Page 16 of Hard Lessons

“What you do that for?” Giovanni’s henchman said, his gun aimed at the door.

“I’m not getting done for possessing a firearm as well, that’s five years here.”

“What? Five fucking years?”

“Serena.” Luca turned to her. “It’ll all be okay. Giovanni will put a gag on him. You won’t be...”

“What?” Her mouth was dry. Her heart hammering.

“I won’t let you—”

As he’d spoken, an almighty crash thundered through the air. The front door was smashed down, splintering onto the floor.

Armed police officers, black uniforms, helmets, and guns directed at the three occupants, rushed in. A swarm of deadly authority. “Drop the weapon! You with the beard. Drop the weapon. Now!”

Serena held her hands up to show she held nothing. Luca quickly followed.

Beardy hesitated.

Four barrels were pointed his way, small red dots flashing on his denim jacket.

He glanced at the tiny lights. “Yeah, yeah. You got me.” He swung the gun from his index finger in a gesture of surrender. “Fuck.”

One of the officers reached for it, handed it to another policeman then quickly handcuffed him.

“What’s this about?” Luca demanded. “You can’t just barge into my home.”

“Don’t play innocent with us,” a cop with a dark moustache snarled. “We’ve just had a call from Lloyds Bank, seems you’ve completed a very interesting deal with one David Watson, MP this afternoon.”

The bank. What the hell?

“Deal?” Luca shrugged, clearly going for nonchalant. “Not that I know of. Don’t even know the guy, or ever been in a Lloyds Bank.”

He was shoved roughly against the wall, the air whooshing from his lungs and his legs kicked so they were spread.

“Where’s your weapon?” an officer demanded, frisking Luca.

“I don’t have one. It’s illegal to carry firearms in the UK.”

“And you didn’t think to tell your mate that snippet of information.” The policeman huffed, squatting low to check around Luca’s lower legs.

“He’s a big boy, he can think for himself,” Luca grumbled.

Serena watched as Luca was cuffed then spun roughly to face the room again. “Where are you taking him?” she asked, her throat tight.

“Same place as you’re going, ma’am.” A tall officer with ginger stubble was at her side. He gripped her arm, tight, around her biceps.

“Don’t fucking touch her,” Luca snarled, stepping forward but then being sharply dragged back. “I swear, you touch my woman and I’ll—”

Serena gulped down a rise of her own anger. Luca’s jealousy went too far. What the hell did he think he was doing?

“What?” the officer holding Luca said. “You’ll do what?”

“Kill the fucking lot of you.” Luca’s eyes flashed with menace. He glared at every man in the room.

Oh, for God’s sake. Serena held back an eye roll. Couldn’t the man control himself?

“Threatening police officers, do you really want to extend your time behind bars?”

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