Page 85 of His Captive
At least I won’t be around to see it.
“We got a problem!” a Bratva guy yells. “Vehicles! Lots of them! They’re headed this way!”
“What the fuck?” I glance at Emilio who looks equally stunned.
“It’s the boss!” Paulie yells. “Oh, shit! Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
“Light the warehouse up!” Erica calls out. “We’ll have to fight our way out!”
“Fight our way out?” Paulie’s voice is panicked. “That’s suicide!”
“Do you think the outcome will be any better if we give up?” Erica questions, then she turns and flicks her cigarette toward a puddle of gasoline.
The fire erupts in an instant. I can feel the heat as it spreads, but thankfully, it’s moving in the other direction. Erica, the traitors, and the Bratva refugees run toward the door. I start rocking the chair, tearing more skin against the steel on my wrists, and kicking at the shackles.
“The chairs are bolted to the floor,” Leo says. “I already tried that while you were yelling at Paulie.”
“Thought you made peace with it,” I mutter, not giving up, despite the pain that radiates through my body.
“Doesn’t mean Iwantto die,” Leo sighs. “I thought I was avoiding fiery damnation when I became a priest.”
Gunfire erupts outside the warehouse. The flames are getting closer. The warehouse is filling up with smoke, and I’m lightheaded. It’s closer to Emilio than me, and he’s freaking out, trying to keep his feet away from the fire.
The gunshots peter out. I can hear yelling, but the flames are making so much noise, I can’t make anything out. A second later, the warehouse door flies open, and I see the meanest motherfucker to ever put on a kilt.
“Rowan!” I yell. “Over here!”
Rowan holds up his arms and rushes toward us. He’s not alone. My father is right behind him, and he’s got a chain around Erica’s neck, dragging her behind him while she screams.
“The lass wasn’t lying,” Rowan grunts, finding a clear spot to hop over so he can get to me. “Fuck, got yourself into a bit of a mess, eh?”
“You’re not even supposed to be in Las Vegas,” I mutter, realizing the onlylasshe could be referencing is Lea. “Nobody listens to me anymore.”
“I listened, I just ignored it,” Rowan chuckles. “Thought you might need me. Guess I was right.”
“Help Emilio first,” I growl, motioning to my brother who is nearly sideways in his chair with the fire dancing around him. “We’re covered in gasoline. If the fire gets to us, there’s no saving us.”
“I can’t help either of you,” Rowan says, trying to move my chair. “Dante, we need the fucking bolt cutters, lad!”
More of my father’s men storm into the warehouse. The fire has spread too much for them to put it out, but they clear a path and put out the flames that are close enough to ignite us. Dante hurries over with the bolt cutters and releases Emilio first, then he tosses them to Rowan, who cuts me free. He tosses them back to Dante who runs over to Leo.
I stagger when I get to my feet, partially from blood loss, and partially from smoke inhalation.
“Easy, pal,” Rowan says, pulling my arm across his shoulders. “I got you.”
“I’m fine, help Leo,” I mumble.
“Dante’s already got the chains off,” Rowan says, glancing over his shoulder. “You need medical attention.”
Rowan dodges the flames as he helps me out of the warehouse. I cough and gag on the smoke, staggering along until I taste clean air. I gasp a few times, then everything seems to melt away, because I see Lea running toward me with tears in her eyes. I immediately pull away from Rowan.
“Massimo!” she squeals, nearly bowling me over with a hug.
“You really are the most disobedient girl in the world, aren’t you,bambina,” I sigh, stumbling to keep my balance as I wrap my arms around her.
“You can punish me later,” she sniffles.
I hold her in my arms while my brothers are pulled out of the warehouse. They collapse on the ground and try to get their breath. I’m feeling it too, and my father’s personal doctor is waiting to attend to me.
