44. Romeo
Chapter 44
Romeo
W ith my back pressed against the brick wall of a warehouse just outside of Brooklyn and my M4 Carbine secure in my arms, I watch our men get into position on the far side of the lot. They bunker down behind cars and containers, ready to catch anyone coming out of the building that we might miss. There won’t be a single person spared. Anyone who thought they could take what’s mine and get away with it will die.
Unbeknownst to me, Daniele had hooked Callum up with a link to the live stream and for a hefty—but well worth it—fee, he traced the IP address. I’ve never been so grateful for another person's incompetence. I’d have considered sparing the guy's life if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m typically not that way inclined.
Somewhere behind me, Aurora is waiting, and based on the last time I saw her, she’s seriously injured. I just hope we aren’t too late .
The place is surrounded. Massimo is on the south side of the building with Leonardo on the east and Daniele on the west. IEDs have been attached to blast open the walls and our plan is to attack as one. Once we’re in, we shoot, taking out every man who crosses our path. The element of surprise is on our side, given there doesn’t appear to be any security.
My earpiece crackles and Massimo’s adrenaline-laced tone checks in. “Marino in position.”
Leo is next. “Rossi in position.”
Then Daniele. “Ferro in position.”
“Bianchi in position.” The line crackles before I hold down the button again. “Stay safe, have each other’s backs and kill every last one of these fuckers.” My tone is sure and authoritative when I command, “Breach.”
Explosions go off at all four points and we move quickly through the smoking hole. Almost immediately, the sound of gunfire and shouting permeates the air. I tap the shoulder of the guy in front of me and signal for him to go left as I go right. We each lead the way for five men.
My gun is primed and ready to use. Adrenaline rushes through me when I breach a room a few feet into the building. A brute of a man stands frozen in the middle of it, his eyes wide and a burrito hanging from his mouth. He reaches for his weapon, but he’s not quick enough and I fire off a shot, hitting him between the eyes.
There will be no questions asked today .
Not a single soul in this building—aside from Aurora’s—deserves to be saved.
We move down the corridor, coming up empty in the next two rooms we hit. This morning, there was a determination fluttering in my chest, but with every room we clear, it gets heavier, a weight settling onto it as it morphs into disappointment. If we don’t find her alive, I’m not sure what I’ll do.
My fingers tighten around my gun as we move to a set of double doors at the end of the corridor. We line up, three men on each side with our backs to the wall. When everyone’s in position, I look through the small glass window. It’s an open space, bodies lie on the floor and some of Massimo’s men move around pulling out boxes and furniture.
Pushing into the room, we move further into the space, keeping our wits about us. Just because it looks like everyone’s down doesn’t mean they are.
Angelo walks in from the other side of the room. Two of his team drag in an older guy with a bullet wound in his leg. Dragging a chair into the middle of the room, he indicates for the man to be seated. I move forward, popping a brow in question as I reach them.
“We found him trying to hide in one of the rooms. He tried to run.”
Now that I’m closer, I can see this guy isn’t Russian. My radio chirps and Massimo’s voice fills my ears, cutting off my question to Angelo on why he’s still alive.
“Rome, I’ve got her.” He pauses, and I can hear the hesitation. “She’s… she’s not looking good.”
I’m moving in the direction I know he would have entered, even as I question, “Where are you?”
My scalp prickles and a tightness in my chest twists and tugs with every step I take. It feels like an eternity before I pull open the door and see Massimo standing at the end of a long corridor. A metal door to his left is propped open, and as I get closer, he moves to stand on the threshold and my eyes bounce around the features of his face. He opens his mouth to speak before he thinks better of it.
“Is she still alive?” I rasp.
His body is blocking the room so I can’t see in. He rests a hand on my shoulder, but I shrug it away, my teeth grinding. Massimo meets my gaze, his words soft and his tone sounding more mature than I’ve ever heard him. “She’s alive, Rome. But she’s in really bad shape.” I push him out of the way, clutching onto the doorframe to keep myself upright when my eyes land on her.
All that matters is that she’s alive .
She’s propped on the edge of the cot, with one of Massimo’s men crouched down in front of her, wrapping a cloth around her thigh. On the floor is a blood-soaked sheet. Her right cheek is puffy, and her eye swollen shut. Dried blood covers her face and the T-shirt she left wearing five days ago. Every inch of exposed skin has evidence of her ordeal covering it. I want to burn the world to the ground just so I try to give her some semblance of justice.
There’s a pounding in my ears and I dig my fingers into the metal of the doorjamb to keep myself from doing something I shouldn’t. I clear my throat and Massimo’s guy stands, his eyes widening a fraction when they meet mine. He moves to the side and Aurora lifts her chin. It trembles and even from the other side of the room, I can see the tears welling in her eyes.
She’s unsteady when she stands and I push the strap around my body, dropping my gun onto my back as I move further into the room. She limps toward me, landing against my chest with a soft thud that causes her to hiss. I wrap my arms around her, careful not to squeeze her as tightly as I want to before I gently place kisses on the top of her head. My hand soothes up and down her back and I breathe in the scent of her hair, the smell reminding me of the torment she’s been through.
All because of me .
Pushing out of my arms, she steps back, a look of surprise on her beautiful but bruised face. She rolls her eyes before shaking her head. Muttering to herself, she asks, “What am I doing?” Her brows furrow and a harsh look takes over her features. “You left me here to die .”
I reach for her, but she takes another step back.
“ Mia amato , I’m here now.”
The corners of her mouth lift in a disbelieving smile and she scoffs. “And that makes it all better?”
Ignoring her question, I hold my arm out and take a step forward. “Let’s get you to Doc and then we can talk.”
She shifts her weight off her injured leg. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”
I’m vaguely aware of Massimo’s man hurrying from the room when I say, “Just let me get you taken care of. I’ll spend the rest of my life righting my wrong, Aurora. I promise you that.” My tone is low and cajoling when I continue, “Come, I’ll help you. You won’t make it more than a few steps on your own, bellissima .”
I hold out my hand, and she stares at it for the longest time before reluctantly slipping her own into it. Some of the tension leaves my body at that small sign of acquiescence. I know the fight to keep her isn’t over yet, but whatever she wants, I’ll give it to her.
Even if it means losing her?