Tangled Deception (Web of Secrets Book 2)

Chapter 12

A few days had passed since the night they’d finally consummated their relationship. Shandra was on cloud nine, and everything was going right in her world. She met Amina’s new bodyguard / nanny, and if she did say so herself, that woman was a badass. If there was going to be anyone watching her child, she wanted it to be Antoinette Smith. Born and raised in southern Virginia, she joined the Marines right out of high school because, in her words, she loved to “shoot shit” and “fight like hell” … in that order.

She was a beautiful biracial Black woman with long, curly hair, and a slim but curvy build. If someone didn’t know who she was, they could easily view her as just another pretty face. All it took was her steely-eyed look, the sneered upper lip, and coiling of her body like a fucking rattlesnake to know she was not someone to be fucked with. Her weapon of choice was a Sig Sauer P365 XL. She was a black belt in Jiu Jitsu and a certified instructor in Krav Maga and Muay Thai. When Shandra asked what other skills she had, Antoinette, or Toni, responded, “If you want to know how I can kill a motherfucker in six seconds, I can explain it to you. But, if all you care about is that I can keep your princess safe, then let me assure you, I can. If killing motherfuckers were an Olympic sport, I would have… numerous gold medals. My specialty is protecting those who cannot protect themselves. Young or old, big or small. I may look innocent, but that is a fa?ade.”

Shandra was taken aback, but also reassured. Plus, Leo had already explained some of Toni’s background and how they met. She was on the job, protecting someone whose family was traveling to the Boston area years ago. Both he and Tristan clocked how well Toni did her job and stayed in contact with her. When he heard she was back in the Boston area to take a breather between assignments, he called her up.

Some would probably say having someone like Toni Smith protecting Amina was too much. After all, she was just one little girl. To that, he would tell them to go fuck themselves. Amina was so much more than that. That alone called for the absolute best. And if they could somehow sway Toni into working for the Lucarelli family full-time, that would be even better. Plus, someone else in their circle had a vested interest in Toni sticking close to the family. So, of course, Leo would do what he could to help.

They were on day three of having Toni shadow Amina at school. Shandra returned to work, with another guard watching her every move. At first, she was annoyed that Leo was so adamant about having someone with her all day, but she got over herself. She knew it was for her protection. Although Leo and Tristan felt the situation was handled with the Ricci crew, they could never be too sure.

She stretched her shoulders, then gathered her stuff to head out for the day. She waved at a few colleagues who still gave the big, hulking guard a wide berth. There was just no way to play it off. The man, Bruno, played his role a little too well. He was never more than twenty feet away from her. When she had to take a patient into Radiology, he checked the room first. Over the past few days, she had started to get used to things. Instead of barging into an empty room, she now waited calmly as he checked if the coast was clear.

She still didn’t understand how Leo got clearance for Bruno to be here with her all day, but he did. Maybe some things were better left alone.

“Bruno, do you have a wife? Girlfriend? Kids?” If he was going to be her shadow for the foreseeable future, then she wanted to get to know him a little better. Although she knew he took his job seriously, he always gave her a smile when she left the house with him, and trailed behind as she worked around the clinic. She’d even learned that he loved coffee with lots of cream and sugar, and if he had a pastry with it, he was a happy man. It seems Bruno had a bit of a sweet tooth.

“No, Ma’am. None of those. Too many other things to focus on. I’m sure my time will come soon.” His eyes were on a constant swivel as they walked into the building garage. At least the sun was shining, so it wasn’t dark.

“Yes, it will. You’re probably still too young to worry about that right now. I would just say, when you do find the right person, hold on to her. Don’t let anything come between you. If you’re serious about her, the family will understand.”

A smile hovered on his lips as he glanced at her and nodded. “Yes, Ma—”

Just then, the sound of a bullet passing through the air met her ears. Bruno flew backward, and the windshield of a car exploded.

Shandra screamed as she ducked behind another vehicle. “What the fuck? Bruno!” She called out to the man who had been protecting her, but only got a loud, pain-filled moan in response. Fuck. Leo was going to be so pissed. He would never let her or Amina out of the house again.

She couldn’t believe someone was shooting at her again. What the fuck kind of bad luck did she have?

She called out to the man writhing on the concrete. “Bruno?” When she looked around the vehicle to where he lay, she could see blood draining onto the ground. “If you can hear me, just hold on. We’ll get you some help. Don’t you fucking die on me. I’ll be so angry at you.” She still had her purse on her, so she pulled out her phone. Should she call 9-1-1 or Leo? Hell, she would do both. First, she called Leo.

“Hey, ba—”

Shandra interrupted him. “We’re being shot at! Bruno’s been hit. We’re on the 1st floor of the clinic garage, towards the back. I’m okay, but I’m worried about him. I need to call for an ambulance, but you need to get your ass over here now. And check with Toni. I need to make sure Amina is safe.” Without waiting for him to reply, she hung up the phone and called the emergency line.

She tried to stay as calm as possible and relay what happened to the operator, but was losing her shit. There was no way in hell this was happening again. “No, I don’t know where the shot came from. We’re at the University Medical Center. In the garage next to the main building on the 1st floor. There may still be an active shooter on the premises, so I can’t get to my friend. He’s still breathing, but I’m worried about his injury. Please hurry.” They asked her to stay on the line until the police and ambulance arrived, which she was fine with doing. For now. Once Leo got here, she was sure all hell would break loose. Good.

This had to be the Ricci family pulling this bullshit. Shandra never kept her gun on her at work, but it was in her car. If only she could get to it, she would give as good as she was getting. She took a chance by peaking around the car she was using for cover. She couldn’t see anyone, but she knew they were there. Shandra could feel them stalking her like prey. She continued talking to Bruno, praying he could hear her. His moans weren’t as loud now, and she hoped it was because he realized the danger they were in.

“Bruno, help is on the way. Just stay with me. The ambulance is coming. Leo is coming. And if I know my man, he’s going to bring down hellfire on whoever did this to you.” Well, she knew Leo would be more pissed that she was involved in another shooting incident, but he would also be livid that one of his men had been hit. “You’re going to be okay. Just stay with me a little while longer.”

In the distance, she could hear the ambulance sirens. A police cruiser pulled in first, followed by the ambulance. She then heard footsteps running away from them. “Fucking coward,” she murmured. Leaning over, she watched the guy in all black run toward a vehicle. Although he was too far away, she could see his blonde hair. Stupid fuck only wore a baseball cap and didn’t cover his entire head. She also saw him standing next to a standard-sized SUV. The man looked to be around six feet. It wasn’t much, but it was all she could pick out.

Now that the coast was clear, she ran over to Bruno just as the EMT and police approached them. Leaning over him, she spoke, “Look at me.” His eyes opened slowly, but it didn’t matter. He was still here with her, which was most important. “You did it. Now these nice people are going to take you to the hospital. They’ll take care of you until I get here. And if they don’t, you know I’ll raise hell.” A smile crept over his lips just as the EMTs asked her to move out of the way so they could work.

A police officer was standing off to the side watching her while two others were searching the area for any signs of the shooter. If Shandra were a law-abiding citizen, she would tell them what she knew. But she would not do that. While she didn’t know Bruno enough to call him a friend, he worked for Leo and Tristan. She had spent time getting to know him. The only reason he was lying on the ground with a bullet in his body was because he was protecting her.

“Ma’am. May I ask you a few questions?” the police officer asked.

“No. You may not,” Leo’s voice called out. Shandra watched him walk toward her as three of his men covered his back. Orlando was here as well. He was a long-term friend of Leo and Tristan. Tears sprang to her eyes as she broke into a run and leaped into his arms. Her legs circled his waist, and her arms wrapped around his neck. So what if others saw? She needed his strength right now.

“Sir, we need to take her statement,” the officer said. “She’s a witness to this incident, and we need to find out what happened here.”

Without releasing her, Leo addressed the man in front of them. “Not right now. This is not the time. She’s going to the hospital with her bodyguard. You can come there if you want to speak with us.”

“But I only need her.”

“You will speak with us both, Officer… Blake. Call your Captain and let him know that Leo Mannetti will sit in on any discussions you have with Shandra Elliott. He’ll approve it.” Without saying another word, he wrapped his arms around her body and walked to the blacked-out SUV waiting for them. He held her close as she cried. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here now.”

She nodded against his neck. “Yes.”

“Toni pulled Amina out of school, and they’re on the way to the house. Toni also called in a couple of our guys for added cover. Our baby girl is the most protected person in the state right now. She’s going to be okay. This is why Toni is here, sweetheart.” Leo tightened his hold on her; he needed the connection as much as she did. Heads were going to fucking roll, and he didn’t care who was caught in the crossfire. They came after his woman. Made her worry about Amina’s safety. Shot one of his men. Someone was going to die over this. He did his best to soothe her. “Just hold on to me. Don’t let go, Shandra. I got you.”

Yes, fear was running through Shandra’s veins, but so was anger. How dare that son of a bitch come to her job and start shooting at people? Now she was supposed to live in fear wherever she went? Oh, hell no. They had her fucked up and confused with someone else. Shandra was not the type of woman to hide from anyone. All they had done was piss her off. She swore on everything in her that somebody was going to get fucked up over this. That she could guarantee.

Officer Blake came to the driver’s side window and said something to the man at the wheel. “Boss, this cop has something important to tell you.”

Leo paused momentarily, not wanting to interrupt his time with Shandra, but eventually nodded to his man. “Okay, I’ll speak with him.”

Shandra shifted off his lap. She thought it was weird to still be sitting on Leo’s lap, even though she needed his touch right now. Once the window was rolled down, she noticed the cop shift from one foot to the other.

“Ma’am. Are you Shandra Elliott?” he asked her nervously.

“Yes.”

“You live at 5440 Candlewood Place?”

Now she was getting worried. She hadn’t given this man any of that information. He only knew her name because Leo told him. “Yes, that’s my home address. What’s this about?” Her first thought went to Amina, but the timing didn’t work. She and Toni were still on their way.

“Ma’am. I’m sorry to inform you that there’s been an explosion at your home. I know your friend was just injured, but you may want to head over there. Police and fire personnel are there now. When we called in the incident and gave your name, dispatch made the connection.”

“Fuck,” Leo exploded before calling out to his driver. “Take us to her house now. I’ll have Orlando head to the hospital with Bruno. Officer Blake, tell your Captain I’d like to see him.” The man seemed to want to protest, but Leo held up his hand. “Tell him what I said, or there’ll be consequences.” After rolling up the window, Leo immediately reached over to Shandra, who was in shock. He didn’t give a fuck that he had just threatened a cop. Shit was getting out of control, and his woman was being targeted.

“What the fuck is happening, Leo?” This was too damn much. How was she supposed to deal with all these things happening at once? Being shot at. Her home vandalized. Thank God Amina was okay, but all their possessions, the memories they built in that house. All gone. “I need to speak with Amina. I need to make sure my baby is okay.” She eased away from Leo as she called Toni. “Hey Toni. I’ll catch you up later. Yes, let me speak with her. Hey, pumpkin’.”

Leo’s mind was spinning. Would the Ricci’s really be so stupid as to target his woman? To come to her workplace in broad daylight? Shoot one of the Lucarelli men? Because even though Bruno was assigned to protect Shandra, there was no doubt he was part of the family. Fuck. This couldn’t be all about him bringing Andrea to the house that day. Then again, it very well could. Shandra had punched her. Knocked her out.

But if Tristan thought he had this squashed, and they broke that truce, there would be hell to pay. Motherfuckers were going to die today for going against the head of one of the most powerful families on the east coast.

Then again, they came after Leo’s woman. Fuck ‘em. He hoped they all suffered as they died.