Yet again the younger brothers knew better than to argue.
“Now,” Van spoke between gritted teeth, “I saw some guy with Mia over his shoulder sprinting into the third room. We need to get to her. How many guys are in this room at present?”
Another round of bullets bounced into the table, several shooting through and only just narrowly missing the crouching brothers.
“I think I saw two,” Red replied.
“Cover and fire again?” Ace questioned.
They agreed and Red and Van once again blindly shot over the table giving opportunity for Ace to snipe down the two guards. After confirming the kills they stood up and were heading to the next room when they saw both doors click shut simultaneously. Red looked bewildered as the other brothers dashed to the doors and tried to open them.
“The fuckers have locked us in!” Ace exclaimed.
“Well, we’d better open them. You take that one and I’ll take this one,” Van called and they shot through the locks once more.
Van quickly kicked his door open to see a guard on the other side. One swift shot to the kneecap and the man fell over. Van rushed over and kicked his gun away from him before pressing down on his neck hard with his other boot.
“Where the fuck are the kids?” he yelled at the man.
The man struggling to breathe tried to answer, “Please don’t kill me, I was just doing what I was told. I never agreed to kidnapping children.”
“Where the fuck are the children? Don’t make me ask again!”
The man now visibly trembling, replied, “Vincent took them with the other guys. They locked you in the room and are making their way downstairs. Please don’t hurt me.”
“I can’t promise not to hurt you but I’d rather not kill you.”
With that he took the butt of his gun and struck the man in the side of the head. The man was knocked out in an instance. His brothers had gathered around at that point and he told them the situation. They quickly made their way back to the entrance, checking for guards on the way before reaching the stairs.
“I’ll go first, you two follow after. There’s no cover on the stairwells so we’d better act smart. Let’s go!” Van said.
They headed down in order. After the each flight of stairs, they poked their head around the door to detect for noise. The sirens made it near impossible but they kept going. Finally on the third floor they caught sight of a man disappearing into one of the rooms and they sprinted after him. The door was about to swing close when Ace booted it open, sending it crashing into the man. The man slapped his head against the back wall and slumped onto the floor. Upon hearing the noise, several guards leaped out and trained their guns upon the brothers.
Fuck. We’re outnumbered and with no cover. What do we do?
“Where’s my kids?” Ace shouted.
From behind the men came a disturbing laugh. Van recognized it even before the bastard himself pushed through his men. The guards never once put their guns down as Vincent spoke to them.
“I knew you would show up eventually, Van. I’m glad you brought the rest of the clan. It makes it easier to destroy your family when they’re all in one place. Don’t worry, no harm will come to your wives. I’m sure they’ll suffer enough once they realize their beloved husbands and their sweet little children have been brutally murdered.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Van yelled, “They’re just kids, for God’s sake! Let them go! I’m the one you want revenge on, take me instead.”
He dropped his gun and stepped forward, his hands raised above his head. Vincent laughed as he stepped forward and without warning punched Van directly in the front of his face. Van could hear his nose crack even before the blood started spurting onto the carpeted floor. He could hear his brothers step forward but there were multiple clicks as the guards readied themselves to shoot. Van was glad when his brothers realized the severity of the situation.
“I think it’s only fair that since you took away my opportunity of a family, I take away yours. Unlike you, I need an heir to carry on my empire. What does your offspring have to take on other than a disgusting reputation as the Romano’s pet dogs? It was heartening to hear the sweet stories of how your brothers met their wives. All very romantic. It must have been braking for you to see your brothers settle down and fall in love while you were left all alone. Is that why you went after my Lily? You thought you could get above your station by marrying one of the Romanos? And what did you think was going to happen? That Pearl and Joe would let their sweet little sister wind up with a dead-beat punk like you? After all, they know your background. They know the truth about your parents. How could their little sister marrying someone who caused the death of their own parents? I may be twisted but I’ve never been on that level. I bet your dear sweet brothers didn’t have knowledge of that bit of information now, did they?”
Ace spoke up, “You think our brother would keep something like that from us? Of course he told us the truth. The difference is it wasn’t him who killed our parents, it was your fucking uncle that ordered their deaths. You tore apart our family, not Van.”
Vincent looked surprised, “Ah, so the big brother does actually have a pair of balls on him. Your family really must be blind to forgive you. At least I know I’m not taking out a family of brains. I’ll be doing the world a favor. Bring the boy forward.”
Tom was shoved through the crowd and looked up at Vincent defiantly before noting his father standing there. He went to run towards him when a guard gripped into his shoulder tightly, making the young boy yell out.
“Let go of my son, you bastards!” Ace lunged but was shot in the shoulder.
The brothers and the child screamed out as the youngest brother dropped to the floor yelling. Van bustled over and rolled his brother onto his back. Ace was still breathing but he could tell he was in pain.
“I’m fine,” he mumbled as he let his older brother help him into a sitting position.
“Let go of the child!” Van yelled at Vincent.
“I was considering killing the parents first and making the kids watch, but I think it will be more fun to make the fathers watch their children die. Don’t you agree, Van?”
Van watched as Vincent brought the gun to Tom’s head. He could wait no longer as he leaped forward and tackled Vincent. He heard gunshot fired and felt a blistering pain down his side as he rolled onto the floor. There were screams and shouting in the background as Van’s vision blurred. He looked down to see Tom running towards the open arms of his father and then noticed the steady stream of blood leaking out of his own side.
“Fuck,” he murmured before two hands reached down and yanked him to his feet.
Confused, Van blinked his eyes to clear his vision. Looking around him, he noted the pile of guards lying on the floor and Ace and Red cradling their children in their arms. All of them were sobbing and Van wanted nothing more than to go to them and wrap them all in one massive embrace, but a firm hand kept him in place. He traced the arm back to Joe who was standing there glaring in front of him, gun in hand. Van followed his gaze and saw what everyone was now staring at.
“Get the kids out of here,” Van yelled backwards.
He watched as his brothers scooped their children up and hurried out. No doubt the mothers were already waiting downstairs. The relief he felt at knowing his family was safe flooded through him. He turned back to face the scene on the bed. Cowering in the sheets, was a bloody Vincent, his face smashed up and several teeth missing. Van was surprised he could see anything through the amount of blood pouring down his face from multiple gashes.
“You said you would care for my sister,” Pearl’s hand dropped down as she hit him around the face with the butt of her gun.
“You promised me that she would be safe,” her other hand pulled out a chunk of his hair.
“You tried to rape my sister,” she punched him.
“You kidnapped children,” she aimed the gun at his head.
�
�You fucked with the Romanos,” she pulled the trigger.
Van watched the bloody scene. He was usually one to avoid death but not when it came to Vincent King.
He was the one who abused Lily and tricked the Romanos. His family killed my parents. He tried to kill my remaining family after all this knowledge. His death was too fucking easy for his crimes.
Pearl righted herself and wiped the blood splatter from her cheeks. He couldn’t tell whether she was shaking from anger or from the adrenaline from killing the man. When she caught Van’s eyes there was a whisper of a smile playing upon her lips. She walked up to him.
“You should have waited for us, you could have gotten killed.”
“He had the kids,” Van started.
Pearl held a hand up, silencing him, “I know you didn’t just do this to rescue the children. Obviously, that was most likely your top priority, but I also know you were here for Lily. You risked your life for her safety and for her honor. Which means you put your life in danger for our family. I refused to listen to Lily when she told me about Vincent, and I was only thinking about my own selfish needs when it came to her happiness. Since the day she met you, she has seemed like a different woman. She found the strength to stand up to me and show me just how wrong I have been.”
Joe stepped in, “What she is trying to say, indirectly, is thank you. Thank you, Van, for looking after our little sister. We were wrong about you and your family and we should never have doubted you for a second. You have our blessings for your relationship with our sister.”
Van smiled and shook Joe’s hand. He went to shake Pearl’s but instead she wrapped him in a hug. He was taken by surprise at the intimate moment and he glanced over to see Joe trying to contain his laughter. As they stepped away Van stared them in the eyes.
“Actually, about my relationship with Lily. I love her very much and unlike Vincent, I do promise to look after her and care for her. Yes, my involvement here was partially to do with Lily and I must admit ever since the day I met her at the airport, I have been madly in love with the woman. I hope I also have your blessing in our marriage.”
“Marriage?” Pearl looked ready to explode again but Joe gripped onto her shoulder.
“You have only known Lily a couple of months. Are you sure this is what you want to do? We won’t take kindly to you breaking our sister’s heart.”
“I could never and would never do that. It may have only been a short time, but I have never felt this way about anyone before. She brought me out of the darkness for the first time and I feel happy for once. You can trust me.”
Joe looked him in the eyes, analyzing the truth behind his contractor’s words, “Then you have our blessing. Pearl agrees too, once she wraps her head around it. Of course, we will no longer interfere with our sister’s future so it is down to her whether to accept or not. When are you planning on asking her?”
Van looked away, “She has already agreed.”
“You’ve already asked her?” Pearl looked hesitant.
“I asked her before we headed off here. I wanted her to know that no matter what happened here today that I would always love her. She has my dad’s wedding ring for the time being.”
“Well,” Joe cleared his throat, “It would appear you have done everything a bit backwards, but nevertheless we support your marriage fully. Talking of things happening here, we’d better get you to a doctor fast. It looks like you’ve been through the wars. I’ll call Lily and let her know everyone is okay.”
Van looked down at the large splinter still sticking out from his shoulder, the blood caking his jeans and now the wound seeping through his shirt. He could feel the pain searing through him and knew it would be best, if he complied with the twins. He nodded and they called over two guards to help him downstairs. Before they left the room he called to the twins.
“What about the police?” he croaked.
“We already called them and the press. According to them it was some drug-induced junkies trying to take control of the hotel. You know we have our links in the city, don’t you worry about that. The only thing you need to think about now, is getting yourself better for our Lily.”
Van nodded and let the men take him downstairs. The elevators were now back in motion so it was easier to get down. Along the way, he heard the occasionally patter as droplets of blood leaked from his various wounds onto the floor. They took him around the back to avoid the prying eyes of observers and directly into a waiting car. Before the door closed, he heard footsteps and looked up from where he was lying down in the back.
“The kids are safe, Van. Are you going to be okay?” Ace called over the men’s shoulders.
“I’ll be fine,” Van just barely managed to whisper back.
The door slammed shut and he heard a couple of taps on the roof as a signal for them to start driving. Van couldn’t make out the men in the front from where he was lying. He tried to concentrate on the rooftops he saw skirting by outside the window. His eyes started to blur and his head was getting dizzy from the loss of blood before they pulled up somewhere.
The men helped lift him from the car and brought him into what looked to be a house. Inside there were several beds and various medical equipment lying around. Van knew that it would be stupid for them to bring him to a public hospital after the event taking place in the city. The press would be swarming at the door and anyone coming into a hospital in that state, would be sure to be a witness to the drama. Van’s head leaned back as they got him onto an operating table. Someone pulled a mask over his face and told him to count backwards from ten.
Ten…
Van tried to make out the faces in the room but they all looked like a blackish blur.
Nine…
He saw the look on the children’s faces as they were reunited with their fathers.
Eight...
Lily’s joy after Van proposed to her in the living room with his father’s wedding ring.
Seven…
Punching Vincent in the face after he found Lily passed out in the bathtub.
Six…
Eating lunch at the diner with Lily during the day they got to spend together.
Five…
Rescuing Lily from her awful date with Vincent at the hotel.
Four…
Watching Lily walk away from him in the park after she announced her arranged marriage.
Three…
Having sex with Lily at the lake after they sneaked out together.
Two…
Sitting on the balcony with Lily at the homecoming party their first time after having sex.
One…
Seeing Lily for the first time in the crowded airport and knowing she was the one.
Zero…
Van got one last glimpse at the sky as everything faded to black.
I love you Lily Romano.
Epilogue
LILY
She dabbed the tears away from her eyes as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. When she turned, she was surprised to see Pearl doing the same as Joe looked on, in his usual emotionless state.
Who knew that Pearl Romano even knew how to cry?
“You look beautiful, Lily,” she gave her a watery smile.
Lily looked down at her gown. It was an A-line ballgown with a sheer bow strap detail on the shoulder. Hand beaded applique ran throughout the bodice and followed through to the skirt. A layer of sparkle tulle with horsehair completed the chapel train. The gown had been fitted at the waist with a full skirt to minimize her waist and disguise hips, buttocks and legs. Her siblings had been confused at her choice of silhouette for the dress, but it made Lily feel like the princess that Van insisted on calling her.
For shoes she had vintage inspired sandals crafted in sophisticated white satin with all over pearls. It boasted an elegant V-cut peep-toe and a dainty ankle strap. The key feature was a large pearl adorning the top just above her toes.
Her hair had been styled in an half up, half down do with
golden curls spiraling over her shoulders. On top was a long laced veil and a tiara. The tiara contained dozens of freshwater pearls intricately hand wired into botanical tendrils and set with tiny Swarovski crystals clustered together into flowers. It had a tapering shape which peaked in the middle to create a classic look when pinned into her hair.
Everything had been chosen to match her current engagement ring. Every time she looked down at it she couldn’t help by smile. The white gold ring twisted around her finger with a pearl taking pride of place in the center. Surrounding it were sapphires which sparkled a dark blue in the light. After he discovered her love of water, Van had decided to get her a ring to match and she was glad never to see a diamond again after her previous engagement with Vincent.
“Are you ready?” Joe glanced over at her, “They’re about to begin.”
Lily nodded and Pearl embraced her one final time before scurrying off to join the others. Joe, as the last remaining male in the family, had been asked to walk her down the aisle. He offered his arm and she latched onto it. He gave her forearm a squeeze before they exited the changing room. They walked down the corridor and stood at the entrance to the church. The first notes of the music hit them and Joe started walking her up the aisle. Lily noted the crowds surrounding them but her eyes didn’t leave Van for a moment. When he turned around to watch her, she could see tears watering his lower lashes. He quickly swiped them away before Joe handed her off to him.
“Look after her,” Joe murmured before stepping aside to join his sister in the front row.
Lily saw Ace and Red grinning at her from behind Van. She remembered their shocked faces when Van announced they were getting married once he had recovered from surgery. It was one of the hardest times in her life, watching him suffering the way he did. As soon as she had found out he was getting medical treatment, she had rushed to the house and offered her services. The twins had to refuse her help though, insisting her emotions would get in the way. It made her feel hopeless as she watched them battle through his wounds and finally pull him through after several hours on the operating table.
The Bailey Brothers Box Set- the Complete Trilogy Page 52