A muffled scream is a giveaway, and the familiar tone behind it makes my body shake with rage.
“I’m going to fucking kill everyone in that building.” I whisper to Ricky as we walk closer. Trying to keep a low profile as we size up the building. It’s not a huge place but big enough to hold a lot of men. But there is no time for reconnaissance, we have to make our move now.
I turn to Ricky, letting every ounce of authority creep into my words. If he fucks this up…I can’t even think of that. “You get Ashley. I’ll get Emma. Clean break. If we can’t get them out for any reason, I kill every last one of them, and you shield the girls, understand?”
He nods, cocking his gun.
I double check the gun tucked into my waistband. “Under no circumstance do you save me if it puts them in danger.”
Creeping towards a large metal sliding door, I know whoever is inside will be alerted of our presence the moment I pull it open, but we have no other choice. I may not be thinking clearly, but I know I have to get them out of there. Carefully, I pull open the door. Ricky follows close behind as we walk inside the cool warehouse. I keep my gun drawn as my eyes adjust to our new surroundings.
The muffled sounds become clearer as we round a narrow hallway. I peek my head around the side of a concrete wall, trying to decipher how many men we’re up against.
Rage burns through my veins at the sight of Ash and Emma tied up, back to back, in just their underwear. These men have sealed their fates. I’m going to kill everyone involved. Their family, their friends. Fuck, even their distant cousins.
I hold seven fingers up to Ricky before walking in the open area. They should have had more men throughout the warehouse if they wanted to get away with whatever this is.
Vinny looks in my direction, unsurprised, a cocky grin on his face. He must think his six men dotted around the room are more than enough to stop me.
Not a chance.
“Took you long enough.” Vinny twirls a sharp knife as he steps closer to Emma. Her eyes light up when she sees me, as if I’m her hero. She’s bolted to the fucking ground because of me, how can she look at me like that? Then, as if realization slaps her in the face she screams, “It’s a trap! They lured you here!” The dried blood on her face makes my jaw clench.
I inch forward, halting when he brings the knife to her throat.
“You can have anything you want. Name it. Just let the girls go.”
He laughs sinisterly.
I tighten my hand around the gun.
“You can’t give me back my daughter,” He growls. The dull fluorescent light accents the gleam of his knife.
He’s right. I can give him money and power, practically anything in the world. But I can’t bring back the dead. What happened was never my fault, but I should never have gotten involved with the Mafia. Back then, I had nothing to lose.
Things are different; I’m not the same man. I have everything to lose now. Vinny’s a desperate man, but what he doesn’t understand is what he’s holding beneath that sharp blade. My world.
Standing straight, I aim the barrel at his chest. “That wasn’t my doing.” I spit.
There’s no point trying to reason with him.
“Eye for an eye. Can’t find the men who did it...yet. She’ll do for now.” He shrugs, running the dull side of the knife against her soft shoulder. She tries to be strong, but I can see her body shaking violently.
My finger lightly squeezes the trigger. The only thing stopping me is the fear of him accidentally cutting her, even the slightest nick on her skin won’t be tolerated.
“Put the gun down, or this pretty one gets a gash on her precious face.” His voice is devoid of any emotion. He sounds…bored.
I don’t obey. The second I do, I’ll be a target for his men. If I die, who will keep the girls safe?
“Wrong choice.” He sneers, lightly skimming her cheek with the blade.
I growl lowly as she cries out, a line of blood dripping down her face.
“See, Aiden.” He drawls, his voice laced with humor. “I have your sorella and your piccolo. I want to keep them. They’re just so…obedient when they’re passed out.” He chuckles.
As he laughs, hatred fuels me. He has to die.
“If you fucking touched either one of them, I swear to God.” I choke.
The odds are against us, I know they are. But Emma shouldn’t have to see me this way, and she definitely shouldn’t see what I’m about to do. If I die, it will only be after I squeeze the life out of every man in this fucked up warehouse.
I stare at Emma’s beautifully terrified face, trying to memorize her every feature. I mask the anger in my voice, using that gentle tone I always use with her, not wanting her to remember my last words as mean or hateful. “Close your eyes.”
I thank God she listens, because the second her eyes close, I pull the trigger. A loud bang sounds and a bullet pierces dead between Vinny’s eyes. Bullets fly, ricocheting in every direction.
Four men left.
I shield Emma with my body, she cries out for me, but I can’t turn for even a second. Ricky does the same for Ashley.
Only three men left.
Ricky wails in agony.
I turn to see him bent over, a bullet wound to his leg. Ashley is fighting against her chains to be by his side.
“I’m fine.” He growls, straightening before pulling the trigger.
One to go.
Lucio Matarazzo, Vinny’s brother. His eyes burn with unadulterated rage as he
