“Dibs on the Chiappa shotgun. That bad boy hasn’t been used yet, and I plan to get dirty.” Chase burst into the room and reached for a vest.
“What are you doing?” Nixon asked in a calm voice.
“We had a family meeting while you were in here being all self-sacrificial.” Chase shrugged. “I know you, Nixon. You wouldn’t let her go on her own. Where you go I follow. It’s kind of the deal since we’re brothers from another father. Ha! Get it?”
Nixon clenched his jaw. “Chase—”
“Make sure they all have silencers. We don’t want nosey neighbors calling the cops on us.” Tex entered the room followed by Frank and Mil.
Mil was already grabbing knives and strapping them to her leg.
Mo followed and then Trace.
“Wait.” I held up my hands. “What’s going on?”
Phoenix entered last and offered an unapologetic smile. “It’s an Italian thing.”
“Blood.” Frank moved to the middle of the small armory. “But we do this the old way, not the new way where you children run in guns blazing.”
“Love it when he calls us children,” Chase sang in a bored voice.
Frank smacked him on the back of the head. “Listen closely and listen well.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Sergio
SOMETHING JAMMED INTO MY WRIST. I tried to pull away, but I was too weak, too hot, too tired. I lazily glanced down. An IV had been started. What the hell? Where was I?
A hand slapped my cheek. I blinked hard, trying to focus.
The man chuckled. “Wouldn’t give you the satisfaction of tasting the water. This way you don’t die of dehydration, but you don’t get to feel the coolness against your lips.”
I was going to murder him.
I lunged, but I was so weak it felt like I had barely moved, barely blinked.
“Ah-ah…” Petrov held up a finger. “Remember who the real enemy is.”
The real enemy.
Andi?
No. Yes. My mind and my heart were at war with one another. I felt like I was missing something — but I had no idea what.
“She betrayed you… and it’s been two days. Your family has yet to come for you. I bet they’re in on it too. In fact, they are. Aren’t they, Sergio?”
“No.” I shook my head. “They would never.”
“But they did, Sergio. None of them truly care about you. They hate you. They left you for dead. Andi despises you. Even if they do come for you, it will be pointless because they are the enemy, aren’t they?”
I nodded. Why was I nodding?
“Very good.” He clapped. “I think you’ve earned a respite from the fire.”
A knock sounded at the door, and then a loud blast followed from a fire alarm.
“Boss…” Someone else entered the room. “…they’re here.”
“Well…” Petrov rubbed his hands together. “…I do hate to miss this, but in case things go badly, I’ll just be off the premises. Have fun, Sergio, and it really has been a pleasure. Be sure to say goodbye to my daughter before you shoot her in the heart.”
I was angry — so angry — but I didn’t know who I was angry with, myself? Andi? Nixon? Tex?
My eyes couldn’t focus. I rubbed them then realized my hands were no longer restrained.
I glanced down. My feet were free. When had that happened?
With a grimace, I ripped the IV from my arm and tried to stand. My legs were wobbly, but at least I was able to move a foot before needing to take a break. I was defenseless. Frantic, I held my head in my hands and looked down. Two guns were near my feet.
Why would they leave guns?
I’m going to kill them all.
Had I said that?
Had I meant it?
Kill who? And why?
Andi… she was why I was here. She’d done this to me, hadn’t she? I just wanted to lie down, to rest.
Gunshots sounded, and then more followed. I heard screaming, and then an honest-to-God explosion erupted.
I could feel the heat from the bomb as if it was right in front of me. What the hell was going on!
I fell to my knees and covered my head as pieces of debris flew past the door and into the room.
Everything fell silent except for the water that was now pouring from the sprinkler system in the house.
The cold felt so good I didn’t even think. I tilted my head back and opened my mouth. My entire body shuddered as water coated me from head to toe.
“Got him,” a faint voice called.
I looked up. Andi was walking toward me. Without thinking, I reached for the gun at my feet and pointed it at her.
She dropped her gun to the ground. “Sergio, it’s me… It’s fine… See? I put my gun down.”
Nixon stepped into the room; his gun was drawn too. I was supposed to pull the trigger, right? She was the enemy.
“You,” I said hoarsely, “betrayed me.”
“No.” Tears filled her eyes.
Why was she crying?
“I didn’t. I swear, Sergio. I love you.”
“No.” I shook the gun. “No.”
“Andi.” Nixon reached slowly for her; blood trickled down his arm. Had he been shot? “He’s not in his right mind.”
“Stop!” I yelled at both of them, pointing the gun at Nixon then back at her.
Another figure stepped into the room. Phoenix. He eyed the gun then stepped around Nixon, shielding him with his body.