Page 73 of Alessia
“Yes, you can, Harper! It’s loaded and ready, pull back this pin and then pull the trigger. It doesn’t matter where the bullet meets its target. Dead or maimed, I don’t care.” My tone is ice-cold.
I hear Luca in my ear, telling me he has tapped into the cameras so we’re ready to go. I steal my look to Lorenzo and he nods in answer. He walks out the door first, me and Harper close on his heels, Gabriele closing the line, protecting our backs.
The halls are eerily quiet, that can only mean two things. One, all the fuckers are dead already, or two… They’re waiting for us.
We creep through the hallway, keeping low and I barely dare to breathe. Even though I’m used to this kind of action I feel the weight of it on me now that Harper is behind me. I look over my shoulder and I see her crouched low behind me. The fear is evident in her entire body, skittish eyes and sweat beading at her temples.
What the hell did they do to her to make her so afraid?
Suddenly, with a loud roar, someone barrels into Lorenzo in front of me. He’s slammed into the opposite wall, the man punching into him like he’s a punching bag. I take out the knife that’s in my boot and waste no time. I approach him from his back, Lorenzo holding up his guard to protect himself from the brutal blows the man is raining down on him.
I wrap my arm around the man’s neck and pull him off Lorenzo, craning his head back so that his throat is exposed. With one swift motion I slice his neck before he can even grasp the concept of what’s happening to him.
Blood sprays Lorenzo in the face and my arm, the man clutches his neck, as if that would help. Gurgles fill the air and panic flashes in his eyes. I feel no remorse as the man sacks to the floor on his knees and topples over, blood pooling around him and his eyes stare into nothingness.
“Thanks sis, just what I needed, a literal bloodbath on me.”
“Don’t be a baby. It was either this or your pretty face bloodied up.”
“True, we can’t risk my devilishly handsome face. It’s made for the greater good.”
I chuckle as I turn around and look at Harper. She’s completely frozen in place. I walk over to her and take her face in my hands.
“Tesoro, look at me.” She doesn’t move, doesn’t even blink. It’s like she didn’t even hear me.
“TESORO!” I bellow at her, that seems to snap her out of her frozen state. “I know this is all a lot to take in but we need to keep moving.”
She just nods in response. We get back in formation and continue towards the main hall. That motherfucker back there seems to be the only one lurking in the shadows. We round the corner and are met by Elio, Vinnie and Alex, they look battered and bruised, the scent of blood and death clings to them. I pull Elio in for a hug, relieved to see him alive in front of me. This mission is a fool’s errand as it is, if we make it out alive it’s a fucking miracle.
“Gabriele? Where is Anna?” I hear Harper whisper behind me.
“Probably in the basement, that is if she’s still alive.” He replies.
“Who is Anna?” I raise my brow in question. Harper bows her head. Like she’s afraid to look at me.When did that happen?
“She’s a girl I met here. She needs to go home to her parents.” A tear slips down her cheek.
I carefully take Harpers hand and bend my knees so that I can look into her eyes.
“Even if she’s dead, her parents should be able to have some closure.”
“We will find her; we will bring her home. We will… after we face what’s behind this door.” I promise.
Harper nods and a little smile tugs at the corners of her lips.
I turn around and face the door in front of me, I straighten my spine and open push open the heavy oak door My men shielding my back as I walk in to face whatever awaits me, us.
Within seconds the room bursts into chaos and bullets fly in all directions, trying to meet their intended targets. I duck down and run over to one of the couches in the left corner for cover, Elio and Harper follow me and Alex, Vinnie and Gabriele go the other way. The rain of bullets stops and I hear Gianni’s familiar voice boom across the hall.
“Amore mio Alessia, mi hai trovato.” He laughs.
“Yeah, motherfucker! You had something that belonged to me.” I fix my gaze on Harper.
“I’m so glad you came, Amore. I did have a lot of fun with your little friend…” He rambles. “But nothing comes close to you.”
“It’s been sixteen years Gianni; don’t you think you should give it a rest by now?”
“NO!” He bellows across the hall. “IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU NO ONE CAN!”
