Chapter 62 #2
“It wasn’t until an old acquaintance of mine saw her shopping in Boston at the local supermarket.
” His lip curls. “Apparently, she thought she could live as if all were well. After she, turned me into a joke.” He leans in, his face inches from Cyan’s.
“You think she was a martyr? No, she was a traitor, a coward, and you,” Lorenzo points.
“You’re nothing but the bastardization of that betrayal! ”
With a snarl, Cyan’s voice cuts through the tension “You want to paint her as a coward? You’ve been hiding like a rat, afraid of her bastard’s shadow.”
Lorenzo’s smile twists. “I should’ve killed you years ago.
But I enjoyed watching you boys become everything she despised?
” He lifts a blade. “That was my masterpiece. Ah, now I see there’s such a thing as too much fun, and now it ends.
” He steps closer, the point of his knife near Cyan’s cheek.
“Now it ends. I carve you up, erase your brother, and wipe your Irish Fist off the map.”
Static crackles from Lucilla’s walkie-talkie clipped neatly to her coat the same kind the estate security uses. “Boss, we’ve got a situation. Woman at the front door. Says her man Trevor’s in here cheating on her with his skank of a ex.”
Lucilla sighs, irritated. “Deal with her.”
“We can’t. Neighbors are watching.”
She swears under her breath. “I’m coming. Do nothing stupid. I don’t want cops sniffing around.” She turns and leaves.
Trevor? My eyes widen. Tasha. If Tasha’s here, the guys are here. I meet Cyan’s gaze and mouth her name. He gives the slightest nod. Once Lucilla realizes who’s at the door, she’ll connect the dots. We’re out of time.
Lorenzo is hunched over his torture kit, humming as he selects blade after blade, admiring them like desserts on a menu. He’s too close. I can’t move yet. Not without him seeing and Cyan knows it.
“Oi, Lorenzo, guess I was right. Hiding behind your daughter’s skirt? Pathetic,” Cyan continues taunting him with mocking laughter. “You think you molded me? I’ve been playing you this whole time. I took your city. Took your title. Named Don while you hid like a rat.”
Lorenzo stiffens. “Lucilla caught me off guard, I’ll give you that,” Cyan adds, shrugging. “At least she’s an upgrade from your son. I had a great time decorating an alley with his brains.”
Lorenzo’s face contorts. “Fuck you.” He roars, smashing the butt of his gun into Cyan’s jaw.
Cyan spits out a blob of blood. “That’s it? Still the pussy in the family. Guess Lucilla has to carve for you now.” He grins at Lorenzo, all bloody teeth.
“I’ll show you.” Lorenzo bellows, spittle flicking out of his mouth. He flings the gun aside and lunges for a knife as soon as his back turns.
I move; pain detonates as I rip my palm upward—metal tearing through flesh and bone.
White-hot agony floods me. I bite down hard enough to taste copper.
Don’t scream. Don’t stop. Blood pours, but I force myself upright.
Fingers shaking, eyes locked on the gun.
Gripping it, I remember to check the safety, take aim, and squeeze.
Lorenzo spins, disbelief etched across his face as bullets tear through his back.
I don’t stop. I keep firing until he collapses, lifeless.
Lucilla’s voice crackles from the radio clipped to Lorenzo’s hip.. “Father! It’s an ambush…” Too late. He can’t hear her anymore.
A thunderous boom rocks the house. Gunfire erupts from every direction, walls spitting vengeance.
“Aria!” Cyan shouts through the chaos. “Aim at the door, shoot anyone who comes in.” I do as he says, steadying the gun at the door. But no one comes. All the firepower must be focused upstairs. Then silence.
“Aria... Aria.” Tasha’s voice cuts through it.
“We’re down here!” I yell.
Footsteps pound closer. A voice grumbles, “Woman, I told you to wait outside.”
“Fuck off, Collin.” Tasha snaps. “I’m still pissed you assholes kept her kidnapping from me.”
She bursts into the room. Relief crashes over me.
Tears sting as she rushes to me. Once we’re untied, Cyan’s on me in seconds, tearing off his shirt and wrapping my shredded hand.
His arms lock around me–tight, warm, safe, and real.
His lips brush mine, soft, reverent, until we melt together in a kiss of chaotic need.
“Lass, you did it, my love. I’m so proud of you.” He wipes the tears from my cheeks, cradling my face with trembling fingers. “As promised, I’ll give you the life you deserve. You’re worth more than this chaos.” Before I can object.
“We need to leave. Now,” Collin cuts in. Cyan nods. He leans on Collin as we move through the wreckage, bodies, blood, and debris. The house is a tomb.
Halfway through, we meet up with Troy and Thomas.
“We brought in some cops on the payroll,” Troy explains quickly.
“Staged it as a drug bust. Couldn’t go in guns blazing with neighbors watching.
Jake’s jamming cell towers, but the video might still leak.
We need to clear out. Fast.” I glance at Cyan.
He’s leaning hard into Collin’s side; his pants soaked with blood.
“Thanks for the bloody clue,” Troy grins.
“My Hail Mary,” Cyan mutters. “Glad someone found it.”
“Thanks to Col’s observation skills,” Troy tells him.
“Where’s Lucilla?” Thomas demands.
“She went up to deal with Tasha,” I cut in.
“Well, we didn’t find her,” Thomas growls.
“Did you check the tunnels?” Cyan asks.
“Can’t,” Johnny says as he joins us. “Entrance was blown to hell. Gabriel and some of our soldiers rigged it.”
Thomas’s jaw clenches, his eyes going somewhere cold. “Fuck.”
Cyan reaches over to Thomas’s shoulder. “If she’s not here, she escaped. Let’s go; Aria needs a doctor.”
“So do you,” I point at his leg. “You’re the one limping and bleeding.”
Cyan offers a tired nod but doesn’t argue. He looks away, jaw clenched and says nothing as we climb into Jake’s van.