Mafia love

It was typical Victor style. I was sure he’d come up with the idea to use this place. Somewhere undetected and off radar. We wouldn’t have thought to look here because it wasn’t even in Chicago. We were in Pent Water Michigan. Well outside of our realms.

Something grabbed my attention when we got to the corridor with the steps leading to the first floor.

It was a shuffling noise. Could have been a rat, but I was sure I heard a whimper.

Maurice inched over. “Boss, you hear that?”

“I heard something.” I held my hand up for everyone to stop.

Raphael looked at me. “What why are we stopping?”

“Shhh.”

I cocked my head to Maurice, signaling for him and Saul to follow.

The noise came from that cupboard by the reception area. Looked like a coat closet.

I grabbed the handle and flung the door open. Someone ran out, bolted out more like, and ran straight past me. They looked back and held up their hand high but froze.

I could have cried tears of joy as I looked at Gigi. She was so covered in dirt and dust I could hardly see her face, and her hair was covered too.

“Luc!” she cried and came hurtling back, throwing herself into my arms.

I hugged her hard. “Gigi, God in heaven.”

“I can’t believe you’re here.” She shook and started crying.

When she eventually pulled away, Maurice took her.

“Doll.” His voice sounded so emotional I couldn’t believe it was him.

“I thought you died.” Gigi cupped his face and pressed a kiss to his lips.

“Nah, I’m like a cat. Got at least seven more lives left in me.”

Max and Sinclaire looked on, watching her. I wondered what they must have thought. Gigi was the nicest person ever, and here she was, fraternizing with mobsters.

When she saw them, she rushed to them too. “You guys. You—” Her voice trailed off when she looked over and saw Raphael.

These past days, I’d seen many sides to this man.

This side was the father who just wanted to get his daughter back.

In his eyes, Amelia was still his child. I understood completely. Gigi walked toward him, looking him over.

“You’re Amelia’s dad,” she observed.

“I am.” Raphael could barely talk.

“Your eyes. They’re just like hers.”

He nodded. “Where is she, Gigi?”

The look of angst on Gigi’s face caught and gripped me. I moved closer to hear her.

“She’s still up there on the fifth floor. We managed to escape the cell and hide, but she’s still up there. She sent me down here in a lift shaft. She was in an old medical room. They… came in after her. I wanted to stay and fight, but she made me go.”

“Fuck,” I breathed and covered my mouth. It was typical Amelia. I would have done the same thing. Sacrifice my safety to protect my loved ones.

Gigi turned back to me. “Luc, please, you have to get to her. You have to save her. Knight of cups.” She nodded.

She’d called me that once after I’d picked up one of her tarot cards with the image of a knight carrying a cup. I wished that I could have appreciated the reference, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t that person. I wasn’t there for Amelia when she needed me. She got taken, and now we were here in this mess.

“I will get her back, even if it kills me.” Time to shake things up a bit.

“Pa… come here.” Dad came closer. “Gigi, this is my father. He’s going to get you some place safe. Amelia’s father will go with you too—”

Just as I thought, dear old Raphael cut in. “I’m going with you. I told you. You can’t send me back.” He squared his shoulders and gave me daggers.

“Like fuck. Of course, I’m sending you back.”

“Luc, I will kill you here.”

“Raphael,” Pa snapped and moved closer. “You’re going to slow them down. Look at you, you can’t even breathe properly. Listen for a fucking change.”

“No. I’m going,” the stubborn old fool said. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

I pulled out the ring he’d given me earlier and shoved it on my hand, then waved it in front of his face.

“I think you’ll find that I can. I’m in charge here, and I’m pulling rank.

Don’t cross me, or I will kill you.” I bared my teeth and stared him down.

Max stepped in, literally stepped in front of Raphael and me.

“Hey, we don’t have time for this shit,” He held up his hands and whirled around to face Raphael. “With every due respect, Mr. Rossi, I think Luc’s right.”

“I can’t just leave.” Raphael frowned.

“Okay, how about you stay here with some of your guys and watch surveillance. I think we should split up anyway. This is how we’d lead a team on a raid. Can we do that?”

I had to give the guy credit for his attempt.

I nodded, agreeing. “You four,” I pointed to the four guys in the back.

“Stay with the boss.” I called Raphael boss out of habit.

They nodded, agreeing.

“Keep watch, and by God, Raphael, if you see Amelia come this way, you take her and go. You hear me? Take her out of here and go. Don’t be some hero and go after Tag. Leave that part to us.”

“Sure,” Raphael finally agreed. “Boss.”

It threw me off kilter to hear him call me that. It didn’t have the effect I thought it would. The effect I’d dreamed of so long ago. Because I’d changed so much.

I gave him a curt nod.

“Okay, let’s do this.” I walked on ahead and looked back at Raphael. He continued to watch me. That look was still in his eyes. I knew how badly he must have wanted to join us, but this had gone long past sympathy or empathy.

Those things were weaknesses on a battlefield. They would be weaknesses in Victor’s arena.

CHAPTER 16

Amelia

Punch.

Kick… upper cut. Kick, punch. Kick.

I got him. The tallest guy. I sent a kick straight to his sternum and pushed up his neck. Something snapped, and he fell backwards.

One down, and another just came to take his place.

I’d been waiting for the right moment to use the bombs. I needed an opening, so I could get to the door first, but the guys were in the way. Now more.

There were six of them now, and I got the impression that they were playing with me. Toying with me and loving the fact that it was me against them.

Sure, I could give as good as I got, but there was a limit. I had a limit, and I’d gone past it. I was getting tired, and they were too strong for me.

Out of my league. Above me, as Luc would have said.

He would have been right.

Two of them rushed at me, giving me a small opening to get to the door.

I leapt into the air as they were about to grab me and sent a flying kick to the closest guy. It took him out.

Now. Now was my chance. I ran to the door, twisted back on myself, and threw the bombs. Both of them.

Biker guy ducked for cover behind the chair. The others weren’t so lucky. The minute the bottles hit the floor, they exploded. Shards of glass sparked from it, piercing in their skin, but it was the chemical reaction that packed the punch. The liquid hit the floor, then blew up.

It shocked me, and again, I thanked my lucky stars for Gigi. I didn’t know she knew how to do stuff like that. God.

I turned to run, feeling hopeful that I just might make it, but damn it, not paces away from me stood ten more guys. They all came at me, and we started fighting. Again.