Michael Bianchi Part 2

I will drag to hell those who hunt my fiancée.

"Ready?" Daniel asks after receiving the signal from the soldiers clearing the way.

"Yes," I reply.

With a black CBC ST12 24-gauge shotgun, two 9mms in my holsters, and accompanied by my right and left hands, we leave the house we turned into a base to observe what was happening in the house ahead—where Hope is being held hostage. Without Black on the team, it feels like we’re incomplete. We’re a team of four, led by me, for dangerous missions that require the best. I hope he doesn’t die. Besides making my fiancée sad, I’d miss my trusted friend.

"That’s it?" the seventy-five-year-old lady asks as we pass her in the living room. "You’re leaving and nothing will happen to me or my grandson?" Tears are in her eyes.

I approach the lady and sit in front of her, placing my gun on the coffee table and looking her in the eyes. Her skinny arms hold the boy, who looks about seventeen, close, afraid we might hurt him.

"Thank you for lending us your house." I pull my wallet from my pocket. "Our friend will be saved. You’ll hear gunfire, and just like the other neighbors were instructed not to call the police if they want to live, I hope you’ll do the same." I leave a stack of dollars on her table. "Have a good day and hide well once we leave."

"Yes, sir." She nods far too many times.

"Stay in school, kid." I tap his arm, and he pulls back further into his grandmother’s chest. I chuckle softly and we leave, posting a soldier to ensure the woman—or any neighbor—doesn’t call the police when the shots begin.

We cross the street with weapons drawn. Gunshots are fired inside the house where Hope is. I press against the doorframe while Daniel takes the other side with Kai. With a hand signal, one of the soldiers inside lets us know we can enter.

We rush up the stairs and at the top I see a soldier—I shoot him down before he can draw his weapon. Kai fires at another emerging from a bedroom, and Daniel takes out one coming up the stairs. I kick open the first door, breaking the hinges. Pieces of wood fly at a woman cowering on the floor, holding the body of a dead man.

"Get them out of here," I order a soldier, who nods. "Does this balcony connect to the one in the next room?" I ask the woman.

She trembles, curling against the wall and pulling the man’s body with her.

"I don’t have time for this." I open the window and peek outside, spotting a half-meter gap between balconies. "Daniel, go this way and grab the bastard from behind. Kai, with me."

"Yes, Boss," they reply and take position as instructed.

"You and you," I point to two soldiers, "stay outside and wait for orders to enter. Keep any remaining guards away."

"Yes, sir," they reply in unison.

"Don’t kill the bastard," I warn. "I want information about his boss before the day ends."

I cock the shotgun and shoot the lock, blowing half the door apart. I push the rest of the wood with my foot and enter the room, finding Hope standing with her hands tied behind her back and a gun pointed at her head. Her gagged mouth is bleeding down her chin, and her emerald eyes look at me with relief.

The man holding her has one arm hidden behind her back and the other over her shoulder, aiming the gun at her head.

"Who’s the little coward hiding behind you?" I rest the shotgun on my shoulder, walking toward them casually as the man steps back. "Not going to show yourself? I even kept my teeth in."

Kai laughs beside me. I see Daniel opening the window—luckily, it’s behind the bastard, so he can’t see we’ve surrounded him. I want to keep his attention on me.

"We killed all your men. Are you going to keep hiding behind her or surrender? If you do it in ten seconds, I’ll give you a quick death."

"I’m going to die either way," he shouts. I can barely see his face hidden behind her. "But I’m taking this bitch with me first."

"Hey!" I shout, grabbing a chair and throwing it to the floor. "Have some respect, you worm. Who do you think you’re talking to?"

"He deserves to have his tongue ripped out," Kai says, aiming his rifle at the punk.

The rat doesn’t notice we’re all getting closer. I place the shotgun on the bed and extend my arms toward Hope.

"Hope, remember when you and Black used to play hide and seek under the table?" I move my hands carefully downward, signaling my intent. "And you’d count to three before one looked for the other?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" the bastard growls, shaking the gun and loosening his hold on her. I can’t see what he’s doing with his left arm.

Hope blinks twice, confirming she understands what I need. When I reach three, she’ll duck. Daniel will immobilize him while I pull her away.

"I’ll count to five for you to let her go, or I’ll kill you right here. Otherwise, I’ll make you suffer for ten days before interrogation starts."

"I want a deal. I didn’t want to kidnap her—it was an order from the new Boss, and that son of a bitch is insane." His controlled voice puts me on alert. He’s trying to trick me.

Daniel moves like a cat about to pounce on a rat, while Kai and I do the same. I’m five steps from Hope—close enough to grab her.

"He told you to beat her too?" I ask.

Hope has a black eye and a gash on her brow, staining her delicate face with blood.

"She tried to escape. I told her to cooperate." He jerks her shoulders, making her shut her eyes in pain.

"What’s your name?" Kai asks.

"Paul. I’m one of Boss Samuel’s soldiers from the Boston Mafia. That bastard took over after his father died and changed everything."

"If you’re from Boston," Kai says, "then you know what we do to those who challenge us."

"Don’t lie, Paul. We know you’re Samuel’s head of security," I say. "We have plenty of images of you and your boss in Las Vegas."

"I want a deal," he pleads, hugging Hope by the waist. "Let me escape under a false name, leave the country safely, and I’ll tell you everything about Samuel."

Paul’s eyes widen and he swallows hard when he realizes there’ll be no deal. Kai uses his distraction to move further to the side while Paul keeps his attention on me. He doesn’t see Daniel’s hand ready to disarm him. I stretch my arms again.

"Let’s count, Paul. Five."

"What the hell is this? You didn’t agree to my terms."

"Four."

"You know why he wants the girl?"

"I can find out myself."

"It’s not for marriage!"

"Three."

In a flash, Daniel grabs his wrist, yanking it back—I hear the bone snap—and takes him down with a joint lock. Kai presses his gun to Paul’s head while I pull Hope by the shoulders, spinning and dragging her out of his grasp. She lets out a groan against my chest. I press a hand to her back, and she winces. I feel something wet and warm in my palm. I glance down at her shirt, seeing the red spreading.

I lift her into my arms, cradling her head against my shoulder. The gag in her mouth keeps her from speaking, but her eyes overflow with fear and gratitude. I imagine how hard she must have fought. For someone who spent her life locked away like Rapunzel, being kidnapped and hurt must have unleashed a storm inside her.

"It’s okay. I’m here now," I whisper in her ear. She exhales audibly and nods.

I glare at Paul, who has a knife just inches from his hand. Daniel pins him down with a knee, holding his wrists behind his back while Kai cuffs him. The bastard stares at me with burning hatred.

"If the bitch dies, that son of a bitch Samuel won’t get what he wants," he growls. "I’ll tell you everything if you promise to kill me quick."

"I’ll make you beg the devil to come take you."

I don’t wait for his reply. I carry Hope downstairs and sit on the couch with her in my lap. Her left ankle is bruised. I caress her cheek, slowly untying the gag to avoid hurting her further.

Her lips are split, little droplets of blood falling from them. I wipe the red away with my thumb, unable to resist pulling her face closer and gently kissing her temple. I never imagined I’d feel the urge to take care of her, but that’s exactly what overwhelms me now. I take off my jacket, cut her wrist ties with a pocketknife, and wrap the jacket around her waist to stop the bleeding on her back.

"Where are we heading?" Daniel asks. "She needs a doctor."

"Send for one in Green River. Going back to Nevada isn’t an option."

"They’re still under attack," Kai says, checking something on his phone. "Let’s go. Boston men are on the way."

"Why are they chasing me?" the hoarse voice draws my attention.

I meet her frightened eyes, the rising urge to make her feel safe swelling in my chest. I squeeze her arm, pulling her close, resting her head against the curve of my neck, and stand—carrying her to the car.

"We don’t know yet. But once I find out, I’ll make sure they never even see your shadow again."

Before, I had a dark desire to possess the forbidden girl. Now I have certainty: Hope Bonnarro will be my wife—not just to fulfill my goal of becoming Boss, but because I want to care for and protect this woman. No other man will ever touch what’s mine again.