“Elle, how are you, honey?”
“I’m good! Did you come to see me?” She spread her lips into a huge grin.
Smiling, I leaned down and kissed her cheek, “Actually, I need to speak to your Uncle Marc. Is he around?”
“I believe you may have just missed him.” Theresa proclaimed as she approached us. I straightened to greet her. She pulled me into a hug. “How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m good.” We untangled from our embrace. “Do you know where he might be? I thought he’d be here because it’s still so early.”
“Inventory.” At my puzzled expression, she continued. “The club. It’s that time of month for inventory. It’s done once a month.”
“Ah, so he’s there?”
“Yes. I just came back from the park with Elle. Would you like to have lunch with us while you wait for him?”
“Actually, I think I’ll just go to the club. I really need to speak with him.”
“Everything okay? With the two of you I mean?”
“Oh, yes, I just really need to talk to him.” I assured her.
“Okay. I’ll see you later?”
“Yes, of course.” I leaned in, hugged her and Elle good-bye, and entered my car. Pulling out of the driveway, I turned at the curb and zoomed toward the club.
***
As I pulled into the empty parking lot of Club21, I was concerned that I may have missed Marcus, because I didn’t spot his car. There was a huge truck on the side of the building backed up into an entrance, but I didn’t see anyone. Looking around before I exited my vehicle, I noticed the back door was wide open. He had to be there. Exiting my car, I made my way toward the door and poked my head in before going in. The hallway was quiet and empty. Shrugging my shoulders, I walked through the hall. Halfway through, I heard a noise coming from one of the side doors, a door that led to the basement. Because the truck on the side of the building led to the basement, it made sense that he was down there. I pulled the door open and walked down the stairs.
I looked around, confused at first, but then, everything started to register. It was a bust. All around the basement were at least twenty to thirty men with their guns drawn on each other. There were men in blue-and-yellow FBI jackets with their guns pointed at some men who I recognized from Marcus’s surprise party. They were all a part of the mob. I was sure of it. They had their guns pointed at the federal agents as well. My heart fought against my chest as my eyes scanned the room searching for Marcus. They landed on Vinnie, Marcus’s friend, who wore a badge around his neck and locked eyes with mine. “Mia, I want you to stay where you are. Do not move! Do you understand?”
My mind felt as if I nodded, but I wasn’t sure if I did. I was in complete shock. Swallowing the huge lump in my throat, I continued to scan the room. I saw more angry men all with guns who cursed and hissed at one other. The moment I realized who was standing beside me, he gripped me against his chest and pressed a gun against my head. “Lou, let her go now!” Vinnie yelled. Everything was happening so fast. My vision blurred as I tried to focus on something—anything. My heart thundered against my chest, my breathing increased, and sweat beaded along my skin.
Lou wrapped his arm around my neck as he pulled me in tighter. My arms reached up and tried to pull at his grip, but his hold was snug under my chin. I whimpered as he traced the tip of the gun down the side of my face and under my jawline. He pinned my head back into his shoulder. His lips grazed the outside of my ear as he harshly whispered, “Your man’s not around to save you, huh, princess?” Lou dug his nose in my ear and wildly sniffed in the scent of my shampoo. “I wonder if I should kill you now and make your death fast and easy like your brother’s.”
My knees buckled and I collapsed into him. My eyes burned as I fought to see past the tears. My nails dug into his hold, but I couldn’t pull him away. It was difficult to breathe as I gasped for air. Laughing, he secured his grip on me. “After I’m done with you, I’ll make sure we take care of Marky. I have plans for him, though. I’ll make sure he dies a slow, tortuous, and painful death.” He sneered in my ear.
I broke into uncontrollable sobs.
“Fuck!” Vinnie spat out. “Lou, let her go! You have nowhere to run. This whole place is surrounded.”
Lou snapped his head back up to Vinnie. Remembering where we were, he dragged me back with him until he reached the door. He kicked it opened and leaned in as far as he could. “We’ll see about that.” He pushed me away, turning my entire body to face him. A rush of relief washed through me at the loss of contact and I gulped in air.
With the basement stairway door opened, he leaned in and kept the gun pointed at me. I tried to swallow as he lowered the gun, gave a lopsided grin, and said, “Tell your brother I said, ‘Hi.’”
Before I could utter a word, he pulled the trigger, causing a loud noise to echo through the room. My entire body shattered as I felt the bullet bite through my chest. I was frozen. Everything around me stilled. I looked down, and my hand swiped along the burning wound with trembling hands. Dark red blood spread along my palm. A dizzy spell caught me, and as I tried to breathe in, my throat wheezed at the failed attempt. My body fell back as I heard the sounds of gunfire surround me. It all became faint.
I couldn’t breathe. My lungs felt as if someone were squeezing every single breath left inside of me. My eyes rolled back, and I focused on the ceiling. With each gasp of air I took in, my mind began to slowly recede. Images of those I loved faded in and out of my mind: my father, Michael, my mother, Jeremy, Megan, and my grandparents. The one I loved more than anything and was willing to give my last breath for, the one that I wanted nothing more than to see his face one last time—Marcus—his was the last image that crossed my mind.
Then I grew hungry—hungry for oxygen—anything to help stop the tortured pain that scorched through my lungs, as I fought for every breath.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
MARCUS
Ice-covered, I couldn’t move. I blinked again to find out if what I saw the first time was real. And it was. Mia had entered the hallway from the back parking lot and had opened the doors to the basement where the bust had just taken place less than five minutes before. I felt my body grow pale as I saw her go down the stairs where it all was taking place.
“What the hell are you doing? Come on!” Jimmie gripped my shoulder and lifted me from my chair, pulling me out of my daze and bringing me back to reality.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. My heart pounded against my fucking chest with every step I took. It went with the rhythm of the sound of guns firing.
As we reached the door to the basement, we caught sight of Lou, who was running down the hall. I had a decision to make. Follow him or go see if Mia was alright. “Go! I’ll check on Mia.” Jimmie shouted over the sound of gunfire. I hesitated. “Go! All of this will be worth nothing if Lou gets away!” He shoved my shoulder. Nodding the moment that I realized he was right, one foot moved in front of the other as I went after Lou.
Everything was happening so fast, but it felt as if I were playing a movie in my head in slow fucking motion. It wasn’t happening fast enough.
Once I reached the parking lot, I spotted him by the far end, where a hidden street led behind a group of brick buildings. Picking up the pace, I sprinted towards him. The closer I got to him, the more the adrenaline pumped through me. Reaching for the gun that was pressed against my back, I pulled it out and aimed it at him as I continued running after him. Once I was close behind him, he looked back as he heard footsteps approaching. The moment he locked eyes with mine, he laughed and stopped. He turned around and pointed his gun at me. Breathing out heavily, he said, “You were responsible for all of this, Marky?” His faced was filled with amusement.
With a steady aim on him, I stopped running but continued in a rapid stride toward him. “No, but once I was asked if I wanted to be a part of bringing you down, I didn’t have a second thought.”
He saw I wasn’t stopping, so he cocked back hi
s gun, but before he could pull the trigger, I shot at his hand. His gun, along with a few bloody fingers, fell to the floor. He shrieked as he gripped his wrist in shock. “You fuckin’ cock. FUCK!” He huddled over, wincing in pain. I continued running with the gun still aimed at him. Laughing, he stood slanted, squeezing his arm, trying to hold back the rapid bleeding. “You know,” he grimaced through clenched teeth as he spat, “I’m glad I pulled that fuckin’ trigger on your girl. Now she can fuckin’ join that two-faced brother of hers.” He spat at the ground and laughed at me as he weakly stumbled back.
Everything around me went red. All I could see was the fuckin’ cocky smirk on his face. One foot in front of the other, I charged at him with every quick step I took. I knew I was closer, but it wasn’t fast enough. My legs quickened and I sprinted at him. The moment I was close enough, I tightened a fist, cranked my arm back and swung it directly at his face. There was a loud crack as my knuckle smashed against his nose. Lou’s head jerked back at the contact, forcing him to stumble a few steps.
With his eyes wide, he snapped his head forward. He glared at me with intense and vicious eyes at the unexpected blow. Blood gushed out of his nose. His jaw tensed, and the veins on his neck popped out in rage. His body shook with adrenaline. “You’re a fuckin’ dead man, Marky. Dead!” He came after me, but I didn’t give him a chance as I smashed my fist against his face again. Crack.
And again.
Crack.
And again.
Crack.
With each blow, he was forced back until he was against the brick wall.
I gripped his neck with one hand, squeezing it tightly, forcing every fucking breath he had out of him. His eyes bulged out of their sockets; he let out a desperate gasp for air. Gripping the sides of his face with both hands, even with the gun I held pressed against the side of his cheek, I began slamming his head against the brick wall. “You’re the fuckin’ dead man, Lou!” I spat as I cracked his head against the concrete wall. “You’ll never see another fuckin’ day.”
Crack! I grunted as I did it again. Hatred for this man was drilled into every fiber of my being. I wanted nothing more than to suck the life out of him.
His eyes fluttered with each blow of the head, but it didn’t deter him from chuckling one last time. “I saw her gasp for air as she took her last breath.”
Reaching my boiling point, I lifted my other hand, placed the barrel of the pistol against his lips, and shoved it down his throat, causing his teeth to shatter from the force. “I want to see your fuckin’ brain splattered against the fuckin’ wall, your blood drenched against my fuckin’ skin, and your dead body on the fuckin’ ground right along with the scum where you belong. Soon no one will know who the fuck Lou Sorrento ever was!” My finger steadied against the trigger, I breathed out a lopsided smirk, and that was the last image he saw. Without a second thought, I yanked at the trigger.
BANG!
Just like that, the last I saw of Lou Sorrento were his eyes bulging wide open as the bullet pierced his brain and the residue splattered against the wall. His body dropped to the ground the moment I let go of the hold I had on him.
Looking at his lifeless body lying on the ground, I spat on him. All of the rage and disgust I felt for him was displayed in that one final gesture. Turning my back on him, the meaning of his words finally sank in. I ran fast. I ran hard—back to the woman I loved. There was no way she was fucking gone.
As I entered the room, my blood was still pumping with adrenaline from what just happened. I blinked a few times as the cloud of smoke from the gunfire filled the room. My eyes searched for the one person I feared for the most. It was a rampage and guns continued to fire. I quickly ran around searching but could not find that familiar face.
My heart picked up its pace as I hovered over lifeless bodies and held a tight grip on the gun in my hand, ready for anyone who got in the way. As I continued my search, I finally spotted Jimmie. He was kneeling on the ground, hovering over someone. My throat closed, and my entire body stilled as I saw the person before him. For a mere second I grew faint but managed to force my trembling legs toward them.
Jimmie quickly turned and aimed his gun at my approach. His mouth dropped opened in relief at the sight of me. Tears swelled in his bloodshot eyes, and breathing heavily, he stared at me, ready to break. “I’m so sorry. I tried, but I . . . Fuck! I fuckin’ tried . . .” Immediately, he turned his attention back to the person before him. “Come on, don’t do this to me.” With bloody hands, he pressed against the wound as he grunted. My body shuddered, terrified as I leaned over his shoulder to have a closer look.
My heart was ripped out of my chest as I gasped. My mind was screaming and yelling, but I stood mute. I collapsed beside Jimmie, and the gun I held dropped onto the cement floor, making a distant clinking noise. Forcing Jimmie aside, I looked down and witnessed the one person that I loved more than anything in the world covered in blood. I couldn’t breathe as my beloved was gasping for a last breath. I watched as the face of my truelove turned slightly blue while she continued to gulp for air, and then her eyes locked with mine before her lids shut closed and her jaw spread open.
Traumatized by what I was witnessing, my throat collapsed as fear coursed through my veins. Reaching down, I gathered up her body and pulled it into mine. With a shaky hand, I tried to locate the gunshot wound.
I shook my head viciously. This could not be happening. This had to be another nightmare. I’m not going to lose you. Come on, wake up. Come on, wake up! My eyes blurred with tears, and I blinked them away as I brought that face against my chest. “Come on, baby . . . Come on, you need to get up.” With bloody hands, I caressed her soft, perfect skin. I tried to wipe the blood off, but it continued to smear along her perfect cheek bones.
I wanted to scream from the top of my lungs as I rocked back and forth, trying to keep myself from breaking down. I wanted so badly to be strong. There wasn’t much I could do, but I needed to do something as I pressed my fingers along her soft eyelids. “Come on, baby, open your eyes. Just wake up for me.” AHHH! I needed to do something. I was useless! The love of my life was motionless and helpless, and there was nothing I could do about it.
I felt a hand press firmly against my shoulder, pulling me away, telling me that help was close by.
But help wasn’t there at that moment. Something needed to be done now! “No, I have to do something. I have to at least try.” Still rocking, I pressed my lips against the frigid lips that I had kissed a thousand times before, those perfect lips that used to make all my worry and stress disappear once they touched mine.
In between small gentle kisses, I began CPR. “Come on, baby, don’t leave me. I need you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
MARCUS
“Sir, we need you to step aside.” A paramedic shoved at my shoulder as he and his partner hurried to Mia.
With hefty breathing, I stayed kneeling beside Mia as I watched them quickly work on her. They both lifted her body onto a stretcher. One held a hand at the wound while the other placed an oxygen tube against her face. Everything was happening fast as they rushed out of the building. I quickly followed behind as I heard them discussing medical terminology that I couldn’t understand. “Hemothorax” and “chest tubes” were mentioned. What the fuck was going on?
In the ambulance, the female paramedic quickly lifted Mia’s shirt and swiped a cloth along her rib to clean the blood. Then she cut small incisions along the fourth and fifth ribs. The male paramedic handed his partner a couple of tubes. He placed the first tube in one incision and the other tube in the second. Blood drained quickly from one of the tubes. “W-what are you doing?”
The female nodded at her partner, who hopped into the driver’s seat. “Sir, I need you to come in or stay back. We have to get to the ER now.”
I quickly jumped in and took a seat along the bench. The sirens went on and the ambulance moved at a rapid speed. Mia gasped for air as her chest expanded. My chest expa
nded along with hers in a sigh of relief. “Is she going to be okay?”
“I don’t know, sir. It’s hard to determine how severe the injury is at the moment. She’s lost a lot of blood. The gunshot appears to have pierced her lung. The tubes right now are helping her breathe. They are removing the blood that filled her lungs as well as pumping in air that she cannot breathe on her own.”
“B-but she’ll be okay, right?” I couldn’t help the desperation in my tone. I just needed to know she’d be okay. I needed to know that she’d wake up in a few hours and I could hold her again. I needed to know that I was not losing her.
I just needed . . . her.
Before I knew it, the ambulance came to a complete stop, the back doors opened wide, and they pulled the stretcher out, rushing her into the hospital. I hurried behind them, but I didn’t have a chance to look at her one last time. They were too quick for me as they hurried out the doors. I stood there, breathless, as my entire world came crumbling down.
***
As the minutes ticked by, my desperation increased. My clothes were splattered in blood, and I wasn’t sure whose it was anymore. I sat in the waiting room with other families surrounding me, waiting to hear the news about someone they loved as well. Despite all of the hustle and bustle, the only sound I heard was the clock ticking, second by second, minute by minute.
My legs bounced in place. I ripped my nails apart as I chewed at them savagely. The waiting game was excruciating, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I was going fucking insane. I plopped my head back against the wall and let out another groan in frustration. It had only been ten minutes since I last asked for an update, but it felt like hours ago. When I thought to ask again, the doors burst open. Glancing over, I saw my mother and Jimmie rush through them.
I stood in place and waited as my mother with teary eyes ran over to me. She threw her arms around me. As she trembled in my arms and sobbed, I tried to keep myself from breaking down. I exhaled deeply and held tightly on to her. I needed to comfort her, to keep myself from joining her in her meltdown. “It’s going to be okay, Mom,” I whispered.
Cautious (Sequel to Disastrous) Page 21
