Chapter 56 – Amanda
After dressing me, Vincenzo looped his arm over my shoulder.
He kept his shirt off, fisting it in his hand.
I was tempted to lean over and press my lips against that beautiful expanse of skin.
But I didn’t want to start something until we were back in our bedroom, so with great effort, I resisted the urge.
Together, we took the stairs to our loft.
“So…you know what I thought when I found out you own this whole fucking building?” I peeped up at him with a smile.
“Not a bad crib?” he teased.
“Not a bad crib, Enzo,” I agreed. “But no, it was something else.”
“I’m glad you like it.” His gaze swept over the stairwell before landing on me.
“This is your castle in the sky, just like you told me,” I murmured, leaning into him.
He gave me a squeeze and opened the door to our hall. Whatever he was going to say was cut off when his phone chimed. He pulled it out as we walked to the door. When he stopped short with a soft curse, I peered up at him.
“What is it?”
He showed me the message. One word: Incoming.
“The night’s not over,” he muttered, voice tight.
“You can go. I’ll just—” I yawned. “Head to bed. Join me when you’re done.”
“Not this time.” He took a deep breath, pulling away from me, and raked a hand over his hair. “This involves you, too. Merda! I thought we had more time.”
I frowned. “What is it?”
Vincenzo studied me, black emotions swirling through his eyes. I stepped forward, wrapping my hands over his bare torso. His skin was hot, and I was done resisting. I bent down to kiss it. Smooth. Salty. Him.
“I can handle it, just tell me.” I gazed up at him.
He pursed his lips. “Your father’s debtor has come to collect.”
Those words were stronger than a spike of caffeine. Adrenaline coursed through my veins. This was it. Right when things were good, the curveball was threatening to mess it up.
Strong hands clamped on my shoulders. The pressure was fierce, radiating determination. “He will not take you away from me.”
“No, he won’t,” I gulped. “But…what happens now?”
“We kill him.”
I nodded. “Good.”
“The plan revolves around you being the bait,” he added in a hoarse tone. “We can try it without you, but—”
“I’ll do it!” I pulled myself straight, keeping my hold anchored on him. “Whatever you need.”
Vincenzo closed his eyes and took a long breath. “I hate involving you.”
“I know.” I gave him a small shake. “But I’m a mobster, too. If you need me, I’m there. Just tell me what to do.”
His voice softened. “You are without a doubt the strongest woman I know.”
The praise warmed me. Calmed me. Made me feel so damn good.
There was no reason to panic. My body was steady, ready to face the next few hours.
As we went inside, I felt lighter than I had in years. I didn’t have to face this fight alone. My champion was there, ready to destroy the threats. We would make it through this, and the future was ours.
***
“We’re right behind you.” Vincenzo ran his hands over my arms.
I nodded. My smile didn’t wobble, but I couldn’t say the same for my knees. I pulled the sweater tight and set my shoulders.
The gun at the small of my back was a backup plan. If everything went well, I wouldn’t have to use it.
Gabriella knocked on the sliding door. “We’re done for the night, signore.”
I moved to pull the partition back, but before I could step into the dim restaurant, hands gripped my waist and tugged me back into the private dining room. Vincenzo crushed his lips to mine. The kiss was fire and passion. Promise and determination.
He stole the air from my lungs.
Fisting his shirt, I kissed him back with everything I had. I slid my tongue against his. The responding moan sent a rush of heat flooding my veins. I drank his strength into my bones. It steadied me, grounding me to the certainty that we would walk away from tonight as the victors.
Vincenzo pulled back with a rough laugh. “Cazzo, fiore, tu sei bravissima.”
I smirked. “E tu.”
With a final squeeze of his fingers, I tore myself away. Each step took me farther away from his solid presence.
But I would do this. I had nothing to fear.
I gave Gabriella a nod, heading through the dimmed restaurant to the kitchen. Her light steps clipped after me.
“What’s going on?” she demanded as the door fell closed.
Turning slightly, I held up my hand. “Don’t follow me.”
She frowned, and I gave her a reassuring smile.
“It’s going to be okay, just…stay here and read that true crime thriller for an hour before you go home. Okay?” I continued to the back door.
“Amanda, wait.” Her hand fell on my shoulder. There was a massive rock on the thing. That engagement ring had to cost six figures. I would have asked her about it. If my mind wasn’t already preoccupied. She looked back toward the closed kitchen door. “Why are the guys hanging back?”
“It’s part of the plan,” I assured her.
“Damn you,” she muttered and ripped her hand away. “Not only do you have a career and a man, but you get to have all the fun.”
I wanted to tell her nothing about this was fun. She might have a sheltered life. Mine might seem exciting by comparison, but her mundane routine was the much safer choice.
“Trust me, live through your books.” I laughed. “It’s better that way.”
Opening the back door, I stepped into the inky grasp of the midnight gloom. A pulse ran through the dark. The current of energy felt dangerous. The kitchen door clanged shut behind me, cutting off the direct connection to safety.
I was on my own.
But I wasn’t alone.
My thumb stroked the sore, raw skin of my new tattoo. It would need to be covered. Later. When this nightmarish hell was over. In the rush to prepare, we’d forgotten to properly perform aftercare.
I hoped to high heaven it didn’t get infected.
Maybe I’ll get a whole sleeve. The inner musing made me smile as I hurried down the alley. Emerging onto the street, I kept my head down, watching from under my brow for any movement.
The tracker on my phone was on, the signal unblocked.
The foreign warlord had the signal, and he was in the vicinity.
The streets might seem quiet and empty, but we had eyes everywhere.
Through the camera lenses, Vincenzo’s techy friends watched over us.
Made Men were stationed at intervals to intercept any threat.
I had one task—lure out the warlord.
I sensed him before I picked up the movement. Ahead, moving toward me. I flicked a glance. Sure enough, the looming mass was there. Maksim wore a thick overcoat, as if it was the middle of winter.
When he was a dozen feet away, I pulled up short with a fake gasp of surprise.
“There she is,” the warlord chuckled. “You thought you could hide from me?”
Time to run.
I bolted. Diving down the nearest alley, my feet pounded against the uneven pavement. Vincenzo would be at the mouth. I just had to reach him, and this would be over.
My heartrate doubled. Arms pumped. Muscles burned.
As I avoided tripping over a piece of trash, it dawned on me. Why the hell didn’t I turn and just shoot the fucker? It would definitely be over then.
I slowed.
“Amanda!”
My name cracked through the dark, like a clap of thunder. He knew. Vincenzo knew exactly what I was thinking.
Spinning around, I reached for the weapon.
“Don’t do it, girl,” the warlord warned.
I faced the threat. “I’m not scared of you.”
“You should be.” That voice was pure poison.
One shot. One bullet to end this.
“Amanda, don’t!” Vincenzo called, the word pure panic.
That note made me pause. My dark knight wasn’t scared of anything. Not the living, not the dead—
Oh, shit.
There was one thing.
“You thought you could trap me.” Maksim laughed, the sound similar to the rattle of chains. “But don’t worry, I’ll be back real soon to take that pretty body.”
This trap was for us. I didn’t know how, but I felt it in my bones.
Damn you, Dad.
But there wasn’t enough time or air to hate him for his manipulation.
“Stop! Police!” a shout boomed from behind.
I wavered. No. No!
Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me down. The voice of strength hissed in my ear, “Stay put.”
“No, I—”
“You need to hide!” Vincenzo’s voice was shredded in panic. “If you get caught, this is all for nothing.”
With a final shove, he rose to face the warlord.
I tried to scramble out, but my husband’s toe nudged me under a dumpster. The ground was sticky, rank with trash. Dropping the gun, I pressed my fingers against the pavement, trying to peer out.
“Enjoy prison, boy.” The warlord’s parting words were a deep chortle. “I’ll make sure to kiss your girl real good for you.”
Footsteps pounded from behind. I was about to wriggle out when something made me pause. It was a note of clarity. Reason sprang to my aid, fueling the line of deduction.
We would have known if there were cops in the area. Hell, the techies could have diverted them while we took care of the warlord. They had to have snuck up on us, trailing the warlord, with their equipment signals muted.
“Vincenzo Messina, you’re under arrest for attempted murder in the first degree,” the cop barked. “Put the gun down, son. It’s only going to make matters worse.”
Vincenzo’s voice was hollow. “I’m not armed.”
They couldn’t do that. They didn’t have evidence!
Unless….
“My fucking father,” I hissed under my breath.
I froze, making myself as small as possible as the cops read Vincenzo his rights.
Reaching into the place that had been hollow for so long, I channeled strength to my soul, knowing it flowed directly to my other half.
I focused on that place. I embraced the intangible connection.
Through the silent bond, I reassured Vincenzo.
He asked me to hide.
I was still here for him. He had to know I wouldn’t let this be the final chapter of our story. I was here. I wouldn’t abandon him. Not this time. I was stronger and smarter this time. They wouldn’t stand a chance the moment I unleashed my fury.
I just had to make it through this night. And so did my Enzo.
One step ahead of us, my father’s sleezy ways crept up to double cross us.
He would have known Boston meant business with the Morelli Mob.
This was his way of covering his hide while helping a crooked friend.
And the cops didn’t find me, because neither Dad nor the warlord wanted them to. I was still the prize.
Archy Loring screwed his daughter over without a thought.
He won’t get away with it.
I blinked away tears as the cops hauled Vincenzo out of the alley.
A few remained behind. Using wide lights, they swept the area.
I crouched into myself. This was the part where my panic would surge and leave me a shivering mess.
Not tonight. Never again. I ground my molars and took deep, silent breaths.
The beams of light glanced over my hiding spot again. And again—and again.
It took what felt like an age for the cops to leave.
Even longer for me to feel safe enough to inch from under the dumpster.
I rose, running my hands over my body. I debated creeping to the mouth of the alley, but I didn’t trust the streets.
Not after the stealthy attack. Someone would be out there, waiting to snatch me.
They won’t get me. It was time to play the cards this twist dealt.
There was nothing for it but to climb onto the dumpster. To jump for a fire escape. Under the veil of darkness, I made it to the roof, where the sliver of moon greeted me. Together, we enabled my escape, leaping from building to building.