Mafia love

Pa was at home. Claudius had called him on the way here. As far as I knew, he was on his way.

“They knew we weren’t going to be here, and the only way they knew that was by someone telling them,” I filled in.

Raphael nodded.

The idea was to take the best, and if we got Victor and a chance to get Gigi back, we’d take it, but to do that we needed the best. That damned Victor must have known we’d retaliate after that last phone call. He knew this would happen. He knew I would go after him. He knew I would fail.

We’d played right into his trap.

“Someone told them, and I realized the only someone that could have been was Millicent. The sick thing is that I was here when all this shit was happening, and I couldn’t do anything. I was asleep in my bed; my meds knock me out when I take them. Millicent usually brings me up a glass of juice before she leaves. I woke up thirsty and decided to go downstairs to get some water. That was when I saw the bloodbath. When I went to check on Amelia, she was gone. They took her right from underneath my nose.

When I pieced it together, I abandoned all that shit about long-term family friends, and fucking shit. I knew, I knew it had to be her. It was all too nicely played for it not to be. Specific.”

At least we could agree on something.

“Victor wants the diamonds, Raphael.”

“In exchange for Amelia?” He looked hopeful.

“He didn’t mention anything about an exchange.”

Raphael bit the inside of his lip. “He just wants you to get the diamonds.

Then what?”

“Well, that’s the part I need to work on. I won’t give him anything until he gives me Amelia and Gigi.”

“It won’t work that way.”

“I know, Raphael, but right now, you’re going to give me the details I need to get the diamonds.” I was past showing respect. It was time to start demanding.

“Of course, of course, I will give it to you.”

“Raphael, I don’t know how this is going to play out, but we need help.”

I’d thought of that on the way here too. This was bigger than us. We couldn’t find Victor or Tag. They had the assistance of the worst people I knew, and that made them one step ahead of us.

“I’ll call in resources. I’ll get everyone I know.”

“While I’m gone, I need you to work on finding out where the fuck they are. I can’t sit here and wait for Victor’s call. It will be too late then. It will be far too late, and God knows what he’ll do to Amelia. It might already be too late.”

“Please don’t say that.” His eyes displayed a wealth of soul-wrenching sadness that mirrored my own.

“I have to be realistic, Raphael. I have to, which is why I’m asking for help. We can’t go to wherever he is by ourselves. We need guns. We need muscle. We need anyone you can think of who can help. Good and bad.”

He nodded. “Okay. When are you leaving?”

“A few hours, so I can get to the facility when it opens.” Rockford was about a two-hour drive from here. “Do you know opening times?”

“Nine o’clock.”

Great, I would get there for then and be ready for action.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow had to be the day this nightmare ended.

It had to be the day when I killed Victor once and for all. No more games, no more shit, no more messing with my mind and the people I loved,

Just no more.

If I made it and saved Amelia, we’d leave. Leave this life.

Put it all behind us and start fresh. We’d leave just the way she did years ago.

Claudius insisted on going to Rockford with me.

I refused his offer because I wanted time to think, but when I got to the facility, that seventh sense of mine kicked in.

Felt like we were being watched.

Amazing how I could always sense trouble. Trouble at its fullest and finest.

But I was stupid to think that Victor or Tag would just allow me to get the diamonds and wait to be told what to do next.

Claudius and I were checked before we were allowed inside the facility.

We handed over our guns. Unknown to the guards, however, was that we each carried pocket knives that looked like a key holder.

And we had our fists.

We were led to the vault by a large bald man with a scar on his face.

Didn’t exactly look like a guard for a place like this that housed antique paintings and family heirlooms. As far as I knew, there wasn’t money as such kept here, but there were gold bars and diamonds.

Claudius and I had exchanged glances when the guard first approached us. The look in Claudius’ expression told me he was thinking the same as me. That we needed to be ready as hell for an ambush once we got our hands on the diamonds.

The guard stayed outside the vault when we went in.

“Luc, I hear footsteps,” Claudius muttered under his breath.

There was shuffling just outside the vault door.

“Me too.” I typed the password into the keypad on the panel outside the glass case, and it opened. The case opened first, then another layer opened, revealing a little silver box. It was the same size as a jewelry box. I’d imagined it to be bigger, but I guess it would be the contents inside that would make up the volume. I grabbed it, snapped it open, and widened my eyes.

I’d heard about these diamonds. Imagined that they would be what royalty of olden days used to wear, and not just any old royal either. These diamonds were very rare, and their value was always prevalent.

The box was full. I knew I held a few billion in my hands. All this trouble for these little things.

Claudius looked at them too. “Jesus Christ, I could only dream of the wealth contained in this box.” He chuckled and tucked a lock of his hair behind his ear.

“Who wouldn’t?” came a voice from behind us.

It was the guard, and he had company. Three tough guys had joined him.

I snapped the box shut and placed it inside my pocket.

“Can I help you with something?” I asked in a cool, even tone, rocking back on my heels like I didn’t have a care in the world.

“The diamonds, please.” The guard put out his hand. The other guys walked up to us. Claudius started laughing.

“Really, you think you can take us?” Claudius challenged.

That was when more men walked into the room. Ten of them.

Fuck, we were fucking outnumbered, but no way in hell was I going to let this end here. These fuckers would get theirs.

I sprang into action when one of them fired at me and two rushed at me.

I landed a kick in one guy’s throat, snapping his neck. The other I gave an uppercut and grabbed for a headbutt that smashed his nose in and cracked his teeth.

Several men rushed Claudius, but my brother held his own and fought like a demon.

We worked our way through eight of them in a mass of punches, kicks, and finally, I grabbed a gun and was able to kill the guard.

But fuck, more guys came in. Like the plague. One fired a shotgun that split the bullets out in several directions. I almost got hit, and Claudius pushed me out of the way.

We both dove behind the stand that had held the diamonds to take cover.

“We need to get out of here. Just focus on retreat,” Claudius cried.

When we stood up, more guys were in the room. Another ten of them.

I didn’t know if we were going to make it. I couldn’t let them take me.