Endless Love

by Drake, Tabatha

I reach down my leg toward the knife in my ankle holster, ready to kill the officers where they stand.

  Archer grabs my elbow and turns me to face him.

  “I love you, Lilah,” he whispers.

  I open my mouth in shock as he cups my face and kisses me hard, deep and true. “I…”

  Before I can say anything, he stands up and grabs an old, dirty bottle off the shelf.

  “Archer,” I whisper. “What are you doing?”

  He breaks the bottle and spills the ancient booze down his shirt. “You all keep going,” he says. “Find the girls.”

  A rock settles in my gut. “Wait—”

  Archer slides the wall closed, blocking us out.

  “Wait, Archer—”

  I rush forward to try and pry it back open, but it doesn’t move more than an inch.

  Archer hobbles drunkenly through the storage room, bumping into boxes and drawing the attention of the two police officers as they descend the stairwell.

  “Hello!” he shouts, slurring his voice.

  The officers’ lights shine on him as Dante tries to pull me back from the wall’s narrow opening.

  “I’m an immigrant!” Archer says, feigning laughter. “I am here illegally. I have a criminal record and I’ve never paid taxes.”

  My jaw drops.

  The officers drift closer, their hands hovering over their sidepieces.

  “It’s just a drunk…” one of them says.

  “Get down on your knees, sir,” the other barks. “Hands on your head. No sudden moves.”

  No.

  No, no, no.

  Dante tugs on my arm. “Lilah…”

  “We can’t leave him,” I whisper, my heart crushing in my chest.

  “He’ll be okay.”

  I shake my head. Archer Allen. He doesn’t kill, especially innocents. He didn’t want me to, either.

  I ease up, ready to slam through this fucking wall and tackle the officers as they tighten the cuffs on Archer’s wrists, but Dante grabs my arm.

  He’d rather it be him than me.

  It should have been me.

  “Lilah, come on.”

  I give up, swallowing my tears as I let Dante pull me through the tunnel.

  My hunter.

  They caught him.

  Chapter 18

  Dante

  I glance back at Lilah in the tunnel. Her head is turned down with heavy eyelids blocking all the color in her eyes. I’ve seen this look of grief on her face so many times before and each time I tell myself that I never want to see it again.

  I slow my stride, letting Fox get a bit of distance ahead of us. “He’ll be okay,” I tell her again.

  Lilah looks up and nods without saying a word.

  Goddammit, Archer. I told you to do one thing. One thing.

  Take care of my baby sister.

  This look on her face right now is because of you. Because you decided to be a hero… and let us continue on… and save Lucy. And Dani and Caleb, too. And take Gio and the Boss by surprise, ending this stupid fucking war once and for all.

  Dammit.

  I think I like him now.

  Well, he’s all right.

  “This should be it,” Fox says, resting his hand on the door.

  I nod. The tunnel split off about halfway down, the south way leading to the casino and the north leading here. Distance-wise, there’s nowhere it could go except right underneath the Zappia estate.

  A keypad sits next to the door. Armed and red.

  Fox adjusts the mic on his ear. “Boxcar, you read us?”

  “Loud and clear,” I hear Boxcar in my own headset.

  “Disable the door.”

  “Can you see a number along the bottom of the panel?”

  Fox bends down and grabs a small flashlight from his belt. “Yeah,” he says. “CX-1342,” he reads.

  A moment later, the panel turns green and the door lock clicks open.

  “Thanks, Box,” Fox says.

  “Don’t thank me yet. You’ve got a bogey down the hall to the left.”

  Lilah slides the combat knife from her ankle holster before brushing past me.

  “Lilah—” I sigh, letting her go.

  She yanks open the door and walks on through.

  Fox looks back at me and raises a brow.

  “Yeah, she’s… got some stuff to work through right now,” I say.

  “Should let her take point then, you think?”

  I nod. “Oh, yeah.”

  We follow her inside, walking lightly on our toes into an old wine cellar. Lilah pauses by the corner to discreetly peek over her shoulder before rushing out, her knife ready to strike.

  “Yep. That was violent.”

  I smile at the discomfort in Boxcar’s voice.

  We turn the corner and step over the blood-covered body as we move a little faster to catch up with Lilah.

  “Lilah, wait up,” I say as she reaches the stairwell.

  Fox nods. “How are we looking up there, Box?”

  “The landing is clear,” he answers. “But…”

  We inch up the stairs behind Lilah, hanging back as she checks out Boxcar’s blind spots.

  “But what?” I ask.

  “It’s weird. The entire west wing is empty. Gio’s study, empty. The kitchen, empty. Dining room, nada.”

  “Where did they go?” Fox asks.

  “I’m looking— okay. Marilyn and Caleb are in the eastern hallway, heading toward… Oh.”

  I bite down. “Boxcar…”

  “The chapel,” he says. “They’re heading toward the chapel.”

  I glance at Fox as he looks at me. “Why?” I ask, afraid of the answer.

  “I’d say it, but I can tell by your voice that you already know.”

  I exhale hard.

  “Box,” Fox says, “are the girls still in their rooms?”

  “Uh… yeah.” He groans softly. “And they’re wearing white.”

  “We don’t have much time,” I say.

  Lilah looks the other way. “Sparky, how many men are in the chapel?” she asks.

  “I don’t know. There are no cameras in there.”

  She nods. “Which way is it?”

  “Hold on.”

  I shake my head. “Lilah, we should stick together.”

  “It’s okay,” she says, wiping her knife on her black pants. “You guys go get Dani and Lucy. I’ll head to the chapel for a little recon, find out what we’re dealing with.”

  “The last time you went ahead for a little recon, you—”

  “Straight ahead, Lilah,” Boxcar says. “I’ll guide you.”

  “Relax, big brother,” she says. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “No,” I say. “Lilah—”

  She takes off, ignoring me.

  “The halls are still clear for now,” Boxcar says for us. “Move now or forever hold your peace.”

  Fox nudges my arm. “Come on.”

  I take a final look down the hall as my baby sister’s shadow disappears around the corner.

  Chapter 19

  Caleb

  “I have such a wonderful surprise for you tonight, Ms. Fawn,” Marilyn says as we walk down the hall. She moves so slowly, taking her sweet ass time on each long stride, I feel a growing urge to shove her forward.

  “Oh, yeah?” I mutter, humoring her.

  “I can tell you’ve been melancholy,” she says, glancing at me, her eyes quickly falling to my handcuffs. “I understand you’re torn over whether you’d like to accept my offer or not.”

  Actually, no. You can shove your offer straight up your—

  “But I wanted to take the opportunity to show you all the good that Snake Eyes can do,” she says.

  I halt in my tracks. “The what?”

  She stops and turns to face me. “It’s not all guns and bloodshed, you know. Our organization is really about…” Her lips curl into a sly smile. “Well, it’s about family.”

  “Is that right?”


  Marilyn continues, fully expecting me to keep up with her tortoise-like pace. “I’d like nothing more than to open my family to you and Mr. Carson,” she says. “In fact, I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the two of you would fit right in here.”

  I don’t say a word. If I tried, it might come out like some maniacal banshee cry.

  Snake Eyes is about family? Are you fucking kidding me, lady?

  Destroying families, more like.

  Marilyn pauses in front of a large pair of double doors and places her hand on my shoulder. I look at it, trying to hide my disgust as I see Dani’s ring still nestled on her old worn-down finger.

  “After tonight…” She smiles. “I think you’ll understand what I mean.”

  She pushes open the doors and her jaw drops with delight as we step inside.

  It’s a mid-sized chapel, beautifully decorated with red paper lanterns. My eyes wander upward, following the trails of streamers toward the balcony where several armed guards stand watch.

  “Oh, Gio!” Marilyn says. “It’s beautiful!”

  I look down the aisle toward the altar. Gio stands there in a black tuxedo, flashing a grin at the two of us as we draw closer.

  “Thank you, Marilyn,” he says. “You were right. The lanterns were a good idea.”

  “I never grow tired of people telling me I’m right,” she jokes.

  I look at the large, stone basin beneath the altar and the very sharp knife lying beside it.

  Well, it’s definitely a wedding… kind of.

  I turn back to them as their laughter rises.

  Marilyn pats Gio’s shoulder. “You’ll have to excuse Ms. Fawn. This is her first Zappia wedding.” She takes my arm. “Come on. Let’s take our seats.”

  She tugs me backward, taking me with her toward the pews.

  “Personally, I’m on the groom’s side,” she says, “but since the brides are your friends, I figured we’ll sit on their side.”

  We slide into the second row and I lower to sit. “Brides?” I ask.

  Marilyn smiles as she gazes around once more. “See?” she says with pride. “I told you we do some good.”

  I gawk at her as my stomach churns.

  Chapter 20

  Dani

  I stare at myself in the mirror, wondering if the girl looking back at me is even real.

  Is this really happening?

  This wasn’t what my wedding day was supposed to be like.

  It was supposed to be a quiet, intimate ceremony. A destination wedding, perhaps. Just me and Fox with Caleb and Boxcar as witnesses. At sunset, if we could swing it.

  Not like this.

  Not in this white dress that covers every inch of my skin from the chin down.

  Not with this veil that I can barely even see through that drags the floor as I walk.

  Not without Fox.

  The door opens behind me and I close my eyes, hating every moment of this. Is it Beatrix, coming to escort me to my doom? Or is it Gio, coming to tell me once again how much fun our wedding night will be? For him.

  “I don’t know…”

  I spin around, my heart leaping into my chest. I blink twice, sure my eyes have played some trick on me but a warm shiver rushes down my spine as Fox smiles.

  “I pictured something sleeveless,” he says, a disapproving eye on my dress.

  I yank the veil back over my head. “Fox…” I run toward him and he opens his arms. “Thank god—”

  He embraces me so tightly it hurts. I take the pain, knowing that it doesn’t even come close to what it’s felt like since the moment he left.

  Fox braces his arms behind my back and lifts me up to his lips. I kiss him hard as tears stream down my cheeks and his arms never tire from their hold on me.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” I say, lightly sobbing.

  He rests his forehead against mine. “You’d think I’d let some other guy marry you?” he asks. “You’re my girl…”

  I laugh as I kiss him again.

  The door creaks behind us and we break apart as Beatrix walks in. She spots Fox and her eyes grow wide with anger as she rushes forward.

  Something slams against her head from behind and Beatrix crumbles to the floor. My jaw drops at Lucy standing over her with one of her white heels clenched in her palm.

  Lucy looks at us and tosses a set of keys at Fox. “Can we please go now?” she asks.

  Fox nods and drops down to one knee to free me from my chain. I smile at my new freedom as he rises and takes my hand. We step over that damned woman on our way out the door and I hope it’s the last time I ever have to see her again.

  Dante stands in the hallway. “Boxcar says the path is clear,” he says as Lucy balances against him and slides her shoe back on. “Let’s go.”

  I bunch up my skirt with one hand, refusing to let go of Fox. He and Dante guide us through the house, a soft mumbling coming from the headset in their ears. I try not to look at the bloody, dead bodies as we pass them by, but I can’t help but feel a keen sense of pride for my man as we pass by a few more unconscious Zappia guards.

  “Down the stairs,” Fox says. “Hurry.”

  I try to keep up in my heels, taking the last stairs with a few short hops. I turn back to see Dante carrying Lucy all the way down. He places her down again and we tiptoe past another blood-soaked body before entering a wine cellar.

  Dante opens a door and I lean back, instantly struck by a dank, musty tunnel. I pause to rid myself of the cumbersome veil and Lucy does the same, the both of us dropping them on the floor in silent celebration.

  Nope. Not getting Zappia’d today.

  “Go straight,” Fox says, guiding me into the tunnel. “And don’t stop. After about a mile, you’ll come to a staircase. Climb up and Luka and Sofia will meet you in the casino—”

  “Wait—” I turn back. “You’re not coming with us?”

  Lucy stops, her fierce eyes locked on Dante.

  Fox cups my face. “We’ll be right behind you.”

  “Why? Where are you going?” I cling to his arms, not wanting to let go.

  He pulls me in for a deep kiss, one that feels far too much like the last one we’ll ever have.

  “We’re going to finish this,” he says.

  Chapter 21

  Caleb

  The chapel slowly fills with guests but not many of them. I mostly recognize the house staff, no doubt given the night off to help celebrate this joyous occasion with their precious Gio. About a dozen bodies line the front rows, each one showing a bright, eager face.

  The Zappia cult runs deep.

  I glance toward the balcony, noting the absence of the armed guards I saw up there before.

  The organ begins playing, belting out the first few notes of Here Comes the Bride. The double doors open at the back of the chapel and every guest twist around in their seats to watch.

  “Oh…” Marilyn sighs. “Look at them. Aren’t they just beautiful?”

  Two brides in thick, pure white veils enter the chapel. The veils obscure everything from their heads to their toes as they slowly glide down the aisle side-by-side.

  I peek forward at Gio, watching as his victorious grin crawls up his face.

  This is disgusting.

  My heart bleeds, knowing that one of them is Dani. I want so badly to do something. I want to stand up and scream but my cries would surely fall on deaf ears in this crowd. But I can’t let this happen. I can’t let my friend be married off against her will. I can’t—

  Marilyn lays a firm hand on my lap. “Relax, Ms. Fawn,” she says, reading my mind. “Would you rather I’d slit her throat?”

  I bite down, swallowing tears.

  The brides pass us by, and I pause.

  Was Dani always so tall?

  Gio steps forward and squints, noticing the same. His eyes shift back and forth between his brides, craning his neck upward the closer they get to him. Soft murmurs buzz throughout the first few rows and even Marilyn leans forw
ard in the pew beside me.

  Gio reaches toward the bride to the left and yanks the veil off her head.

  My jaw drops. Make that his.

  Fox points a pistol at Gio as the other bride slides his veil off, too.

  Dante raises his own pistol and smiles.

  “What’s wrong, Gio?” Fox asks with a smirk. “Not pretty enough for you?”

  Chapter 22

  Sofia

  I run my hand along the green felt of the card table. “If I never have to set foot in this casino again, I will be a happy woman,” I murmur.

  Luka smiles from the barstool, his cheekbones poking out beneath the low, ambient lights. “To make you that happy woman, I’ll make sure you never do,” he says.

  My eyes rise to the top of the stairs again, my nerves bouncing. “It’s taking too long,” I say. “They should have been back by now.”

  Luka adjusts his earpiece. “Boxcar, what’s going on?” He goes quiet as he listens. “He says he can’t see in the chapel, but the girls entered the tunnel already. It should be anytime now.”

  I exhale a breath as I wring my shaking hands.

  “Sofia.” Luka stands off his stool and walks toward me.

  “I hate the waiting.”

  “You?” He smirks. “Growing impatient after all this time?”

  I pause at his amusement. “What?”

  He pushes a lock of hair behind my ear. “When we first spoke, you said you’d give your body to Gio if it means your soul laughs every time he looks into Lucian’s eyes and sees nothing of himself.”

  “That was different,” I say. “That was only my life on the line. Right now, it’s Dani’s and Lucy’s and Fox’s and—”

  Luka reaches out to silence me. “Sofia—”

  “Everything I’ve done has led to this and I can’t—” My body twitches as my nerves fire through my limbs. “Luka, I don’t know what I’ll do if this ends…”

  I can’t bring myself to say it before a sob wrecks my chest.

  “Shh, Sofia.” Luka pulls me into his arms. “It’s all right,” he whispers.