitch.”
“While you stand there and attack me, your rival is about to escape off into the sunset with another unexpected guest.” Nic lifts an eyebrow at Via. “A guest you were supposed to dispose of before he made it here. And you wonder why I want her and not you running shit for me?”
Via lets out an ear-piercing shriek. “First, you steal my man and then you steal my fucking job? You aren’t getting away with everything, bitch! Not if I have breath left in my body!”
I hold my breath as Serena scrambles to her feet and darts toward me. But her stride slows to a near-stop.
“No!” I yell, running toward Serena, my arms stretched out to shove her away from what I know comes next. Via’s nostrils flare, her smudged lips curling into a sadistic smirk.
“Fuck you, both,” she screams before pulling the trigger. The shot explodes into the air just as I dive toward Serena in an attempt to tackle her to the floor.
One second too late.
We were close. So damn close.
But not close enough.
Figuratively, anyway.
She flies toward me, her head smashing against mine as I tumble backward into a wall.
The back of my head cracks against the sheetrock and a sharp pain shoots down my spine. I raise my hands to my temples to stop the world from spinning, my arms tight around Serena’s limp body. Those hits definitely scrambled my brain for a few seconds. I struggle to open my eyes, blinking fast to clear my vision.
Crack! Pop! Bang!
Ant charges into the room using a large metal tray as a shield.
“There’s no good ending for you right now, Ant!” Via shrieks, bullets hitting everything except my brother. “You’re fucking dead!”
“Doesn’t look like we’re on the same page, Via,” Ant grunts, slamming the tray into her face and pushing her into a table.
I ease Serena down to the carpet. Her eyes are closed, her body completely still. A bloodstain spreads around her, the sight making my chest tighten. Shit, she’s been hit! I frantically check her out, letting out a relieved breath when I see where she was hit. Her arm looks like it was used for target practice, and I thank God that Via is as much of a crap shot as that dickhead Lazo. Between the blood loss and the blow to her head, it’s no wonder Serena passed out. But I need to get her the hell out of here fast. I tap her cheeks, mumbling her name, trying to wake her up, but a strong hand pulls me off the floor and away from Serena.
“I didn’t think I’d get a second crack at you, Marcone,” Lazo hisses against my ear. “I missed once, but I sure as fuck won’t miss again!”
He launches a punch into my gut and I double-over, the gun in my hand crashing to the floor. I clutch my middle and straighten enough to swing my fist at his jaw. But the sonofabitch backs away and lets out a roar before smashing a fist to my nose.
I collapse against the wall again, swiping my arm under my now-bloody nose. I try to kick the gun closer to me, but it’s just out of reach. I take a deep breath, leap to my feet and jump on top of him, tackling him to the ground. We roll around on the floor, arms and legs swinging and flailing. I manage to roll him onto his back, pounding him with every ounce of might I can muster.
He grips the sides of my jacket and throws me off of him. I grit my teeth as my head collides with the wall yet again.
Serena…
My breaths come fast and furious, and as Lazo sticks out his arm, ready to shoot, I hurl myself at his feet, wrapping my arms around his ankles so he goes down hard. The gun slips from his hand and I grab it, firing off two shots to the head without a single thought other than I need to save Serena.
Gunshots pelt the walls in the dining room as Via struggles against Ant. I pull Serena out of the dining room and turn her onto her back. Heavy footsteps get louder and louder until Tommy and Alek appear.
“Get in there! Help Ant!” I shout at them.
Serena’s eyes finally flutter open. “Diego,” she whispers.
My shoulders slump and a relieved breath escapes my lips. “You’re awake. Thank fuck!”
A faint smile lifts her lips. “I’ve been shot at a lot today. One of the bullets was bound to hit me.”
I press my forehead against hers. “Thank God you’re okay.”
She nods, tears springing to her eyes. “But my father—”
“Diego, watch out!”
More gunfire explodes into the air as Via runs out of the dining room screaming my name.
“Diego, what the fuck did you do?” She falls down beside Lazo’s lifeless body and lets out a bloodcurdling scream. “No! Please no!” Her head drops onto his bloody chest and she grips his hands in hers. “You were the only one I had! The only one who cared!”
Serena rolls onto her side, backing away from the door as Via raises her head, a death
glare focused solely on me. “You did this! You took away the only person who ever really loved me, you bastard!” She raises her gun. “I have nothing, and now you’re going to know what that feels like!” Then she lowers the gun at Serena once again.
Crack!
Via’s body crumbles on top of Lazo’s, the gun slipping from her hand.
Ant appears in the doorway, breathing heavily. “She really is a psychobitch from hell, bro. You sure know how to pick ’em.”
“Hey,” Serena says in a weak voice. “I take offense to that.”
“I saw you go toe to toe with her in there even though she had a gun and you only had your venomous rhetoric.” Ant smirks. “So, you know, if the shoe fits…”
“Where is Nic?” I rasp, pulling myself up.
“Alek took off after him,” Tommy says, his expression darkening when he sees Serena. “But we found Franco.”
“Is he okay?” she murmurs. “Please tell me he’s okay!”
Tommy looks from me to Serena and then back again. “Come on, let’s get you back to him.”
I help Serena to her feet, snaking an arm around her.
“Cute. You two have matching bullet holes,” Ant chuckles as he follows us.
My chest is tight as we navigate the hallways of the villa. The place is void of living humans. Any of the guests who were too slow to escape got their asses shot up. We sidestep bodies, following Tommy to a closed door. I can see the expression on his face. He doesn’t want to push it open, but it’s not up to him.
Serena pushes past him, shoving open the door. “Papa!” she yells, limping over to her father. He’s now lying on a couch, probably courtesy of Tommy and Alek.
I step into the room behind Serena, walking around a desk and almost slipping on a puddle of Jackie Anzelone.
Immediately, I connect the dots.
How’s that for being clocked in the head twice in a row? Suddenly…clarity.
That asshole is the reason for this whole event.
He’s the reason why Franco was attacked.
He’s the reason why Serena was snatched and almost killed herself.
He gave them up. Another slimy bastard who betrayed his family.
Cocksucker. Rest in hell.
I fight the urge to kick him as I inch toward Serena. I kneel down next to her, my good arm tight around her. She cries silently, the tears sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto Franco’s tattered dress shirt. “Papa, please. I need you to wake up, okay?”
She leans her head on my shoulder. “It’s over, Papa. I promise. But I need you to please come back to me. Don’t leave me! I need you. Please!”
I know exactly why Tommy didn’t want to come in here.
He knew what she’d find.
He knew it was over.
A soft sputtering makes my spine stiffen. Serena sniffles and swipes a hand across her eyes. “Papa?” she asks. “Papa, please?”
Franco’s eyes, which are almost completely swollen shut, open a crack. Tears form in the corners as a sob erupts out of Serena’s chest. “You’re here! Oh, thank God!” she cries, dropping her head onto his chest. Her shoulders quake as the tears flow.
Franco’s bruised and broken fingers creep over to his daughter’s head and rub the back of her hair. He chokes and coughs, attempting to speak. She looks at him and shakes her head.
“No, Papa. Don’t. It’s okay. We have plenty of time to talk later. You rest now.” Her lips lift into a shaky smile and the flash of hope in her gaze makes my gut clench.
She doesn’t know.
Franco struggles to point one of his fingers at me. “He…” Franco grunts, struggling for breath. “I knew he was the guy.”
Serena lets out a relieved breath. “Yes! Yes, he is the guy, Papa. You were right. He saved me.”
Franco gives a tiny nod. “I…love…you.”
“I love you so much, Papa.” Serena looks over her shoulder at Tommy. “Get help. We need to get him out of here now.”
Tommy looks at me, and I give a swift and silent nod. He backs out of the room, his phone in hand.
I keep my arm around Serena as she whispers to her father, little things that the two of them shared, happy times, funny times.
Another coughing fit rumbles Franco’s body and he struggles to shift his eyes in my direction. “You…take care…of my principessa.”
“Oh, now it’s okay with you, hm?” Serena says with a soft giggle. “We have your blessing?”
Franco’s mouth quivers as he forces his lips into the faintest of smiles. Then his lips fall and a thin stream of blood trickles out of the corner of his mouth. His eyes flutter closed.
And just like that, he joins his wife, another victim of the evil that is Nic Fortunato.
Serena just stares at him for a second, the reality clearly not registering. Then she looks at me, her mouth open. “Diego?”
She clasps her father’s hands. “Papa? Papa! Where is Tommy? He needs to get help fast! We need to get him to the hospital!”
Her voice rises as the graveness of the situation assaults her like a cement block to the chest. “No, no, no! Papa, wake up! Please don’t leave me!” She falls on top of his chest, crying like her heart is breaking. “Don’t go, please don’t go!”
I stroke the back of her head and she pulls herself up, only to fall into my outstretched arms. I pull her close as the grief consumes her. Her body trembles and shivers against me, her sorrow piercing the still air.
“It’s my fault,” she whispers over and over again, her face buried in my chest, her tears soaking my shirt.
And while I know it’s not the case, that she’s not the one who put the final nail in his coffin, I also know there isn’t a damn thing I can say to convince her otherwise right now.
Yeah, unfortunately, it’s something I know all too well.
Guilt.
It feeds voraciously like a fucking parasite on its host.
Never to be sated.
Chapter Eighteen
Serena
“So what happens now?” I say in a low voice, dragging my hands down the front of my face. I’m hunched over and nursing my wounded arm, bundled in an oversized sweatshirt and leggings that Gianna dug up for me when we got back to Vince’s place after getting treated at the hospital.
Vince leans forward, his elbows on his knees. “There are a lot of loose ends to be tied up, business-wise. Your father was a very powerful force in Europe, and he controlled a lot of territories, territories that need a new leader.”
I stand up and pace the room, tugging at my ponytail with my good hand. “He knew this was coming. He brought me into his organization for the first time after Mama was killed. I’m prepared to do what I have to do, but it will be my way. I don’t want this life anymore, one where I’m constantly looking over my shoulder. I want to keep doing good for others. I want to have a future. And a family.” My eyes quickly flutter over to Diego and a warm, tingly feeling radiates through me as his gaze meets mine.
Gianna walks into the room holding a steaming mug of tea. She hands it to me. “Drink this.”
“Thank you.” I take the mug and blow into it before taking a sip. As soon as the liquid hits my lips, I feel better. Calmer.
I have no idea why since the maniac who took me in the first place is still on the loose.
But knowing that Diego is on my side and by my side somehow quells my fears.
“I understand that you want all of those things, Serena,” Vince says. “But you need to be realistic. There are a lot of people out there who want nothing more than to stake their claim in what your father built. You need to be strong, now more than ever. Your father had enemies and they will see you as a threat to be terminated if you show any signs of weakness.” He snorts. “Believe me, I know.”
I take another sip of the tea. “I have a lot to lose. I get it, and yeah, it scares me. Plus, Nic Fortunato is still out there.”
Alek walks into the room, bouncing Ava in his arms. “Un
ca Dee!” she shouts, almost leaping at Diego as Alek passes. He reaches out his good arm and she jumps into him, squeezing him tight around the neck.
I don’t blame her. It’s the only place I’d want to be if given the choice.
I see him wince since his shoulder is in pretty bad shape from the shot he took earlier, but he’d never give up the chance to hold his niece.
“How the hell did you let him get away, Alek? Are you losing your edge now that you’re a dad?” Vince throws his hands into the air and sits against the back of the couch. “I mean, this guy is coming back for blood, and it won’t just be Serena’s this time.”
“I took out ten of his guys. By myself. He jumped into a moving car and I ran out of bullets before I could get the tires.” Alek shrugs. “Anyway, he won’t come for me. I took out his biggest competition. He loves me. But you guys? Yeah, you’re screwed.”
Diego rolls his eyes. “If I didn’t have your kid in my lap, I’d kick your ass.”
“Language,” Alek says, smirking.
“Nic Fortunato needs to be stopped,” I murmur. “He’s evil and dangerous. I mean, all of that stuff that his daughter said about him and her mother? He needs to go.”
“Are you volunteering to take him on?” Alek quips.
“I’ll do whatever I need to protect the innocent.”
“Very noble of you, partner,” Vince mutters, raking a hand through his hair. “So we’ll all be on his shit list.”
“Language!” Gianna and Alek say in unison.
“Partner?” I ask, stopping in my tracks. I think I’ve worn the carpet thin over the past few hours.
“Yep,” Vince says. “That’s why your father came here. Like you said, he knew his time was short. I don’t think he predicted it would stop for him today, but he had a plan to partner with our family. He knew once he was gone that you’d need protection and support. And since we have common interests and a shared history through our father, he came to me for help.”
Wanted: A Dark Italian Mafia Romance (Men Of Mayhem Book 1) Page 20