Page 98 of Stolen Kisses
Barabbas walked in like he owned the place and Claudius stepped forward.
While I had to admit there was some element of fear that gripped my insides, Claudius stepped forward with that smirk on his face like he was greeting some old friend.
“Barabbas Antonella, fucking hell. What breeze blew you to this part of town?” Claudius asked.
Barabbas smiled and stopped just paces away.
He looked like he’d just stepped out of The Godfather—very old school Mafioso La Cosa Nostra.
A little like Marcus, but Marcus had modernized himself to some degree. Barabbas on the other hand had not and he did not look like he took too kindly to Claudius’ lackadaisical attitude.
“You, scum. You are scum. At least Raphael knew his place and respected territory. You are just a boy.” He said to Claudius. “You are a boy and you think you can piss on tradition.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Claudius said then showed off the badass he was by stepping right up to Barabbas, into his personal space.
“Don’t act like a fucking idiot. You want to play games boss boy, let’s do this.” Barabbas looked at me. He actually looked at me. “Sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong is never a good thing.”
Fuck, he was talking to me and snapped me in gear. I didn’t give a fuck who he was. I waltzed right up to him and stared him down.
“Got something to say? Say it or get the fuck out of here.” I pointed to the door.
Even Claudius looked stunned by my words.
Barabbas stepped around to me.
“I just said it lapdog. Stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Since I didn’t expect you to understand I thought I’d send a message for you to see. It’s on the way to your house.” He chuckled and my bravado faded. “You may want to get there before everything goes Boom! Woman and child gone.”
I would have beat the shit out of him, but adrenaline sent me straight to my bike. I jumped on it and rode out leaving them all.
Boom …
Like a fucking bomb.
Before I even turned the corner three bikes joined me—Claudius, Gio and Alex.
We all rode hard and fast to my house. Me praying nothing had happened to
Maria and Flynn.
What the hell would I do if something happened to them? Fuck!
The usual twenty minute ride to my house took five minutes. We drove wherever we could cutting corners, jumping over hedges, anything to just get there.
Thank God the house was intact when I got there.
I ran inside and saw Saul, Donny, and Lois with Flynn sitting on the sofa.
Where was Maria?
“Guys there’s a bomb on the way here. Take Flynn into the basement.” I ordered.
Saul grabbed Flynn and went off with him.
Claudius and the others started checking around.
The basement was what I had in mind to keep them safe. It was that old style set up so it could take a beating and protect you if there was a bomb. I had to think fast. Going outside was out of the question because maybe that was what they wanted so they could gun us all down.
Maria ran down the stairs in blind panic.
