I crouch behind Grayson as we approach the parking lot to the warehouse. My ears ring from the gunfire.
He doesn’t turn. “You ready? You cover behind, we take it straight through the middle. Our guys will hold them back. We have to get in there as quickly as we can.”
“I’ve got you,” I say, gripping the gun in my hand tighter.
He nods and motions to move forward.
We stay low and work our way around the wall that opens before us in complete and utter chaos.
Bodies are dropping to the ground. I follow behind Grayson, who’s firing out shots left, right, and center with complete precision each time.
A guy launches himself at me from my left. I swing my arm across and shoot him in the stomach, kick him in the chest, and put a second round in his head.
Just another day at work.
Grayson beats open the warehouse door while I cover him. Our guys are doing a good job of keeping them back.
“Let’s go,” Grayson calls out behind me. I walk into the warehouse and close the doors shut behind me.
As Grayson is scoping out the first row, I keep my sights aimed in front of me. He points to my right and I nod. Keeping my feet light, I check between each aisle of wooden crates stacked until I reach the end, where Grayson is waiting for me.
A door swings open behind him, catching my attention. Two guys burst through. “Behind you,” I shout. I’ve already aimed and am pulling the trigger at the first guy. Grayson wipes the second out with a clean head shot.
Damn, he’s fucking good.
My guy doubles over, clutching at his chest.
I pull the blade from my boot and grab him by the hair, tipping his head back to expose his throat. I slash across from one side to the other, watching as his life drains out of him.
I can’t explain the pleasure I get from watching someone pathetically gasp for their last breath.
I let go, and he thuds to the ground. Grayson is already smashing down another door with his foot.
“It’s blocked.”
“They’re in there, then. Come on, put your back into it, Grayson.” Excitement dances through my veins. Everything is falling into place.
Maria will get me to Romano. I don’t care how–that motherfucker is going to die.
We both turn as the warehouse shakes with more explosions coming from outside.
Grayson shrugs. “I taught them everything I know,” he says before turning his attention back to the door.
Two more kicks, and Grayson gets it open enough to barge through.
Grayson starts shooting. A bullet flies past my head. I duck to the left, firing back. His gun clicks as a greasy, ponytailed guy runs towards Grayson with a blade in his hand.
I don’t hesitate, I shoot him.
Scanning the room, I do a quick tally. We’ve killed three guys.
I smell her sweet perfume before I see her. The sound of her heels gradually gets louder until she comes around the corner.
“I see you made it, Frankie,” she purrs.
She slinks towards me. My stomach churns, and I repress the memories of fucking her to the back of my mind. It was a long time ago, before she got all crazy.
“Maria.”
She sashays up to me, and her hands start running up my shirt.
I look down. “You can’t tempt me with your pussy today, sweetheart.”
“Of course,” Grayson mutters, shaking his head.
I run my fingers through her hair, and she fake smiles up at me. I grip it hard and yank her head back, bringing my lips to her cheek. “Take me to Eva and Luca.”
“As you wish.” She widens her puffy lips.
Oh shit, the confidence in her tone. This isn’t good.
I nod to Grayson to follow us. This woman can’t be trusted.
She leads us to another door. Her fingers wrap around the handle and she pushes it open.
Grayson is first in. “Fuck, Luca.”
Maria tries to brush past me, but I grab her forearm and yank her into me. “You’re not going anywhere.”
She bats her lashes and puts her hand over mine. “You won’t hurt me, Frankie. You know what Daddy will do.”
That makes me genuinely smile. “I’m counting on it.”
She frowns before her eyes go wide. She’s catching on. I want them all dead.
“Frankie, get the fuck in here,” Grayson yells.
“What have you done?” I growl.
She giggles. “Only what you would have in my shoes.”
Well, shit.
They’re both dead, then.
I drag her behind me. I spot Eva first. I squeeze Maria’s arm so tight she screams out in pain. I barely notice it over the sound of blood hammering in my ears. Romano’s death will now be ten times more painful than what I had planned.
Despite how I feel inside right now, I make sure no one on the outside can see that. Least of all Maria.
That’s how I thrive in this world.
Grayson is yanking the chains from the wall when I glance over. Luca groans, and I notice blood is pouring from his gut. He’s barely moving.
“Come on, Luca, stay with me for fuck’s sake.” There is a hint of panic in Grayson’s voice as he presses down on Luca’s stomach to stop the bleeding.
“Where is Rosa?” he coughs out weakly.
Grayson glances at me before answering. “She’s safe, Luca.”
A stark reminder why, in this life, you don’t have anyone close enough to rip you apart.
Never again.
“Can you get him out of here?” I call to Grayson.
He taps on his earpiece to Enzo. “Yes. Doc is on the way, too.”
He helps Luca up to his feet, holding him up. The color drains from his face as the seconds pass.
I turn to Maria with fury. She tries to take a step back, but then she pulls her knee back and smashes it straight into my balls.
“Jesus fucking Christ.” I double over and let her wrist go, my gun clattering to the floor.
I see her red fingernails through my blurry vision and she picks up the gun. I force myself upright and groan.
She trembles slightly as she points the gun at Grayson.
Everything seems to stop, her finger twitches over the trigger.
I launch myself at her, snatching her wrist and pulling it towards me.
I hear the gun go off first, then I feel the pain splintering through me.
“Shit.”
