by Blue Saffire
I yelp as the back window blows out. “Get down, Sammy,” I scream.
Sammy gets low on the floor in the back seat. All hell breaks loose as car tires screech and bullets fly. Marco turns in his seat and rains bullets out of the back window.
“Ciao,” Italian comes through the speakers, sounding confused and impatient. I would know that voice anywhere.
“LaSalle, Mo’s apartment was covered in men. I have Monique and Sammy with me, but we are under fire,” Marco growls.
“What,” he roars through the phone. “Why were you at her apartment? Fuck that. Get my family to the O’Brien’s territory, now. Brooklyn will have instructions when you get there. Just get them there in one piece.”
“I’m covering them with my life,cugino,” Marco grunts.
“LaSalle, Marco is wounded,” I call out.
“It’s going to be fine, Baby,” LaSalle says soothingly. “Marco, help is on the way. Just keep moving.”
“We are,” I say. “They’re just coming at us hard.”
“Keep driving, Bella. I have it,” Marco bellows in his heavy accent. “But we could use the help,” he says more towards LaSalle.
I yelp again when my driver’s side window shatters. I gun the truck forward, swerving out of the way of fire. I’m grateful for the hour. There is little traffic in the street. Marco needs help. If we’re even going to make it off this street.
I look out of the corners of my eyes and see Sammy’s little hands reach into my lap. He takes my guns before I can protest. My attention is needed on the road before me. I hear, more than see him release the clips. I have no idea where he pulls the new clips from, but he has my pistols loaded and slipped back into my lap in record time.
I have no time to be in awe. I shrug out of my jean jacket, trying to keep the truck on the road at the same time. Wrapping the jacket around my arm, I bite my lip and elbow the shit out of the broken window.
The glass falls out and I reach for my gun in my lap. I take my eyes off the road long enough to put a bullet in the skull of the passenger in the car beside us. Then one in the driver’s throat. I hit the brakes when their car veers into ours.
“Fuck,” Marco growls as he’s jerked in his seat.
“Sorry,” I murmur.
“What the fuck is going on,” LaSalle roars sounding enraged and helpless.
“Hold on, Baby. We’re a little busy,” I breathe.
I throw the truck in reverse, dropping my gun back into my lap. Switching hands on the steering wheel, I lift my other gun and turn to look over my shoulder. They are coming right at us. I slam my foot on the gas to meet them.
I aim just as my targets come into the perfect view. “Gotcha,” I whisper and fire. I take the driver and Marco gets the ones in the back seat and the passenger’s side.
I throw the truck back into drive and peel off again. I frantically check all of the mirrors and sigh in relief when I see they are gone for now.
“Good job, Bella. Good job,” Marco croons. “Cousin, I think we can make it to your friends now. I will call you if things change. Send the help to get the girls and Aunt Minnie.”
“I already have someone on that. Tasha,” LaSalle growls.
“Yes,” I say softly.
“When you get to me, I want to know why you were not home where my men could ensure your safety,” he fumes.
“LaSalle,” I start.
“No,” he barks. I open my mouth again, but the line cuts off. I clamp my mouth shut and my head snaps back.
Oh, we are going to have a talk when I get to him. No, he didn’t hang up on me. Wait, what the hell just happened?
~B~
Bobby
“Argh!” Sam bellows as he flips the desk in the study of our family home in Italy.
I remain silent as I watch my brother’s back heave. I know instantly all of the work I’ve been doing to get him to give into his feelings for Mo, has gone out of the window. This will be his undoing.
Sam loves that woman in a way I know firsthand. It’s the fierce love I have for Paige and my children. Maybe even something deeper. There’s not a day that has gone by since Ellen’s death, that I don’t wish I would’ve given him different advice, when he first told me about Tasha all those years ago.
I didn’t know shit then. It wasn’t so much what I said to Sam, it was what I didn’t say. I heard the difference in his voice as he questioned himself. I’d been bitter about the family business and the fact that Sam’s plan wasn’t really going to get us out, but take us deeper in.
God, I could have saved my brother all of this agony and second guessing himself. As I watch his back heave and tension rolls off of him, I try to think of what I can do or say to make this right.
“Don’t, Bobby,” Sam growls.
“They’re safe, LaSalle,” our cousin, D’Angelo says.
“Not because of me,” my brother hisses. “You have no idea what that was just like for me. It was like watching Ellen being shot at all over again.”
“Sam, I understand,” I try, but Sam spins around and glares at me.
“No, you don’t,” he bellows. “My son! The woman I just announced I would be making my wife. They were both on the other end of that phone being chased and shot at. Why the fuck wasn’t someone with them?”
“Marco was called away to handle something at one of the restaurants. When he returned, Tasha was gone. He texted me to see if you knew she was gone. When I told him no, he took off looking for her,” D’Angelo answers.
“Pam told me Mo wanted to try sleeping at her place because she was freaked out about being home alone,” Nate adds. “I gave him the address to head over there.”
“It’s three in the morning there. He’s just figuring out she was gone? And why is Sammy not with my mom.”
“Jas said your mom called Mo. Sammy wouldn’t settle. Marco stayed at the apartment once Jas told him they were on the way there,” Nate replies, as he rapidly replies to text messages and relays the messages.
“I want to know who is responsible for this and I want them dead,” Sam bellows, before storming from the room.
“You know this could end badly,” Nate murmurs beside me.
“Yeah, he’s going to want to break the engagement. It’s too late,” I sigh.
“Exactly five minutes too late,” Nate grumbles. “Misha will be the least of his worries. He can’t break his first word as Don.”
I slap Nate on the shoulder. “You know my brother as well as I do. All we have to do is get her here. His possessive side will win out. He loves her. He’s not capable of walking away from her again.”
“I hope you’re right. I didn’t just give up my nice, normal life for him to decide this is not what he wants. I still can’t believe all this shit or what I’m signing up for.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” I huff. “Come on. We might as well bring the whole family in. There are calls to be made.”
Nate snorts. “You didn’t see the Donati’s leave the room. I’m sure all of the women are up packing by now. Uri and Luca set that in motion before making it out the doors,” Nate chuckles.
“I’m sure you’re right. Let’s get the houses open and ready then,” I sigh.
“Bobby,” I pause at the tone of Nate’s voice. “If this is as big as I think. It looks like we may need to warn all our close friends.”
“The Blacks arrive in the morning. We told you you would meet the Alliance. There are a lot of players you have yet to see,” I say lifting a brow. Just then I hear Sam roaring through the house.
“I got this. Get your brother,” Nate huffs.
chapter Thirty-THREE
Prodigy
Tasha
I’m pacing the jet as we head to Italy. All of the children, along with Minnie are in the cabins sleeping. The girls are looking at me, but I’m too in shock to sit and talk to them. I can feel Val’s gaze the most, so it’s no surprise that she is the first to bark at me.
“If you don’t
stop that damn pacing and talk to us. What the hell is wrong with you?” she hisses at me.
I look at Marcus and lick my lips. I don’t even believe what I’m about to say. I just keep playing the shit over and over in my head.
“Marcus, you remember when I mentioned I thought Sammy might be gifted like his mom?”
“Yeah,” Marcus says with wrinkled brows.
“Well, I’m pretty damn sure about it now,” I say, and laugh out a breath.
“Wait, but I thought it ran in the women only,” Paige says in confusion.
“It does, but Ellen did mention once that she had one uncle that it was passed to. Everyone just thought he was out of his mind,” Camille says.
“Holy shit,” I breathe. “I still can’t wrap my mind around what I saw. He knew. I think he knew they were upstairs. He wouldn’t get out of the car at first. Then when he did,” I shake my head. “He pushed me out of the way in time to throw a knife in one guy’s throat.
“Wait, what the fuck has been going on around here? When did Sammy learn to throw knives?” I look over to Marcus, who blushes and looks away.
“Spill it, Mairettie,” Val narrows her eyes.
“Misha and Michael have been helping Sammy channel his energy into knife throwing and weapons handling,” Marcus mutters.
“The fuck you say? That baby is three years old. Oh, my God. Does LaSalle know about this? I’m going to kill that fucking Russian,” I spit.
“My brother knows. He okayed it. You said Sammy responds to weight and pressure. Misha started with putting his gun holster on Sammy. It was amazing. Sammy remained focused the whole time,” Marcus says in awe.
“Michael had the jacket made with the blades inside. Sammy is very proficient,” Sim says out of nowhere.
“You knew about this,” I spin on her.
“It helps the child. I don’t see what’s so wrong,” Sim says.
“You people are all un-freaking-believable,” I snarl and ball my fists.
“So, wait. Sammy throws knives,” Val says with a smirk. “And how do you know he can see shit like his mom?”
“It was crazy. He told me how many guys were coming and from which direction. When I turned, no one was there. Oh, shit, I’m not sure, but I think he can see out about five seconds ahead or something. I don’t know. He…he’s just amazing,” I shake my head.
“Oh, the things I can teach that kid. Why wasn’t I told we were training him?” Val pouts.
Marcus points to me. “Because Sam was afraid of that. He knows Mo is going to ream his ass.”
“We aren’t doing anything, Donati,” Marco speaks up groggily. He was stitched up and given some meds before we took off. “My cousin will not involve women in men’s business.”
Val and I snort. She is right beside me in a flash as we glare at Marco. We both plant our hands on our hips. I look at Val, incredulously.
“You believe this shit. I just saved his ass,” I snap, waving a hand at Marco.
“You may want to watch what you say, Locatelli. Your name doesn’t rock bells with me. I could give two. My gun goes off without discrimination,” Val hisses.
Marco throws his head back and laughs, but winces. “You do not intimidate me either, Morte Nera,” Marco says. “I don’t speak to insult you. It is just not how LaSalle was raised. He will not involve you.”
“Too late,” I mutter.
“Sì, I think so,” Marco says almost to himself.
~B~
Sam
I am barefoot, pacing the cool marble floors, in the foyer of my families’ Italy home. I’m in sweats and a t-shirt because I’ve spent the last six hours in the gym trying to calm the fuck down. It has worked only marginally.
I’m not going to be happy until I have my kids and Tasha in my arms. I wasn’t there. Once again, I wasn’t there. The level of incompetence around me is just not going to do.
This isn’t Marco’s fault. I’ve already figured out that he was called away as a distraction. Let’s just say that there are some people that will no longer be breathing soon. Loyalty is paramount to me. Knowing that someone in my organization has dared to be disloyal has my blood boiling.
I know there are those that don’t like what I’m doing, especially now that I’m Don. Things are coming to a head, but you don’t go after my family and you don’t open the door for anyone else to. Tasha’s voice, accompanied by gunshots are ringing in my head on repeat. Mixed with the images of Ellen and Tasha laying on the ground covered in blood.
I’ve just gotten to the point where I can sleep through the night without reliving that day. Now I’m wide awake, watching my wife lose her life in my head. To think, the woman I had just been planning to marry has just been under attack.
I don’t know what to do with this rage. All I can do is pace. It is going to kill me, maybe even literally, but I have to let her go. I can’t bring her into this life. The thought of more children being subject to my sins, now makes me sick.
My little Sammy was involved in this. I don’t think I will sleep tonight or any other night from here on out. Not until I make my presence known. This shit is not allowed. Not with the Alliance in place. When I get to the bottom of this, I’m going to destroy every single person involved.
“Daddy,” I hear my girls squeal, and turn to face the front door.
I squat and open my arms for them both to run to me. I hold them so tightly, kissing the tops of their little heads. I’ve never missed my family so much.
I look up to see Sammy and Tasha lingering. Sammy is clinging to her side, as Tasha watches me closely. I can see apprehension and fire in her eyes. Not the fire I hoped for yesterday, when I couldn’t wait to have my woman and family join me for a little vacation.
No, the fire I see now is anger and hurt. I release the girls and stand. There are many others entering the house, but my eyes remain locked on Tasha.
“Minnie, thank God,” my father’s voice booms through foyer as he comes out of the study. He pulls my mom into an embrace. “Let’s get you and the children settled in. I believe our son would like a moment.”
“I would like to go to the room I’ll be staying in. I’m exhausted,” Tasha says, not looking away from my eyes.
I tilt my head at her. “Why were you not in the house, where you would be safe? Did I not tell you that things were about to change? Why the hell would you put yourself in danger? Do you think I have all these men around for fun?” I snarl, not able to hold it in a moment longer.
“Who the hell are you talking to?” Tasha hisses back.
“Oh, Dear…Sam, Honey. It’s been a long flight and Monique has been through enough,” my mother tries.
“I’m talking to you. You had to have made an effort to dodge your security to get away without them knowing. Marco was gone, but you disregarded your entire team,” I growl.
Tasha storms in and stops right in front of me. “I couldn’t sleep in that house alone. I wanted the comfort of my own bed. I don’t need babysitters to watch me sleep,” she snaps back at me.
“Yes. You. Do!” I bellow. “You don’t get that they were there for you. That Marco intercepted men that knew you left my property, my protection. I can’t protect you if you’re going to blatantly ignore your safety.”
“Sam,” Bobby tries. “Let it go until the morning.”
“I’ve let enough go around here,” I snarl.
“Sam,” my mother tries again.
“No! She allowed herself and my son to be placed in harm’s way,” I swallow hard and cup Tasha’s face. “You put everything I love on the line for…for what? Because you didn’t want to be alone in the house. You were not alone. You know you’re never alone. Someone is always around. Always there to watch you and keep you safe.
“You should have called me. You should have let me know what you needed. You should have trusted me to take care of it, of you!”
“Like you trusted me when you decided to allow them to teach that baby to throw knives? Y
ou’ve been hiding that from me, why? You know what, it’s none of my business. You have no right to embarrass me like this,” Tasha says harshly and pries my fingers from her face. “I’m tired. I want to lie down.”
I bite back all the shit I want to say. I know if I say another word, things are going to get much uglier than they already are. I run a hand through my hair and nod.
In all honesty, I didn’t want to tell her about Sammy. I spoke to Marco when they arrived at Brooklyn’s warehouse. He told me everything. I’m so proud of Sammy.
We’d given him the knives for the weighted factor at first. Sim and Michael had made the suggestion. When Misha, Michael, and Sim started Sammy throwing them and small stars, we were all impressed.
“Our room is upstairs,” I say with a calm I don’t feel.
“Our room?” she scoffs. “I think it’s better if you have your room and I have mine. Misha is not around for us to have to pretend. I would hate to confuse you any further on our relationship. I think we have blurred the lines on what’s real and what’s not.”
I narrow my eyes and close the small distance between us. I dip my head so we are nose to nose. I respect the fuck out of Tasha even more, when she doesn’t so much as flinch. I can feel I’m unleashing a side of me she, nor many others in this foyer have never seen.
“Only one confused around here, at this point is you, Baby. We stopped pretending a long time ago,” I lower my voice for her ears only. “Only thing that’s going to be blurry tonight is your vision, as I remind you of who I am.
“I didn’t tell you about Sammy because I’m still processing all this shit. Those letters are messing with my head in ways you can’t even imagine. But if you want to know everything I know. Have at it, Tasha. I won’t keep another thing from you.
“But know this. Your life is more important to me than anything. I’ll do whatever I have to do to make sure you’re safe, even if it kills me,” I say.
My last words are the only words Tasha responds to. It is the first time she so much as flinches. I watch as anger disappears from her eyes and alarm fills them. She searches my face and I see the moment she gets my point. I’ll let her go before I see her harmed.
