Page 49 of Dare To Free Us

Turning to leave I made sure to carefully step over the clothing carnage on the floor.

“Will you come back again?”

Looking back Vasilisa took on the role of a lonely teenager looking for a lifeline once again. “Of course, but it might be a few days.”

“Ok. Thank you for the stuff, Arianna.”

“Your welcome.”

Making my way out to the living room the walls faded into wisps around me.

Vasilisa didn’t know but what she told me had begun a massive tear in my heart. My child wasn’t bigger than baby carrot in my stomach and already I was terrified for its future.

Everything I’d glossed over because I believed that our love could get us through anything, held water as well as a spaghetti strainer. For all the things that I could control in this world— which was very little to begin with— turned out amounting tonothing. My children, no matter what, would be victims of their surroundings in ways I wouldn’t be able to protect them from.

And neither could Matteo.

11

MATTEO

Darkness had fallen and thankfully it was a cloudy night that blocked out most of the moon’s light. It was the perfect night for an attack.

The cool grass brushed at my chin as I laid face down on the ground. Peeking through the bushes I studied the healthy distance to the home again. The manor’s inside lights sent patches of yellow stretching out across the lawns while outside motion lights popped on and off as guards roamed.

I had four teams set in place. I would lead the one coming in the back from the East. Nico had the north, Vinny the south, and Chris had the west. I’d also positioned several snipers to take out the guards closest to the house.

“Everyone in position?” I asked over the radio. Confirmations came from the other three simultaneously. “On my signal.”

Looking through my night-vision goggles I marked the guards in their positions hiding in the shadows. My heart began to pound with anticipation. The heavy weight of my guns, ammo and knives took on a thrilling familiarity. My all-black military style fatigues felt more comfortable than they should for knowing what happens when I wear them.

For just a moment I felt the urge to look to my right and give a nod to Luca, but had to remind myself he wasn’t there. Then shook off the disappointment and a touch of jealousy. Luca no longer had to worry about late night raids.

“Three,” I started the count down, “two, one.” I popped up out of the bushes and fired on the closest guard before he could raise his gun. The silencer wouldn’t be quiet enough to not be heard by others around the building, but my snipers had already dispatched them.

Moving across the lawn on silent feet the five men following me avoided the windows as they spread out. Without stopping I kicked open the double back doors and fired at anything that moved.

Shouts rang out as gunfire sounded throughout the rest of the house. Men yelled and swore, mingling with the cries of pain. A few men had been wandering around but now they were coming from everywhere. I shot two in the head as they came out of the living area, another I got in the chest when he shot up from behind the couch.

Feet pounded down the stairs somewhere near the front of the house, that would cause a problem for another team. Moving fast I started clearing every room with my men beside me.

Suddenly a hidden door in the wall burst open and almost a dozen men poured out from what I assumed was a hidden basement. I took one down before he was on me. Then it turned into a hand to hand battle that called for knives and bloody knuckles.

Two came at me. I blocked the first guy’s punch, delivering an answering blow to his gut. He doubled over in pain but before I could finish him off another was in his place, kicking the gun out of my hand.

I sneered at him and pulled my knife. He drew his blade and came at me again. Dodging and blocking wouldn’t have been hard considering the guy had no real skill— his style was more, just keep slashing until you hit something— but with all the bodies on the floor, keeping on your feet was a challenge.

I went down after tripping on a leg, my knife flew out of my hand as I landed with a hard thump on my back. He was on me immediately. I put my arms up across my chest just in time to stop his knife from sticking me in the shoulder. The man snarled down at me like a dog and put all his weight behind the hilt. I gritted my teeth and concentrated all my strength into my upper body. He was big, having at least forty pounds on me. Our legs kicked and flailed as we writhed on the floor, fighting for dominance.

As the tip of his blade touched fabric as a stroke of panic tried to weasel its way into my brain. Arianna’s golden eyes filled with worry blindsided me. I could see her spread beneath me in my mind, naked and vulnerable. “I’m scared.”Her words cut deeper than the man’s knife would have.

Then she was standing next to a grave, swollen belly in her hands as she cried over my lowering casket. The image gutted me. I promised her I would come back, to her, to our child. I would not break that promise.

Screams of pain and roars of anger were all around us. Suddenly a body fell backward, flipping over the top of us. It was just enough to knock my attacker off balance, giving me time to move. Reaching to my thigh I pulled a knife, brought it up and plunged it into my attacker’s bulgy neck.

In one fast movement I twisted my wrist over and dragged the blade across his jugular. Blood sprayed out as his eyes rolled back and his body went limp. Hot, sticky liquid poured out, covering my upper body. I felt it on my neck, my face, and running down my arm.

Pushing the lifeless body off I jumped up and pulled my backup weapon from my back. A few of my men were finished with their victims and moved to flank me as we headed into the next room.

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