Chapter 57
Maximo
The GPS leads me to a city dump. Slowing, I navigate through the towering mounds of trash until I arrive at the pinned location and cut the engine. What a place to die.
Who knows how many bodies are already rotting away amid the debris, feasted on by feral animals, rats, and crows.
Stupid as it may be, I’ve done as Lazaro demanded and come alone. This is between me and him now. I’m not going to risk fucking this up. Or giving him any reason to hurt Elena.
Stepping out of the car, gravel crunches beneath my boots. As soon as I shut the door, six men appear from the rubbish, guns drawn and pointed at my chest. I raise my hands in surrender.
Lazaro appears, sauntering around a pile of trash. “Search him.”
One of his soldiers does as he’s ordered, removing my weapons one by one. With a sharp nod, he says, “That’s all, sir.”
Lazaro flashes a smile. “Get on your knees, Pontrelli.”
I remain standing. “Where’s Elena? Where’s my wife?”
“You didn’t really think I was going to bring her and let her go free, did you?” He cocks his head. “Oh you did! What a na?ve boy you are. You’re brave enough to trade your life for hers, but too stupid to realize I’d lie about the terms.” His tone hardens. “I said, get on your knees.”
When I don’t move, one of his men kicks me in the stomach. The air whooshes from my lungs. Another soldier jabs the back of my knees, and I fold, coming down hard. I catch myself, coughing as I rest on my hands and knees. Jaw clenched against the pain.
“That’s much better.” Lazaro stalks in front of me. “There’s where you belong, Pontrelli. You’re no don. You were a placeholder—nothing more. Fucking pathetic.”
He kicks my ribs, and I grunt.
I may be pathetic to him, but since Elena’s not here that means she’s at the other location.
Baron will be there soon to rescue her along with Julianna.
Her safety is all that matters. I’ll gladly sacrifice my life for her to live another day.
That’s not weakness, it’s unconditional, irrefutable love.
Drawing myself up to a seated position, I stare at Lazaro. He grins. He’s got me right where he wants me.
His meaty fist slams into the side of my face. Blood fills my mouth. I spit it out, then straighten, ready for whatever’s next. He punches me again, and again. My lip splits open. My cheekbone pulses. My ears ring. But I don’t give a fuck.
Lazaro thinks he’s won. He’s wrong. I’m the only one who wins today. I’ve fulfilled my greatest need—my wife’s safe. My sister will be too. Now I can die a happy man.
Though I’d give the world for just one more moment with Elena. To gaze into those soft grey eyes, to kiss her warm lips, to hear her say my name one last time. My memory summons up visions of her, and I know she’ll be the last thought on my mind before I die.
If only we had more time. I could have spent decades proving my love to her every single day. She may have even confessed that she loves me too.
I double over, coughing up blood as I take another hit to the solar plexus. But as I continue to focus on her, I barely register the agony. My body can die, but my soul will live on for her.
Forever.
The hits stop coming. Are they done beating me? Is it time to end this with a bullet between my eyes?
There’s a shout. Then gunfire peppers the ground around me. Letting my eyelids close, I accept the inevitable. This will soon be over. They’ll leave my body for the crows.
Elena’s gorgeous face flashes behind my eyelids. Her laughter fills my ears.
“What the fuck are you doing? Praying for a miracle?” A man’s Russian accent jolts me back to reality. With it comes a tsunami of pain. I grit my teeth, and still a groan rumbles in my throat.
Glancing up, a familiar face swims into view.
“Dimitri?”
“Yeah. Did they damage your brain?” He taps the side of his gun to his skull. “Get up, Max.”
Fighting down the pain and nausea, I climb to my feet. My face pulses like it’s been through a pulverizer, and at least three of my ribs are cracked. Apart from that, I’m good—I’m alive.
How the fuck am I alive?
Shaking my head to clear it, I take in Dimitri and a dozen of his Bratva soldiers. Lazaro’s men lie bleeding out amid the garbage. The man himself waits on his knees, two guns aimed at his head. My, my how the tables have turned.
I glance at Dimitri. “How did you find me?”
“Baron told us. Something about hacking your phone. I don’t know.” He shrugs. “Anyway, that one’s all yours.” He hands me his gun.
Lazaro sneers as I approach him.
“How did you get away earlier? I had you secured and guarded in that room.”
“Guarded by four men who I already bought. Everyone has a price, Pontrelli. Loyalty isn’t free anymore.” He spits at my feet. “You shouldn’t have put me on ice. Never leave a job unfinished. That’s a rookie mistake.”
“Lesson learned.” I raise the gun to his head and pull the trigger. Thank fuck that’s finally done.
Retrieving my own weapons, I hand Dimitri’s back to him. “Thanks. Now I need to get to Elena.”
“Yeah, I know. Let’s go.” He heads off through towering mounds of junk. “This way.”
“I’ll take my car—”
“Too slow.”
I don’t know what he means, so I follow after him. The rest of his men fall into line behind me. A few minutes later, we emerge into another large clearing at the dump. A helicopter rests in the center. Now I see what Dimitri means by the car being too slow.
The Russian climbs inside and fires it up.
Fuck, yes. Elena, I’m coming for you. Hold on, bellissima.