by K. L. Myers
“I’ve got to get going, son. I’ve got some planning to do before we leave for the docks. Before you ask, the answer is no. I need you here at the house, protecting our family and your girl. Now go, be with Giovanna.”
Saluting my dad with my right hand, I left the room and made my way back to G.
“I hate that you are seeing me like this. I’m so ugly.” Giovanna cried against my chest.
I’d come back to her room to find her awake and climbed in beside her. She’d instantly snuggled tightly to my side. Her beauty wasn’t physical—it came from deep inside her.
“Baby, stop crying. I don’t care what you look like. I love you, not your appearance.” I tightened my hold on her. “Our fathers will get retribution for what they did to you.” I could feel the tension releasing from her as I rubbed her back. “I have so much rage for what they did to you within me, if I could, I’d be right there with them, but I’ve been mandated to stay here and protect all of you.”
I held my girl until she fell asleep again. Slowly, I eased myself out from underneath her, replacing the spot with a pillow. The sun had set hours ago, and I wasn’t sure who was still in our house. When I got to the living room, Uncle Linc was just coming in from the backyard.
“Is Giovanna doing okay?” he asked.
“She’s sleeping. Did my dad leave already?”
“He did, with Gabriel and Lorenzo. How are you handling all of this?”
I thought about it long and hard before I answered. “I’m angry. I want to hurt someone for hurting G. But I’m sort of nervous and scared as well. You probably don’t understand that part because I don’t think I’ve ever seen you scared about anything.”
My uncle smiled at me and then patted me on the back. “Jefferson, there have been so many times I’ve been fearful when it came to Lillian, that was until her father passed away. Life became somewhat normal then. I haven’t had to fear who might be coming after her or if I’ll be able to protect her. But if your dad ends up sitting in the high seat, she’ll be a target again, as will little Angelo.”
I hadn’t thought about Aunt Lillian and baby Angelo being at risk. I guess being related to my family would make them a way for someone to get even with my dad. “Is it ever weird that your son is named after my dad? I’ve always wondered about that.”
“No, not really. Your dad was instrumental in bringing Lillian back to me when I thought I had lost her. He’d spent his life protecting her and has never wavered when it has come to her safety. A trait I believe he’s passed on to you as well.”
“Thanks, Uncle Linc. I’m going to head down to the gym for a bit. If Mom needs me, you know where to find me.”
I spent the next several hours lifting weights and pounding the heavy bag. I had unlocked the safe and pulled out my .45 to practice when Mom came into the building.
“Let’s talk for a few minutes, okay? So much has happened in the last day and a half.” Mom looked around the room and then back at me. “We haven’t had a chance to talk about how you’re handling all of this.”
I followed her outside, and we took a seat at the table and chairs that sat just outside the building. The night air was crisp and felt good against my heated body. Though, I saw Mom shiver for a second when she sat down.
“I’m fine, Mom. How are you doing?”
“Fine is the word I use when I don’t want to discuss what’s bothering me. So tell me, Jefferson, what’s bothering you?”
She was right. I had no desire to talk about my feelings with my mom. “Honestly, Mom, you don’t have to worry about me. How about we talk about you and the conversation you had with Dad earlier?”
Mom began wiggling her foot—the one attached to the leg that draped over her other knee. “Your dad told me you heard our conversation. I was certainly feeling braver then than I am now. I’m not afraid for us. It’s him I worry about.”
I had been holding my .45 in my hand still, so I laid it on the table and then reached out, grabbing her dangling foot, silencing its movement. “You know Dad can protect himself, right?”
“I know, but I can’t help but recall how I felt all those years ago. The day he was shot trying to protect us, and I wonder if tonight will be that night again.”
I was just about to tell her not to worry when a shadow of a man dressed in black made its way from the garage to the back door. I placed my finger over my lips and nodded to the left. Mom glanced over just in time to see whomever it was stepping into the house.
“Go into the gym, Mom, and lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone but me or Uncle Linc,” I whispered. I followed her in to make sure she did as I told her and then grabbed an extra clip and secured the suppressor to the end of my gun. My heart was beating faster as I exited the building and saw another man. I took two deep breaths, lined up my sights, and pulled the trigger. My aim was spot on, and the bullet landed where I had intended, between the eyes. I waited to see if anyone else was following. When no one else came from the garage, I ran for the entrance to the basement on the other side of the house. It was a walkout, so I knew there was a chance the door was locked. Reaching for the knob, I twisted, only it didn’t move. That’s when I saw my aunt come out of the bedroom, and I lightly tapped on the glass door. When she was close enough, I held my finger to my lips again.
The raised brow she gave me almost caused me to break my silence. The door slowly creaked open. “What are you doing out here?” she whispered.
“Someone just entered the house. Mom’s locked in the gym, so take Angelo and go there, please, and ignore the dead body by the garage.”
Aunt Lillian's eyes grew wide. “Dead body?”
“Yes, now do what I told you, please.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about you telling me what to do.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Lincoln is upstairs with Nicco and Remi. I’m sure if there were something to worry about, they’d have taken care of it by now.” Her voice grew louder as she went on.
“Aunt Lillian, stop being a pain in my ass and please do as I asked.” When she didn’t waiver, I played the ace in my hole. “Don’t make me tell my dad and Lincoln that you ignored me when I told you that I’d just shot someone and that you are in danger.”
“Fine,” she snapped back and rushed to get Angelo as I held the door open for her. I watched as she made her way to the building that held our gym, and once she was inside, I made my way towards the stairs.
Step by step, I softly climbed each stair until I reached the opening that led into our kitchen. Crouching down, I quickly glanced around the wall to get a glimpse of what, if anything, was going on. The first thing I noticed was Nicco on the ground out cold. I didn’t see any blood, so whoever it was got the jump on him. I tiptoed to where the kitchen opened to the living room. There, dressed in black, was Switch with a knife to my uncle's neck as Remi tried to talk some sense into him.
Remi may have been willing to wager on his negotiation skills, but I wasn’t. I knew he was here for Giovanna and wouldn’t hesitate to end my uncle’s life if he didn’t complete what he was sent to do. Once again, I could hear my dad tell me to calm down, breathe deep, and take my shot. This time, I wasn’t going for the kill. Nope, this time I wanted him to suffer, and I couldn’t risk injuring Lincoln. The bullet silently left the gun and landed in his right leg, just above the knee. Switch cried out in agony, letting go of my uncle just enough that he was able to get away.
“You son of a bitch,” Switch cursed as he turned to find me with a gun pointed at him. “Didn’t see this one coming, I’ll give you that.”
Remi came up from behind Switch, gun raised above his head, and then dropped his hand, landing the butt end of his gun on the side of Switch’s head, knocking him out cold.
Just then, the sound of the front door slamming open and footsteps had me turning and taking aim.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, kid, it's only your dad!” Remi yelled.
Chapter Twenty-One
Angelo
I hadn’t expected to find my son pointing a pistol at me when I rounded the corner. If it hadn’t been for Remi, I think I might have been a dead man.
Just then, Gabriel entered from the back door. “Who took out Lefty? You or Nicco?” he asked Remi.
“Not me. Must have been the kid.” Remi pointed in Jefferson’s direction.
“Where’s Giovanna?” Jefferson pointed towards the stairs. Gabriel quickly made his way to check on his daughter.
“Where’s your mother?” I asked.
“She’s locked in the gym with Aunt Lillian and little Angelo,” my son replied as Lincoln took off, out the back door and towards the building that held our gym.
“Did you shoot someone, Jefferson?” I had to know the answer. I’ll never forget my first kill, and if he did, I needed to know how he was feeling about it.
“I did, Dad. I heard your voice in my head telling me to calm down, breathe, and take the shot. I didn’t hesitate at all. And when I shot Switch in the knee, you were there again guiding me through it.”
I couldn’t have been prouder of my son. He’d protected the family just as I’d hoped he would if the day ever came. Now, I just had to wait until his adrenaline dropped and make sure he was still okay. Sometime soon, we’d talk about what happened, but right now, I needed to make sure everyone was okay.
“Remi, run down to Mrs. Vicci’s home and make sure she’s okay. I wouldn’t put anything past Francis.”
Remi did as instructed, and Lorenzo walked out of the kitchen toting Nicco at his side. How was it possible that two snot-nosed little punks got the drop on him? “What the hell happened to you?”
“I got no clue. One minute I was brewing a cup of coffee; the next, it was lights out. Who did this to me, so I can kill the motherfucker?” Nicco snarled.
Jefferson pointed to Switch's body as it lay on the ground. “He did.” My boy snickered.
“What the fuck? That little shit? He’s going to be sorry when he wakes up.”
Just then, Bethany came through the back door and ran towards Jefferson, hugging him tightly and then stepping back to examine him to make sure he was okay. Then she turned to me. Her eyes roamed over me, catching sight of the blood on my shirt. She raised her hand to her mouth and began to cry.
“Easy, Tesoro,” I said. “It’s not my blood. You don’t have to worry. We are all safe now.”
It wasn’t long before Gabriel came down the stairs, his face more relaxed than it had been all night. “Giovanna is resting peacefully, and Sera is still asleep. They both slept through whatever happened here tonight.” Gabriel looked between my son, Nicco, Switch's body on the ground, and me. “What exactly happened here tonight?”
I looked over to Jefferson and smiled. “That’s a story for another day, my friend.”
…The End
THANK YOU’s
First and foremost, I want to thank ladies who are always there supporting me. My betas, Ellen Crotts, and Nancy Metsch. My proofreader Autumn Beaty and cover designer JM Walker. I’m so in love with this cover.
Next, I’d like to thank my production team. These ladies are the backbone of my success. Without the support of Lydia Harbaugh, Heidi Jo Bellus and Julia Goda, this book wouldn’t have come to life. These ladies are my everything.
Lastly, I want to thank all of the readers who have taken time out of their busy schedules to read From Son To Soldier. I hope you’ve enjoyed Peanuts story.
If you’ve enjoyed Book 1 in the Vicci Crime Family Series, please take a moment to leave a review.
About the Author
K.L. Myers was born in West Berlin, Germany, the daughter of a military father. She then spent her childhood moving from continent to continent, finally landing permanently in Colorado when her father retired.
Eventually, she moved to "hell," aka Arizona, where she resides with her husband & their fur babies. She has two daughters & four grandchildren, and she believes in living every day to the fullest.
K.L. has a passion for reading and writing hot romance when she is not juggling family & a full-time job. Her novels show a pension for a bad boy with a heart of gold and strong, independent women who don't need rescuing, and just a taste of naughty redemption! Her characters will pull you in & leave you satiated, yet panting for more, More, MORE!
Her motto will always be - “If my books can give readers a brief reprieve from their everyday life for even just a moment, I have achieved my dreams and lived a full life.”
Other Books By K.L. Myers
Reawaken His Heart (Book 1)
Reclaiming His Future (Book 2)
Rediscovering His Life (Book 3)
Razor’s Edge Series
Rocking Between The Sheets (Prequel)
Sheet Music (Book 1)
Heart Beats (Book 2)
Lost In L.O.V.
Finding L.O.V.
Deserving Love
Standalone’s
Captured
Hearts Intertwined
Connect with K.L. Myers on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKLMyers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorklmyers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorklmyers
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/k-l-myers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KLMyersAuthor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/KL-Myers/e/B01N949BO7
Website: http://www.authorklmyers.com/
KL Krazies – Readers Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/225196611267240/
K.L. Myers Website
Stay up to date with everything K.L. Myers on her website: https://www.authorklmyers.com/