Page 12 of Redemption

I check my app, finding another rental close by. I need to regroup and rethink and decide if I’m ready to get on my knees for my dark king and chase him the way he always chased me.

5

Roque

I didn’t want to leave her. Hell, I never intended to even see her last night. But her siren’s call was always too hard for me to resist. I’ve stopped thinking about my demise since I left Constantine to die. But if it could happen it would be on a run to the Bahamas to rescue sex slaves from the Russian mob. That prick Russian from last night is part of the crew keeping captive woman. He helps being them in in cargo ships, sneaks them into ports and I had to check with Dimitri to make sure he wasn’t part of that shit. Especially given his preferred lifestyle. Finding Red down here was a surprise. I need to figure out what she’s up to, but I already have this mission planned. At least if I die today, it’ll be with the smell of my love still infused in my soul and the feel of her touch on my skin.

Johnny shakes his head at me. “You fucked her, didn’t you?” I give him my best“you’re fucking dead”look as I swipe a hand over my tired eyes. “You have that stupid stars and shit look in your face. The one you always get after one whiff of her p—" He breaks off as I slap him.

“Did you just bitch slap me?”

I smirk. “You deserved it. Clean up your mouth.”

“Dude. I’m mafia from Brooklyn.”

“Yeah? And I’m the real mob from Italy, dip shit.”

“Oh yeah? Well a real mobster wouldn’t risk his neck to stave a dozen p—” He pauses as I cock a fist.

“A real man knows the difference, Johnny.”

“Love’s made you weak.”

“Maybe. Or maybe it’s my redemption.”

“I wouldn’t know.” He looks away red-faced. He almost knew but the girl he carved up his heart to on a platter was a narc. A friggin’ undercover agent for the FBI in New York. She almost took me down along side him. His own family out a hit in his ass but I intervened saving my best friend. But he lost everything forced to become my number two instead of on his way to inherit the number one place at the head of his family’s outfit.

If he ever redeems himself, I have a surprise in store for Johnny. “When the mission’s over you’ll be rewarded.”

“Whatever, fuckface.”

I grin, “You know you love me.”

“You’re gonna get yourself killed today. Ever since you adopted Chloe and ran into Red, you’re going soft. Walking around like you’re on clouds all the time smiling like a dumb drunk.”

I take my Glock out of its holster to check the clip. “I’m your number one and don’t you forget it. Your ass would be at the bottom of the Hudson if it weren’t for me.”

“At least I’d be with her,” he mutters under his breath as he checks his own gun. He moves to the back of the plane to check our weapons and gear, leaving me alone with my memories from last night. And what a night it was. She was magnificent all fire and spitting sparks. She threw me off my game when she got on her knees in the club and went for me. I knew there was a chance I could die today and so I took my chance with her. I needed it. She needed it. As soon as this shit is over, I’m putting a ring on that shit and locking her up for life as Mrs. Roque Salvatore. We can go back to Palermo and our children’s legacy will be an epic one.

The place starts our initial descent. Out the window the ocean stretches to the horizon. The same blue of my eyes reflects back to my place in the sky. The island is coming up to our left. They think I’m coming to purchase fresh girls for a sex club, I’m supposedly opening in Chicago. Little do they know I’m coming to pop two clips in each of them the first will be emptied in their dicks. “For Chloe and all the girls…,” I whisper kissing the barrel of my gun before strapping a knife to the inside of my Armani sock.

The Pilot radios that it’s clear for the raft and jumpers to go. I grin like a mother fucker. I’m dumping my men in a raft Navy Seal style and letting them surround the island house by swimming in. I’m only approaching with my usual five guys like I did last time. Only this time Johnny’s coming to “sample” the goods. His rep as dirty as fuck playboy is actually coming in handy for once. Especially since it’s well known what happened between him and the Feds. No one will suspect us for breaking up a sex trafficking ring.

The cabin de-pressurizes as fight door to our plane is opened. We’re only at two thousand feet. The first guy jumps followed by three more. In case our plane gets shot to shit, they have orders to secure one of the many luxury speed boats as a second getaway option.

I check my cufflinks and slide into my jacket, smoothing out the rich fabric. The plane banks left and circles as we land. Below me a dozen men dressed in suits are waiting our arrival.

“Showtime,” I muter to myself. Reaching into my pocket, my hand closes over the hair ribbon I took from her room years ago. I take it with me wherever I go. Maybe I’m superstitious but I’ve never taken one bullet yet and there have been more than a few close calls. The jet doors open as I slowly out on my aviators.

“Salvatore.”

I nod, arrogantly snapping my fingers for my men to open the door to the tinted SUV idling off the tarmac. It’s a prick move that relaxes the Russian’s sending a signal I’m here for business not war.

“Eager to see the pussy, yes?”

“As long as it’s fresh.”

The Russian slaps me on the back. “You funny, boss man.”

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