by Amy Cecil
“So we’ve got him. We need to get men staked out at his place ASAP.”
“Already done. I sent Augie and Gio over there. Rebel went too. They’ll nab him as soon as he surfaces.”
“Well done, Ricco. Thank you.”
He shrugs proudly. “Piece of cake. And, of course, it’s what you pay me for,” he says with a laugh.
“Well, there is that,” I say. “Once we get Darius, we’ll get her location. He’s the key.”
“We’ll have him today,” he assures me. “Well, I’ve got a few more things I need to take care of. Need anything else?”
“Naw, I’m good. Good work, Ricco,” I call after him as he heads for the door.
***
Several hours later, my phone beeps. It’s from Ricco.
“We’ve got him!”
And before I can reply, it beeps again.
“Should be here in less than fifteen minutes.”
I reply:
“Take him to the watershed.”
I finish the paperwork for Bella Celeste, shut down my computer, and make my way toward the watershed. I pick up Ice and the boys on the way. Augie and Gio are just bringing Darius in as I arrive.
Ice walks into the shed, and his eyes go wide. “Holy fuck, Michael, this place is a fucking torture chamber.”
“Exactly,” I say to him with a smirk. I nod at Augie and Gio. “String him up.”
I watch as my boys work on securing the heavy-duty ceiling chains around Darius’s wrists and ankles. I casually walk to the button that pulls the give from the chains and watch as Darius is pulled in all directions.
“Michael, wait!” Darius yells. “You’ve got it all wrong.”
“Shut the fuck up, you fucking bastard. I am not here to listen to anything you have to say. You had one job. One fucking job and that was to protect my wife! And you fucking helped them take her!”
“But I didn’t!” he yells.
“The fuck you didn’t. You led her right to them. You turned.” I narrow my eyes at him. “You know what we do to assholes who turn?” I taunt.
“Michael, no!”
“Fuck you, Darius! I’m gonna give you a little reprieve. Hell, if you cooperate, I can even make it quick and painless. And who knows, if I am really feeling generous, I may let you live!” I pause to let the hope I just dished out to him sink in. “Now, Darius, I’m gonna ask you one thing and one thing only, and all you have to do is give me a truthful answer. Got it?” I don’t give him a chance to reply before I holler, “Where the fuck is she?”
“I don’t know!” he yells back.
“The fuck you don’t. I swear, Darius, if you don’t start talking now, you’re gonna meet the bull. I’m done playing games. Where the fuck is Zaira?”
“They’ll kill me, Michael.”
“And you think I won’t! You smug asshole. You played us all. You played her, pretended to be her friend, her confidant… and then you betrayed her. How do you fucking sleep at night knowing what you did? She didn’t deserve this, but you didn’t care. What did they pay you, Darius?”
“I didn’t have a choice!” he yells. Now we’re getting somewhere. That’s an admission if I ever heard one.
“What the fuck do you mean you didn’t have a choice?”
“They offered to help me with my sister. She’s got cancer, and I couldn’t afford the treatments. They were going to help.”
“And you couldn’t come to me? You’ve been a part of this family long enough to know we would have helped you. Why didn’t you come to Ricco or me? If you had, this could have been a completely different scenario.”
“I didn’t think. Man, you have no idea how much her treatments cost. They approached me and offered to pay for everything. They promised—”
“Damn straight you didn’t think. And look where you are now.” I shake my head and ask again, “Now tell me where the fuck she is.”
He’s silent for longer than I care for.
“I’m sure you realize now you are dead either way. Zaira is innocent in all this, and you are the only link I have to finding her. Make your fucking miserable life worth something and save Zaira now.”
“She’s in Brooklyn. Four twenty-two Bedford Avenue, near Prospect Park.”
“Augie, Benny, you boys stay here and keep your eye on him. He stays alive unless you hear differently from me. Ricco, let’s go.”
We leave the shed, and Ice, Hawk, Rebel, and Spike follow. I turn back toward them. “I’m going to get her, now. You boys ready for this?”
“Oh, hell yes. We’re down!” Ice states.
I pull out my phone and text Vince.
We’ve got a lead on Zaira.
I’ll let you know if it pans out.
Chapter 14
Michael
We make our way to the garage and pile into the Q7. I’m a fucking mess. We’ve got about an hour drive, and the distance fucking kills me. So much can happen in an hour.
Once we’re in the car and heading toward Brooklyn, Ice asks, “So you just gonna go in without a plan?”
“We’re gonna spend the next hour driving there making a plan,” I reply.
“Well, how do you want this to play out?”
I think for a minute before I begin. “When we get in the neighborhood, we need to park far enough away from the house so we’re not noticed but close enough so that when we get Zaira, we can get away.” I take a deep breath. “Then, we need to have two go in ahead and scope out the house—one checking the front of the house, the other in the back. Once we get an all clear, and depending on the number of men in the house, five of us burst in. Someone needs to remain in the car and needs to be ready to make a quick exit.”
“What if they have more men than we can handle?” Ice asks.
“Then we call in reinforcements. We’ve got men all over the city who can be here in a moment’s notice.” I reply.
He nods. “So, Rebel and Hawk, you boys check out the house. Text Ice when you know what we’re dealing with inside.”
“Got it,” Hawk replies.
“Once we get the all clear, Ice, Ricco and I will move in. Spike, you stay with the car.”
“Got it,” Spike replies.
“I assume you all are armed?” I ask. My head is so messed up right now. I should have asked this before we even got in the damned car instead of worrying so much about Zaira. But it’s fucking personal now, and I can’t help it.
Ice pulls out his Glock and says, “Wouldn’t go anywhere without it.” Thank God these guys are used to this shit.
“Fuck, we should have gotten some assaults. Damn. I didn’t think,” I say.
Ricco laughs. “I did. They’ve been in the back since Zaira went missing. I wanted to make sure we were ready in case we needed to leave the compound quickly.”
“I knew I kept you around for a reason.”
“We’ve got three MP7s, an AR-15, and two KG-9s and enough ammo to wreak havoc on Brooklyn if necessary.”
“Fucking shit!” Ice exclaims.
“You don’t fuck with the Italians,” Hawk says.
Ricco nods once. “Damn straight.”
***
An hour later, we’re driving down Bedford Avenue. We spot the house and drive past slowly. From the looks of it, it looks like a normal single-family home. Unfortunately for the neighbors, they have no idea a drug cartel has made it its residence. Ricco drives about a block away, turns around, and parks on the opposite side of the street. He positioned the car perfectly, as Spike will still be able to see the house in the short distance.
“Okay, boys, you know what to do. Rebel, you take the back, and, Hawk, you take the front,” I say.
Rebel and Hawk reach into the back to get their guns, and they quickly get out of the car. We sit and wait while we watch them approach the house. Everything in me wants to just charge in and get my woman, but I know it wouldn’t be the smart way to handle this.
Ten minutes go by… and nothing. Fifteen minutes,
still nothing. I’m fucking going insane. Finally, Ice’s phone beeps. A few seconds later, he says, “Just got a text from Rebel. From the back of the house, he can see the kitchen, which is empty, and a living room. It’s also empty. He says it appears there isn’t anybody downstairs from what he can see. He also checked around the sides of the house but saw no signs of anyone. He did say there is a light on upstairs. It’s the only light in the house.”
“Good, now we wait for Hawk.”
A few minutes later, Ice’s phone beeps again.
“Okay, this is from Hawk. Pretty much the same as Rebel, the downstairs is all dark—no sign of movement but there is a light on upstairs, and he saw movement in the window.”
“So I’m thinking maybe two or three guys in the house?” I suggest.
“I would think so. If there were more, there would be more movement, and it wouldn’t be centered in just two rooms,” Ricco replies.
“Ice, text them back and tell them we’re moving in.”
“Done,” he replies.
I look at Ricco and then back at Ice. “Let’s do this.”
We get out of the vehicle, grab the remaining guns, and make our way toward the house, ensuring we stay hidden in case there’s anyone we didn’t see posted outside.
I whisper, “Ice, you take the front with Hawk and get anyone who may run out. Ricco, you and I are bursting in the back. Assuming nobody is gonna get in our way, we head straight upstairs.”
“Got it,” they both reply. Ice goes off to find Hawk, and Ricco and I head toward the back.
When we get to the backyard, Rebel greets us. “What’s the plan?”
“We’re going in. You stay here and guard that door. Nobody comes out alive, except us.”
He nods.
“Ice and Hawk are in the front.”
We double-check the windows, ensuring Rebel’s report was correct, and Ricco and I approach the door. Guns ready, I look at him. He nods and opens the screen. In one kick, he knocks the lock out of the entry door with a loud bang. Well, they know we’re here. Ricco goes in first and scans the kitchen, then motions for me to follow.
We turn the corner from the kitchen, and we are now in a living room. The stairway leading upstairs is across the room. Ricco goes first, and I follow behind. As we approach the stairs, a figure comes downward. Ricco fires two shots, and he’s down. Immediately after the gunfire, another figure comes down, gun blazing. We take cover behind the couch. As the other man approaches the couch, I aim and fire, placing a bullet right between his eyes. Two men down.
We wait in case any more come down. A few minutes go by, and we proceed up the stairs. When we reach the top, we are now standing in a hallway. There are four rooms that come off the hallway, and only two of them have lights on. My guess is Zaira is in one of these rooms.
Ricco leans toward me and whispers, “Don’t you dare go off on your own. We do this together, Mikey.”
I nod.
We approach the room farthest away first, which would be in the front of the house. It’s not ideal because we don’t want anyone sneaking up behind us, but there’s gunfire coming from that room, and it’s where Hawk saw the light. Stealthily, Ricco steps in, his gun ready. Another Gallardi man is standing at the window with his gun pointed outside. He’s firing. I’m assuming he’s firing at Hawk and Ice. Ricco immediately fires, and the man goes down. Fuck! I pray neither of them have been hit. We search the room, nothing. I look out the window and can’t see Ice or Hawk. I can’t worry about them right now. I have to find Zaira.
“She’s got to be in the other room,” Ricco says.
We go back into the hallway and approach the room with the closed door and the light shining through the crack underneath. Slowly, Ricco opens the door, looks around, and motions for me to come in. He immediately walks into the bathroom to ensure nobody is in there. The room is empty. What the fuck?
“Where the fuck is she?” I yell. I don’t give a rat’s ass if anyone else is in the house. I fucking want my girl.
Ricco shrugs. “Must have been a false lead Darius gave us,” he says.
“Fuck!” I yell.
Just as we’re about the leave the room, I hear a faint whisper in an all-too-familiar voice. “Michael?”
I stop Ricco in the doorway. “Wait!” I lean into the room and ask, “Zaira?”
“Michael? You came for me.” She cries, her voice getting a little louder.
“Where are you, sweetheart?”
I hear rustling from under the bed and then I see her as she drags herself out and tries to stand. I pull her into my arms. “Thank fuck you are okay.”
“Oh, Michael.” She cries into my shoulder as she clings to me for dear life. “When I heard the gunfire, I thought they were coming for me. The two who were guarding me left, and I immediately hid under the bed. Thank God it was you.”
I turn toward Ricco. “Let’s get her outta here.”
I pick Zaira up and carry her as we leave the room and head down the stairs. I head toward the front door while Ricco goes to the back to get Rebel. I put Zaira down and pull out my phone to send a text to Ice.
“We’re coming out.”
I open the front door, pick Zaira up again, and start to move forward, but I hesitate when I notice two men rustling in the bushes. They open fire, but they aren’t shooting us. They are shooting at Ice and Hawk who can’t seem to see where the gunfire is coming from in the dark. It’s like a turkey shoot, and they are open targets. One of the men has his gun aimed directly at Ice. Before I can utter a word to warn him, the sniper shoots.
I know that bullet is headed directly for Ice, and I cry out, “Ice, take cover!”
Ice isn’t paying attention, but Hawk is. Everything moves in slow motion as I watch Hawk jump in front of Ice. Holy fuck! Blood pours from Hawk’s chest. Fuck, fuck, fuck!
After that, everything happens fast. Gunfire explodes around Zaira and me as I tried to shield her. Once I am able to get my wits about me, I realize Ricco and Rebel have joined us.
Both of the Gallardi men are dead. Ice is on the ground kneeling at Hawk’s side. “Hawk! Hawk!” He holds his hand on Hawk’s wound, somehow trying to keep his blood from leaving his body. Ice watches in horror as the blood seeps through his fingers and trickles down. “Come on, brother, stay with me. You’re gonna be okay. Just stay with me.” Rebel rushes to Hawk and kneels at his other side.
I place Zaira down and steady her. “Can you stand on your own?”
She nods.
I look around and inspect our surroundings. It appears we have taken out the Gallardi men who were already here. I rush toward Ice and Hawk, and Zaira follows. “How is he?” I ask
Ice looks up at me and says, “Fuck, this is not good. They fucking shot him, Michael! They got him in the chest. I don’t know what they hit. I don’t know if any vital organs are damaged. I don’t know shit! But fuck he’s having trouble breathing. We’ve gotta do something, Mikey!”
“First, let’s get him outta here.”
He looks up and nods. He pulls out his phone and types as fast as he can manage. I assume he’s texting Spike. Within seconds, Spike pulls up to the front of the house. Ice, Rebel, and Ricco carry Hawk to the car. Once they get him situated in the back, we all get in and make our way back to Long Island. I know there will be retaliation for this. I know they will come at us now with everything. We’ll be ready. I’ll pull in all the other families if I have to. After all this, I am convinced now more than ever that I don’t want to do business with these people.
Ice is up front with Spike, and Zaira and I in the next seat back. He turns back toward me, “He needs a fucking hospital. He’s barely hanging on, but you know with a gunshot wound, they’ll report it, and I will have cops up my ass. You’ve got to fix this. I’m out of my element here. I don’t know the locals.”
“I know, man. I’ve got this. We’ve got a family doctor who helps in these types of circumstances. I’ll call him now,” I reply.
“Bullshit, this-owe-me-owe-you crap. We’re friends, Ice. We do shit for each other and help each other out. Nobody owes anyone.”
He smiles and nods. I pull out my phone and call Dr. Siegel. He wasn’t pleased about the late-night call, but he’s used to it. The last time he was disturbed this late was when Zaira hit her head.
Spike drives as fast as he can to get us back to the compound. Every minute is crucial with Hawk hanging on in the back. Ricco stayed in the back with him, and I know he’s doing everything he can to help stop the bleeding. While we’re driving, I send a quick text to Vince.
I’ve got Zaira.
She’s safe.
She will be staying at the compound tonight.
After about forty-five minutes, we get back to the compound. Dr. Siegel is waiting in the front drive for us with a couple of his orderlies and a stretcher. Once we pull up and Spike runs to the back and opens it, the doctor is ready to have Hawk moved. “Get him on the stretcher and get him inside!” he hollers.
The orderlies work quickly and rush to get Hawk situated on the gurney, while Dr. Siegel barks orders. They get him wheeled into the house, and Dr. Siegel says, “Take him to the den.” He turns toward me. “Sorry, Michael, I didn’t know where to treat him. I hope that is okay.”
I nod. “Of course. It’ll be much easier than wasting time trying to get him upstairs to one of the bedrooms.”
We all rush in behind Hawk and wait while Dr. Siegel checks his vitals, gets him on oxygen, and looks at his wounds.
I turn toward Zaira. “Why don’t you go up to your room and rest. You can get cleaned up if you want. After you left, I found some of your things that were left behind. Hopefully you can find something to change into and get comfortable. I’ll take you to Vince’s first thing in the morning.”