Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Giana
Aflash of red hair flew across the parking lot the moment I climbed out of the van. Sophia hurtled toward me, nearly knocking me over as her arms clamped around me, tugging me roughly into her. I nearly tripped over my own feet, but she held me up despite our height difference.
“I was so worried,” she said into my shoulder as I returned the hug.
“It still doesn’t feel real.” I closed my eyes and soaked in the moment.
I never imagined I’d be telling Sophia about any of this a few months ago, but she now knew everything. My guys did too, and for the first time in years, I no longer felt the suffocating pressure of isolation on my chest.
“So he’s really gone?” She pulled back, her hands gripping my shoulders so she could survey me.
“Yes.” I grinned, elation bubbling up inside me, filling me with the warm glow of hope. It had been so long since I truly dreamt or hoped that the sensation was almost foreign.
“And you trust this Lorenzo?” That same hope glimmered in her sapphire eyes, like she wanted to believe it, but it almost seemed impossible after everything we’ve been through.
“For now, but we’ll monitor him.” She wrapped me up in another hug, her chest careening with mine so hard it nearly stole the air from my lungs.
Merrick grumbled something under his breath about my arm, but I ignored him. Sophia was relieved, ecstatic, and excited—her energy was exactly what I needed. Otherwise, I might just convince myself that none of this was real.
The guys had been pissed to find out I’d been grazed by a bullet and hadn’t told them. They made sure I was seen by the paramedics even though it was barely a scratch.
She let me go as the rest of the guys, and Francine joined us. “Did everyone make it out?” Francine asked as she wrapped her arm around her grandson, Charlie.
I grimaced and looked at the guys. We’d gone with the few Demons who were hurt—Nicholas was one of them—but there were a few who were declared dead when they reached the hospital, including Josh.
Kellan slid his arms around my waist, drawing me back against his hard chest like he’d read my mind.
“Three didn’t make it. Josh, Jared, and Steven,” Merrick said, his eyes darting to his feet.
It was the hardest on him since he was the one who built the Devil’s Demons with nothing but a dream for the future.
He felt responsible for them, but we’d taken every precaution we could’ve.
Everyone was aware of what was at stake, and one or more of us could have been among those who did not leave that mansion tonight.
I took his hand, and he squeezed mine back, each of us lending the other our comfort and sharing the pain. None of them would ever be forgotten, and we’d make sure their families were taken care of for the rest of their lives.
“We’ll give them the funeral they deserve.
” Francine clasped his shoulder, dragging his gaze up from the ground.
“Every single one of them knew exactly what they were fighting for tonight. They knew there was a chance that they wouldn’t make it out.
Don’t let this tragedy rest on your shoulders; it’s the entire town’s weight to bear. ”
The few other townspeople who’d circled us, including Mr. Richards, Liam, Sebastian, and Zane, all voiced their agreement.
“We’ll help their families,” Liam said, flashing me a smile that had Kellan stiffening behind me.
I nodded and placed a hand over Kellan’s, reassuring him. Three guys were more than enough for me. Thank you very much.
Despite the late hour, it seemed like everyone was up. Some congregated in small groups around the parking lot, while others peered out their windows, the warm glow of lamps illuminating the space from within.
The whole crowd was talking excitedly, the hope shining around the motel as though we’d all just summoned the sun. The group continued to talk among themselves, but I tuned them out, my mind still trying to catch up with everything that had happened tonight.
Spade pushed his way to my other side and took the hand that was on Kellan’s.
The two exchanged a look over my head, but I blocked them out, just soaking in the moment.
The four of us were here together. This was both the beginning and the end.
There was still work to do, but the threat was gone.
We wouldn’t have the Barones shaking down business owners and stalking through the night like predators, taking whatever they wanted, no matter the cost.
Sophia glanced at Sebastian and Zane, who were talking among themselves, but as their attention drew back to her, she looked the other way, pretending she hadn’t been scanning them for any injuries.
I raised my eyebrows, and a guilty grimace pulled at her lips, the blush heating her cheeks was obvious even in the dim streetlight.
Her eyes narrowed to slits, but I just smiled.
I wouldn’t get in the middle of their business, but it was obvious to everyone at this point that there was some sort of attraction lingering there.
But it was none of my concern.
“Thank you for everything,” Liam said, his voice drawing all our attention to him. “I still can’t even believe it’s over, that we won’t have the Barones knocking on our door every week, taking more and more from our tills.”
Mr. Richardson nodded. “They would’ve broken my legs if it weren’t for the two of you.” He gestured at Spade and me. “I have no idea what else they would’ve done if you hadn’t gotten the town to safety when you did.”
“I’m just glad it’s over.” I smiled, brushing off their praise before my cheeks heated.
Francine lifted a brow, giving me a knowing grin. Of course, she knew exactly what I was trying to do. This lady knew absolutely everything.
“And Lorenzo?” Francine asked, some of her amusement fading.
“He’s cleaning things up on his end,” I said.
“He said he’ll be in contact with us before the end of the week.
And since there are still a few more days left on the reservations, it’s probably best for everyone to stay put until he gives us the all clear.
We don’t want anyone still loyal to Angelo to take vengeance into their own hands before Lorenzo can take care of them. ”
“What does ‘take care of them’ mean?” Charlie asked, glancing up at his grandmother. “Are they sick?”
Francine’s face blanched, and she pressed her hands to his ears as we all laughed. The levity helped to break some of the tension that had radiated through the group at the reminder that not all of Angelo’s men had been caught tonight, and we were entrusting the rest to Lorenzo.
“I’ll let the other business owners know to spread the word at the other motels,” Francine said before patting her grandson’s head. “And you should get to bed.”
“Do I have to? I wanted to show the old man more of my cars,” he pleaded, but Francine wouldn’t be swayed.
Merrick grumbled something under his breath, but he knelt before Charlie and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I promise I’ll be back tomorrow, and I’ll bring a real vintage car for you to see.”
Charlie beamed and wrapped him in a tight hug before rushing over to Francine. “Okay, I’m ready for bed.”
We all laughed as she waved goodbye and led Charlie back to their room. The group broke apart as everyone returned to their friends, ready to spread the good news.
“We’ll pack up our stuff and be out of your hair tomorrow,” Zane said, glancing at Sophia like he thought she might argue. She just crossed her arms over her chest, her attention glued to her feet.
“I know you’ll miss our delightful presence, but I have to get the club back up and running now that the threat is over.” Sebastian clapped Kellan on the shoulder, and he reluctantly let go of me.
“We’re just going to discuss a few things with them, if you’re okay here?” Kellan glanced at the other guys whose indecision warred in their gazes. I could tell that they didn’t want to leave me, but they had something to deliberate that couldn’t wait.
“I’m fine.” I twined my arm through Sophia’s, who gave them a smug smile. “It’ll give Sophia and me a moment to catch up.”
Spade gave my hand one last squeeze, and a kiss on the cheek before he let go. “We’ll be right over there in case you need anything.”
Merrick and Kellan both kissed my cheek before joining the club’s owner and the head of his security.
“What was all that?” Sophia whispered.
I leaned my head on her shoulder and sucked in a deep breath before giving her the breakdown of everything that had happened tonight.
“I know it took a lot for them not to follow me after what happened at the penthouse. And then with the chopper, they thought the worst. So I don’t blame them for being cautious.
I don’t know how I’d be acting if one of them was the one offering themselves up as bait after I almost lost them in a fire. ”
I shuddered at the thought. I was getting better, but I still had some demons to work through, and now that Angelo was gone, I hopefully wouldn’t be encountering any more buildings burning down anytime soon.
Sophia wrapped an arm around my shoulders, and we stood like that for a moment before she broke the silence, her voice small and hesitant. “I guess I can go back to New York now.”
I stood up straight, needing to read her expression. She chewed at her bottom lip and refused to meet my eyes. “You know you don’t have to leave now, right? I’d love it if you stayed with us for as long as you want. Just because it’s safe for you to go doesn’t mean that you have to.”
Her shoulders slumped slightly, and she gave me a grateful smile. “Thank you. I just don’t want to be by myself right now. And New York…”
I clasped her arm as she trailed off. “You can take as much time as you need. There’s no rule that says you have to just jump back to your normal life right away. We should find out from Lorenzo if he has any contacts for therapists who understand—”
“Fighting off the mafia?” Her lips trembled like she was holding in her laugh.
“Yeah.” We both giggled because it would’ve seemed ridiculous to her only a few months ago, before she knew the truth about the life I led.
“I think I’d like that, but only if you speak to them too.”
I chewed on the corner of my lip and nodded. It wouldn’t hurt for all of us to talk to them and get some closure, some tools to help us move on with our lives without the burden of the past.
We strode over to the van both took a seat on the open back. Silence stretched between us as we watched the townspeople celebrate, the dark cloud that had hung over them for so long finally having dissipated.
I had to become a villain to defeat the Barones, but that didn’t mean I had to remain one.
I wanted that normal life with my guys, and running a gang didn’t have any place in that.
Would we still be on guard for anyone trying to take advantage of this town?
Of course. But we wouldn’t become the people we hated.