Page 42 of Undeniable

I grimace as my mind races with possibilities of how I can save him, of how I can get him home to his wife and kids. But as I watch the acid eat away at him piece by piece, I know that I only have one choice. To put him out of his misery. I look to Bruno quickly who is giving me the same sickened look. I nod and pull my pistol out of my waist band before raising it to his head.

At the last moment he screams, “LISA!” Then bam, I pull the trigger. The wild wriggling and painful flailing stop as his body goes limp. His face isn’t even recognizable at this point. It would be impossible to ID his body if I hadn’t seen him transform before my very eyes.

A few tense moments pass before Bruno walks to the back of the SUV and begins to empty his stomach. It doesn’t stop for almost a full minute of him choking and gasping before he slumps down onto the ground with his head in his hands. I know that they were close, like brothers. This is a hurt that won’t be healed easily, but we have to move. The men, who I am assuming were Chernoff’s, were only a few blocks away and could be continuing on foot.

I step over to Bruno and clasp my hand onto his shoulder.

“We have to move. We need to go,” I say urgently.

“I can’t tell her. I can’t look Lisa in the face, or Aleah, and tell them that he isn’t coming home. I can’t,” he chokes out, tears brimming his dark eyes.

I nod. “I know. I will handle it. But we have to go now.”

He sucks in a sharp breath before nodding and standing up. He walks over to pick up our fallen friend, but I stop him and hand him a pair of gloves, just in case. He nods wordlessly before sliding them on and lifting Jack’s body into the back seat.

I slide into the driver’s seat since Bruno doesn’t seem to be in any shape to drive. I can only imagine how I would be dealing if that was Luca that I witnessed murdered like that. I throw down another blanket that I find in the back onto the passenger seat over the singed parts that the acid splattered onto before Bruno gets in, slamming the door so hard that I am surprised the hinges didn’t snap in two.

We drive in silence all the way to Luca’s house, in a daze almost. I have lost a lot of men, a lot of really good men, but never like that. Never so…inhumanely and I am in the fucking Mafia. These Russian’s are crazy as fuck and clearly out for blood. Dread seeps into my stomach at the thought of what their next move could be, who they could go after next time.Not again. Never again.

-

“Fuck,” Luca curses viciously as he pours us both a drink in his office.

I just got done telling him about what happened, and who I think is behind it. I watch as his brows furrow deep in thought.

“So, they were there to steal another shipment?” Luca surmises.

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. They didn’t start following us until we were a couple of miles from the docks. I mean, maybe they would have if they had the chance, but to have a bottle of acid ready to throw like that? No, they were coming to attack us.”

Luca narrows his eyes and cocks his head slightly. “You think so?”

I nod. “Yeah. This wasn’t just some territory shit or anything. I mean…fuck Luc, Jack’s face melted right off his bones. This was a straight up attempt. Attempt on whose life I am not sure. Me? You? Or maybe just any Mariano Made Man. I am not sure, but does it really matter?”

He nods his agreement as he crosses his arms and huffs in frustration.

“I don’t feel safe,” I blurt. “I don’t feel safe with Alessandro home, where they could find him. Where…”

“I get it,” He cuts in. “How about you two come stay with us for a while? Him and Seraphina can play together. Ashlynn still has the rest of the week off for now to be with the kids and after this bullshit it looks like she is most definitely going to be extending her Maternity Leave.”

I nod. That sounds a hell of a lot better to me. This place is like a damn fortress. The entire property is surrounded by 12ft iron gates and a state-of-the-art surveillance system. Not to mention the multiple soldiers patrolling the grounds 24/7. I will be able to have at least a little piece of mind that Alessandro will be safe here. But then, someone else pops into my mind.

“What about Tasha?” I ask. Luca’s eyebrows raise in surprise before I continue. “I am worried about her too. If they have already been following us, then they have most likely seen her. What if they try to go after her because they think that she means something to me?”

“Doesn’t she?” Luca asks.

I look at him for a few seconds before I blow out a breath and wipe a hand down my face, nodding softly.

“Yeah, I-I like her man.”

Luca nods. “Well, Ashlynn adores her, and we have more than enough room, so yes, she can come and stay as well. I am sure Ashlynn will appreciate the help with the kids.”

“Okay. Thank you, Luc,” I say earnestly.

He gives me an understanding smile. “Of course, Gio. You are my brother. We won’t let them even breathe the same air as our families. I promise.”

We go over a couple other business things and ramp up our security protocols as well as notify all of the Capo’s to spread the news. We are going to war.

Chapter Sixteen

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