Never Say Never (Vitale Brothers Book 4)

Chapter 35

Lungs burning,every muscle in my body ready to give out, I kept moving with the onslaught of the fuckers who thought they could usurp the Vitales from their current position at the top. I grabbed the back of York”s shirt and pulled him back just as a few bullets cut through the air. I was dragged down into a fit of coughs, blood spraying out of my mouth.

”Uh, that”s not sexy at all.”

”Shit, shit! Paolo, we need to get you out of here,” York said. He cupped my face, staring at me with his lips tilted down in a frown.

”Do I look that bad?”

Gin hopped over the crates and landed next to us with a shit-eating grin on his face. ”Oh, fuck yeah. Remember the time we raced motorcycles down the hill by the old house and you crashed into that dumpster?”

I grunted. I couldn”t look that bad. I’d ended up in a full body cast for four whole months. Pulling back from York, I tentatively touched myself, trying to assess the damage. ”Don”t remember this moment with me looking like this. Rewrite it in your head. My hair freshly done and with my handsome face just fine.”

”You two are idiots.” York looked at my twin. ”We need to get him out of here. He can barely breathe.”

I laughed, and as if my lungs had to agree with my worrisome boyfriend, I broke off into a coughing fit.

”What you wanna do, Paolo?” Gin asked.

”I”m not—” I wheezed, trying to get my airways to function. ”Going without—” Coughing shredded my lungs even further. It felt as if I was being taken apart from the inside out.

”Without getting a blow job.” Gin twisted Silvy in his hands, too proud of his shit answer. ”I mean, I can see how that would be hot. Bullets flying everywhere, dead bodies. A blow job would be nice.” He turned to York cheering him on. ”Get to it, fed.”

”What?” York looked between us in utter confusion. I couldn’t even blame him. Gin wasn’t making conversing easy. ”No, that”s never going to happen.”

”Never say never,” Gin warned. ”And I feel like you”re kink shaming right now. What if it gets my brother off?”

Gin stood just as a guy rounded where we were ducked off. He threw Silvy and the head of the hammer slammed right into the side of the man’s face. His eyes stayed open wide as he slowly reached up to touch the now concave part of his head. Blood dripped down the side of his face. In slow motion, he dropped to the ground, and Gin retrieved Silvy, twirled her around, and flicked blood everywhere.

York visibly paled. He looked up at Gin and then the dead man on the ground. As an agent, he’d been trained to kill when necessary, but it didn’t mean he was like my family who loved a good murder. Prison wasn’t an option for these guys. We couldn”t afford to hide when the enemy needed to be taken care of.

”I don”t need a blow job.” I winked at York as I stood back up. ”I wouldn”t turn it down, but no. I need Tasso”s head after what he said about our girls. And what he did to Dawn. I won”t be able to sleep at night knowing someone else had the pleasure of ending his life.”

”What did he say about the minis?” Gin growled. His brows dipped, the smile vanishing off his face. He”d gotten attached to the girls just as easily as I had.

”He threatened their lives and said he”d hand them over to Qiang.” I peeked over the crates at the current brawl that was happening. The Bianchi’s, Vitales, Laureatis, O’Brians, Falaccis, and even some of the Yakuza were in a full-out war.

”I want him dead,” York growled. “Let me do it.”

My man wasn’t bloodthirsty but about our kids and his best friend? He was ready to kill. It was honestly sexy as fuck. Maybe Gin was onto something with a blow job right now.

Gin didn”t say anything, but the look in his eyes said he”d gladly help me bring down the current leader of the Aceto”s.

I passed my gun over to York. ”As much as I want to watch you slit his throat, this shit is too dangerous right now. You’ve still got daughters to raise. Let me do it. Cover for us.”

York nodded, checking the magazine before slamming it back into the pistol. ”Are you sure you’re good to go out there?”

I kissed him, unable to help myself. The feel of his lips on mine was all the medical care I needed to keep me going. Mentally, anyway. “It’s hot when you worry about me.”

“That’s real gay,” Gin said.

I flipped my twin off but focused on York. ”Don”t worry, I’m a Vitale. I have bloody hands and a blackened soul. Nothing could be more invigorating than this.” I stole another kiss from York. ”Shoot anything that moves toward us.” I nodded at Gin and we ran.

There was a bat on the ground and I swooped down and grabbed it up. I took a few cursory swings, each one had my lungs screaming in agony. One look at the bat, and I had a name picked out. ”Robin.”

A few men came our way, but before they could get close, a bullet was firmly lodged in the middle of their skulls. They went down and more quickly followed. I glanced over my shoulder and winked at York as he dispatched them with ease.

”Damn, he”s a good shot,” Gin admired.

”Yeah, I”m going to eat his ass till he cries as a reward.” I couldn”t wait to get home and have York. I was dying to show him just how incredible I thought he was.

”I know how Benito feels now,” Gin joked, his face twisted in disgust. He made a fake gagging noise. My twin swung his hammer for the fun of it and hit the back of a guy”s head.

He turned around but before he could do anything, an axe flew past us. Enzo followed the weapon and yanked it out of a guy”s chest. One look at us and he pointed in the direction we needed to go.

”Thanks. Hey, York is over there.” I pointed in the direction we’d just come from.

”I”ll cover him,” Enzo said.

I knew my man could handle himself but knowing my brother was looking out for him made me feel ten times better.

Bodies dropped around us and it was quickly turning out to be more of a slaughter than a war. The overwhelming amount of men the Triads and Aceto’s had on their side were dwindling down to nothing. We hit a corner, and my knees screamed in pain. Air sawed in and out of my ruined lungs. The taste of blood continuously filled my mouth, reminding me I was on borrowed time.

Darkness kissed the edges of my vision, promising swift repercussions for how hard I was pushing my body. I”d drive myself into the grave before I allowed a single person who”d thought coming after my family was a good idea to live.

Gun shots, screams, and the sound of a good time could be heard all around us. We ended up in the back of the factory. There he was, Tasso, shooting from behind five men. Qiang was no better, heading toward the backdoor. They were going to run.

Not today.

A few of our guys went down. I broke out in a sprint, all the aches and pains ignored as I pushed on the bat held tight in my hand. Gin whooped next to me, and he went for the guys trying their damndest to guard Tasso. To my shock, Benito and Harlow came from the other direction. The moment the psychotic man that was Benito”s husband saw Qiang, he let out a shout. I didn”t have to worry about the Triad leader, I zeroed in on my main target. A few bullets grazed my flesh, leaving more wounds behind.

With both of us coming at them, the exit was blocked. Harlow and Benito wasted no time. They were an extension of each other, moving in perfect unison as if they”d killed and fought together for years. Harlow would throw a knife and Benito would follow with a bullet. They switched, my brother used blades skillfully, and Harlow, gun in hand, aimed to kill anyone that stood in their way. They mowed down every opponent that stood between them and Qiang.

I swung Robin. She cut through the air like a damn champ and slammed right into the first guy”s face. Blood and teeth flew as he fell back. The vibrations from the impact buzzed up each of my limbs and did very little to take the edge. His gun was aimed straight ahead. I was close enough, moving out of the way was too easy. I brought Robin down over his wrists as I dodged to the right.

The shout I pulled from him wasn”t nearly enough to satisfy the blood curdling anger that still simmered under the surface. They”d all burn for this, if it was the last thing I did. I turned just in time to lock eyes with my target. Tasso aimed his gun at my head and with no hesitation, pulled the trigger.

Click, click.

My split lips pulled up in a smile. ”La fortuna non è mai stata dalla tua parte. Sei morto.”

I charged at Tasso. Robin connected with his leg. The vibration traveled up my hands and down to my toes. I did again in quick succession, bringing Robin down. Tasso was lost in his own pain, shouting before he tried to attack again. Gin was right there with Silvy. He slammed the head of the hammer down on Tasso”s shoulder. We were both dealing damage but nothing that would give him the quick way out. I wanted the fucker who hurt and threatened my kids to suffer.

Tasso fell to the ground, agony written all over his face as he panted for air.

”How does it feel to be played with?” I rotated Robin in the air, flinging the blood off her. She was dented and had more chips than when she started. ”You knew this was going to happen.”

”I think he desperately just wanted to be fucked by us,” Gin said. He pointed Silvy at Tasso. ”You”re no longer my type. I like a twink with a monster cock, and you have to be a virgin. You got one out of the three.”

Laughing hurt my lungs, but I couldn”t give a damn. ”You”re crazy.”

Gin smiled at me before shrugging. He looked over and whistled. I did the same, turning just in time to see Benito and Harlow make it to Qiang. Our older brother put a bullet in each of Qiang”s kneecaps and Harlow came running at him and slammed twin blades in the middle of his chest. He twisted them before yanking them out and repeating the motion. Even as Qiang”s body fell, Harlow continued to stab him.

I glanced down at Tasso, his mouth open as he watched the horror show. ”You never had a chance in hell at winning.” I tapped Robin against his face none too softly. ”Who was the mole that helped with the threats to York?” I wasn”t stupid, we had secure emails, and York being in charge meant his shit was screened left and right. The fact the threats made it through and no one in the entire bureau had caught on was bullshit. Someone on the inside had helped or had been the mastermind in threatening him.

”Fuck you.” Tasso spat and the wad landed on my shoe.

”Wrong answer,” Gin hooked the back of Silvy on Tasso”s ear and yanked down and away. The sound of his flesh tearing was only accompanied by the wet and grating sounds of Harlow hacking away at Qiang”s throat.

Tasso cursed us to hell and back in Italian. He spat every word he could our way but none of them were the answer.

”Talk now or that sister we spoke about earlier is going to find her way working at the new and improved Silver Dreams. We”ll create a discount price just for her,” I promised.

”Hunter Jones and Colin Brant.”

Tasso went on to list five more names, some that weren”t even in my department. There was going to be a whole cleanup. Hunter was the one that shocked me most. We’d spent nearly everyday together, had gone to barbecues, and met up for drinks at bars. Worse than that, York had cared about him. They had been close, relying on each other for years.

I’m going to kill him too.

“How did you know where to find us?”

“S-Some woman told Hunter and he told me. Said she worked for the fed.”

New anger seeped through my body. I was going to have to pay Shelly a little visit after all.

I was ready to end this and get back to my man. ”Spero che tu bruci all”inferno per l”eternità.” Robin sliced through the air with a whoosh before cracking into his skull. I did it again watching with satisfaction as blood gushed from his ear and ran down the length of his face. One for Navy. One for Nyra. One for Dawn. And most of all, the biggest blow, for York.

Tasso”s body crashed to the floor, and I forced out a breath. ”Hey.” My voice cracked, even swinging the bat was making things worse. ”Can I borrow a knife?”

Harlow waltzed over to me; he didn”t even look human with his long black hair framing his face and blood covering every inch of him. He passed it over without a word and went back to Benito”s side.

Today was a day of revenge.

I started cutting through Tasso”s flesh. He let out a gargled shout and his eyes flew open but it was too late. I hit the artery and was sprayed with hot blood. ”Shit, this is why knives suck.” I spat out what I could. My hands were raw as I pushed on.

”Let me,” Gin said.

I didn”t have it in me to argue. I fell back on my ass and handed the knife over. Exhaustion dragged me closer and closer to passing the hell out. Gin used Silvy to break through bone and cut off Tasso”s head faster.

”You two good?” Benito asked.

I gave him a thumbs up as Gin cut the last pieces and Tasso”s head rolled to the side. I glanced over my shoulder at my brother as he held his husband close.

”You?” I croaked out.

Benito nodded. ”Glad you”re fine. And we’re better now,” he said, glancing at Harlow. “Good call giving the kids trackers. We were fucking scrambling for minute there.”

“How did they get in?” I asked.

”That nanny of yours was picked up by them. Her body was found by one of our guys in the dumpster right outside the building.”

I couldn”t say I felt bad that Shelly was dead, but I was annoyed I”d let her leave without making sure she wouldn”t be able to talk. Mistakes had been made, and I was just as much to blame. She might have already given the information to Hunter, but they got passcodes to enter by talking to her.

”Come on, let”s announce our victory and get the hell out of here. The kids are waiting for us.” Benito kissed his husband before directing him toward the door that would lead us back onto the main factory floor.

Gin was there next to me, offering help. I took it as everything around me went black for a second.

”Aye, you good?” Gin asked.

Not really.

”York,” I groaned.

”Thought you would say that. Let”s get you back to your fed.” Gin tossed my arm over his shoulder and held onto me.

I blinked away the fuzzy vision all while taking in shallow breaths. Benito looked back at me, and I know I didn”t look too great if worry showed on his face too.

”Medical staff are back at the building waiting on us. Melony will start off on you. Me and Harlow have surface wounds,” Benito said.

I didn”t have the breath to thank him, but I would when I could. As we entered the main room, the sounds of fighting had mostly died down. The moonlight that poured in from the high windows lit up the area, making it impossible to miss the masses of bodies from both sides littering the ground.

Harlow parted from Benito and held up Qiang”s head, presenting it to the room. A roar of cheers erupted in the entire factory. I leaned heavily on Gin, barely holding my own weight up any longer. Every inch of me screamed in agony. Still, I searched the crowd for the one man I needed to see. I found Enzo, breath tight in my lungs until York moved next to him.

I scanned him from head to toe. His deep brown skin had splashes of blood all over. His clothes were a mess, but other than that, he didn”t seem too hurt. His head turned and our gazes locked. My heart stopped, and I was hit with just how much I loved this man. I knew for a while, but everyday it felt like the reality of it was a shock to my system.

”This is real gay,” Gin joked.

”Shut up,” I wheezed.

York ran over to us, Gin passed me over like I was a loaf of bread, handing over most of my weight to York.

”This war is over,” Benito said.

Gin tossed him the head of Tasso as well. Harlow and Benito held them up like proud trophies. I didn”t give a damn what he was saying anymore. I nuzzled into the crook of York”s neck and breathed him in. My knees buckled, and I felt York”s arms around my waist. The sounds around me became muffled, battling with the blood rushing in my ears. Even now, I knew passing out wasn”t a good idea. We still needed to make it home to check on the girls. But my body was at its limit a long time ago and I”d pushed past it. My consciousness wavered as I desperately tried to hold on.

”I got you,” York promised.

Three simple words from the man I loved, and I stopped fighting it. York was more than capable of handling it all. I”d seen him do it plenty of times as my boss, but now, I had him as my lover.

Thank fuck.

My lips moved but my voice was no more. Ti amo più di ieri e ti amerò per sempre.