Chapter 24 #2
Nicky’s gun goes off again, and we all jump in place. Bar stools screech as everyone’s now scrambling to safety. Jacky pulls me to the floor before I can see what happened.
Bruno! I pop back up.
There’s a bullet hole sizzling a few feet above Bruno’s head. “Next one is between your eyes. Sit. And as for the rest of you.” He swings his aim across the bar. “If I see one cell phone, kiss your life goodbye. Don’t believe me? ”
He unloads three shots right into the bar. I hear Shelly – one of the bartenders – scream for her life.
“Hah, didn’t see you there, miss.” Nicky cackles, then takes a businessman by the collar and tosses him toward one of his goons.
“Nicky, think about what you’re doing!” Bruno steps out with his gun still pointed. “I know this isn’t sanctioned by the bosses. Don’t act rash.”
Three more goons swarm in around Nicky, and I glimpse the two Star Dust bouncers tied up in the front room by the metal detector. This guy brought a freakin’ army into Trino’s safe house. What in actual hell?
“Nicky, back up, now . Before it’s too late,” Bruno warns, straightening his arm. “No one wants a war.”
My fingers are trembling, heart pulsing like bongo drums, but something’s changed since I was captured by Sonny in my own house. I can think now in these situations. The man I’m staring at is undoubtedly Nicky Frits. And he’s obviously here for me.
“You, you, and you , corner. Now .” He points to the businessmen, ignoring Bruno.
“Fitch, confiscate their phones and gag ’em.
Same for that whole side of the bar.” He uses his gun to direct traffic.
“Jacko, guard the private dance room. No one leaves. Better yet, shove all the dancers in there too. Make it an orgy. Fuck it .”
He slowly struts forward, kicking stools and causing hiding patrons to yelp. “ Out , pussy. To the corner. Count your lucky fucking stars I don’t hurl a grenade over there, huh? Move .”
“ Stay back,” I whisper, pushing Jacky behind the corner of the bar. “Shh. He’s probably here for me .”
Trino, where are you? I pray in my head. Then again, even if Trino showed up now, how could he fight against an army? If he got the jump on the two bouncers, that means he has others who detained our patrolling enforcers too.
“Get the fuck up!” Nicky kicks another stool. “C’mon, pretty stripper, off you go, into the back.”
Diamond and Naomi scurry toward the goon holding the door open for them.
The clack of Nicky’s loafers looms like a ticking clock.
He’s making his way closer to me.
Closer .
“That’s enough! ” Bruno steps forward, and five guns cock on him.
Nicky laughs at the sight. “Is this really where you want to die, Bruno? Like a James Bond villain with your big hot woman at your side? I guess there are worse ways.”
“Turn around, Frits. Take a walk. We can work this out another way, another time,” Bruno warns. But it’s obvious in this man’s eyes that he wants nothing to do with reason. He wants revenge.
Bang!
I gasp when Bruno shouts and thumps onto the floor. Charlie and Gil’s hands do nothing to stop me from popping upright. “Bruno!”
Chestnut is over him, but I can’t see the extent of the damage. A portion of the bar is blocking him.
“Ah, there she is.” Nicky smiles for the first time, extending his arms outward, smoking gun in one hand. “The woman of the hour.”
My friends stand up protectively, but I hold out my arms to stop them from stepping in front. This is my father’s mess. My mess. No one should have to suffer because of us.
“You were a tricky thing to find, Cipriana . It’s like everyone associated with Sonny’s disappearance vanished without a trace. Poof! ”
He shoots the ceiling again, and I twitch, plugging my ringing ears.
“Everyone but you .” He stalks over to me.
“Call an ambulance!” I cry to the civilians, only to receive a swift smack to the face.
My vision swims with stars as I catch myself on the bar.
“No, no, no. That’s not how this is going to go.” Nicky pulls me by the hair, pointing the gun at my friends in case they dare to interfere. He lifts my chin ever so gently. I’m terrified of what follows. “Look at me, Cipriana.”
My eyes struggle to focus. I’m terrified to breathe, to think.
His voice rattles like Stanzo’s – it’s like killing enough people makes these men resemble death itself.
“Bruno,” I yelp, and he laughs.
“The less you resist, the greater his chances of surviving.” He runs a finger down my face. “So soft. I see why he wanted you.”
I shiver, my face pulsing from the slap.
“Do you know how I found you?” Nicky pulls me closer, then raises his eyebrows, motioning to everyone behind me.
“That’s right. Them . I knew if I bugged them, they’d be the best way to get some information.
” He laughs again. “But in my wildest dreams… I never thought they’d lead me straight to you. ”
“Capri,” Jacky cries behind me. “ I’m sorry.”
“Quiet!” Nicky points the gun at her, and she cowers to the floor, wrapping both arms around my leg while shivering like a leaf.
He focuses back on me. “You have one way out of this,” his rattling voice lowers.
“One fucking way. Think carefully before you answer, Cipriana. Where the fuck is Sonny Lucrazi? ”
“I’ve—I’ve never heard of him,” I answer fast, shaking my head.
Whack!
Nicky backhands me so hard I nearly fall to the floor, but then he catches my arm and whips me right back up. Tears of pain trickle down my face. I’m clenching my teeth to stop from yelping.
“Where’s Rocco, Cipriana? Where’s your father?” Nicky is so close I can taste his cappuccino-ridden breath. I feel like a hungry wolf is sniffing out his next meal.
“I don’t know. He left me,” I cry, lying as best I can.
“A damn shame.” He points the silver gun to my head, then points it at Gil. “Well, until I get something, I’m going to have to execute your friends, one-by-one .”
“No!” I shake my head, grabbing onto Nicky’s collar pleadingly. “No. Leave them out of this. I swear, I was just taken into hiding. I swear .”
“By Stanzo’s son, huh? You expect me to believe he swept you away, and you didn’t kick and scream, asking a thousand questions?”
“ Boss. Sirens reported a few blocks away,” one of his goons interrupts us, wiggling his cell phone.
Nicky smiles angrily at me. “Fate intervenes.”
I sigh with relief.
Nicky laughs at that. “This would’ve been the easy way, Cipriana. A quick bullet to the brain is heaven compared to what happens now.” He snaps his fingers and turns sharply away. “Wrap them up. They come with us.”
Arms bigger and rougher than Trino’s whip me forward and push my head down like I’m being arrested by the police. I hear my friends kicking and pleading behind me.
All I can do is cry as I try my hardest to glimpse Bruno bleeding on the floor on the way out. Chestnut is cradled over him, and there’s blood all over her.
No, I whimper. He was always so nice to me.
No…