Chapter 28 - Jude
Anticipation vibrates through me as we wait for the signal from Tennant and the others on the distraction teams. There’s fear mixed in with everything else that's rolling through me, as Tennant wasn’t the only one who volunteered to set the explosives.
Nario and Nicolo did too. I couldn’t argue with them, because aside from Antonio, they’re the best at getting into where they’re not supposed to be.
But fuck. That means there’s four of my lovers out there at the mercy of our enemies, and it makes me antsy.
The worst part about this is that I can’t have an earpiece because they don’t work for me. So I’m relying on either Dima or Killian to let me know what’s happening.
“Ten’s out,” Dima signs.
A mixture of relief and worry rushes through me as I wait for news on my Boys next. Several minutes seem to pass, though it has to only be a minute or so before Dima says, “Nario’s out.”
Blowing out a breath, I check my gun, just for something to do.
Coming on this mission was a fight. Hollis tried to bring in Jayden, but the PT agreed with me.
As long as I’m careful, and don’t take stupid risks, there’s no reason I can’t do what everyone else needs me to.
I proved during the rescue of Cristian and Allesandro that I can be effective.
Yes, being deaf is a disadvantage, but it’s why I have two guards, one of whom is a trip, so it’s a bullshit argument.
I don’t blame the hacker for worrying, though.
Roman, Lio, and Antonio have all been kidnapped. Even if Antonio’s was orchestrated by Leandro, it doesn’t mean he’s in any less danger. I’m still unsure what to do about Leandro’s interference. I understand his way of thinking, but fuck, not at the expense of someone I love.
“Nicolo’s out,” Dima tells me.
Taking a slow breath, some of my tension leaks out, though that was only the first part of the plan.
Marcus stands in the middle of the gathered men, and Dima interprets for me.
“Our insider has confirmed Cecily Dowing is on scene. She is to be captured. Unless your life is on the line, you are to subdue only. About half of the forces are under orders to retreat, but don’t let your guard down simply because we’ve been assured they won’t go after us.
Whoever is not on our side won’t hesitate to take us out.
“The building isn’t large, so there’s nowhere for them to hide, but the same can be said for us. Be vigilant, we don’t want them to kill Antonio before we can get to him.”
I refuse to believe in an outcome that doesn’t involve my Boy in my arms safe and sound.
We’re on the move as soon as Marcus has finished speaking, getting in our vehicles to cross the short distance between the abandoned building we’ve been waiting in, and the one where part of my heart is being held.
“Showtime,” Dima says, his smile a little unhinged as he counts down.
The various explosions make the vehicle we’re in rock a little, but other than that, there wasn’t much to the blasts that would affect us this far out. The goal was distraction, not destruction, unfortunately.
As soon as the blasts go off, the driver heads toward them, and I do another check of my gear, just to give me peace of mind.
“Gonna get a little bumpy,” Dima warns, before he takes his own gun out.
Our car stops and we jump out, right into the firing zone.
Killian covers Dima and I, as the three of us head right into the fray. Adrenaline fills me as I take out one, and then another, asshole. The gun in my hand feels so natural, though I don’t get to come out as often as Tennant or any of the others.
A hand lands on my arm and gently pushes me out of the way. I trust Killian to guard me and steer me right, saving us both from getting shot when my hearing fails me. In such a chaotic situation, I have to trust those around me in order to stay alive.
The three of us make it into the small warehouse, where we’re fired upon immediately. Hissing at the sting of a bullet as it grazes my arm, I empty my gun into the resistance in front of us.
Trusting my guards to cover me, I drop back a little to switch magazines. Feeling a presence beside me, I turn with my gun ready, only to roll my eyes when I meet Tennant’s. There’s a wide grin on his face, and his icy eyes are alight with excitement.
“Having fun?” I ask rhetorically.
“More than I have in a while,” he confesses. The speed in which he switches between signing and then pulling his gun to shoot at the enemy is impressive. It’s clear he’s in his element here.
We move forward into the warehouse. Men fan out to flush out the enemy, and search all of the rooms for our targets.
There are limited spaces for them to hide, which is good for us, as we can get this over with quickly.
But it also means the stakes on rescuing Antonio are higher, because I find it hard to believe Cecily is going to hand him over, or give up that easily.
There’s only one door left to go through. Tennant and I take up positions on either side of it, while Killian stands in front of the door, with his gun drawn, as Dima and another one of our men prepare to breach. Dima gives a silent countdown.
My heart beats loudly in my ears as the door is thrown open. Killian fires on the asshole who tries to come out, his gun held poorly. He drops dead in the doorway, and I fight not to roll my eyes.
Tennant and I step over the body as we enter the room. The space is small, so it’s not hard to spot Cecily. She grins widely as she holds a gun to my Boy’s head.
“Well, well, look who decided to show up.” Her words are hard to hear due to the commotion still occurring behind us, while the echo in the room adds to the difficulty for me.
Not only that, most of my focus is on Antonio.
His face is cut up and bleeding, and there’s nothing I want more than to shoot the bitch.
“You’re surrounded and outgunned, Cecily,” Tennant says.
She laughs. “Do you think that matters? I can still kill him before you can kill me.”
“Oh? You think we’re going to kill you?” Ten taunts. “No. I won’t be making the same mistake I did with Tom.” He steps further into the room. “Go ahead, shoot him. See if I care.”
If I didn’t trust Ten with my life, I’d fucking shoot him.
Cecily’s grin widens, but whatever taunt she throws at Tennant is lost to me. Ten takes another step forward.
“Shooting an unarmed man doesn’t make you special,” Tennant tells her. “It only proves you have no balls, and can’t actually fight your way out of the corner you’ve put yourself in.”
“Balls,” she repeats. “You and Roman do love using that word. Did you like our present? Did you think that was lacking ‘balls’, as you so eloquently put it?”
The mention of Roman has me settling my finger on the trigger as I take aim.
“When I’m done with you…” Tennant doesn’t finish his sentence.
Cecily whips her head up and looks off to the side as the ground shakes once more, as if another explosion has gone off. I’m just as confused as her, as there should have only been three for the distraction…
Tennant uses her inattention as an opportunity to launch himself at her. The gunshot that goes off is loud in the echoing room, and my ears ring as I sprint across the distance to my Boy.
Cupping Antonio’s bloody face in my hands, I look into pain-filled eyes and give him a small smile. “I got you, Bello.”
He lets out a sob that shakes his entire body, and I assess his injuries, getting more enraged by the second as I find the new cuts on his face that are certainly going to scar, along with the word “WHORE” etched into his forehead.
My poor Bel Fiore.
“Catch, Jude,” Tennant says.
Looking up, I find him sitting on a subdued Cecily. He tosses me something, and I manage to snag the keys out of midair.
The chains release easily, and I don’t hesitate to scoop Antonio into my arms as soon as he’s on his feet. “I’m fine,” he tries to argue, but still, he relaxes into me, as if needing the touch as badly as I do.
The body in the doorway is moved off to the side, so Tennant and I can walk our charges out.
“Are you hurt?” I look Ten over.
“No. Her shot hit the ceiling. Whoever taught you how to handle a gun needs to be shot,” Tennant tells Cecily, shaking his head.
She tries to jerk out of his grip, but somehow, he has managed to get zip ties around her wrists and forearms, so he gives her a little shake and then leads her to the front of the warehouse.
I'm surprised when Nicolo and Nario meet us at the entrance. They were supposed to set their explosives and then make sure that anyone not on our side didn't escape. I watch them carefully.
“You two were responsible for the last explosion.” It's not a question.
I glance at Tennant, and decide he was probably the mastermind behind that decision. Since he seemed to have a plan while confronting Cecily.
Sighing, I shake my head at them. “We'll talk about taking risks without letting me know your plans—later.”
They exchange a glance, and look at me with guilt in their hazel eyes. “Sorry, Sir.”
When they glance at Antonio in my arms, I shake my head again, encouraging them not to say anything.
“Let's get home. Antonio needs to see Doc.”
“Need some help, Agnellino?” Tennant passes Cecily off to Joel and frowns at me.
“I got him.” Yes, there's a little extra pressure and pain in my leg with Antonio’s added weight, but it's nothing I can't handle; I've lifted him before. Not only that, I find I can't put him down right now. Not even into Ten’s safe arms.
Now that he's back with me, solid and warm, maybe not whole but safe enough, my fear and anger is turning into relief. There's a need to get him home and examine every perfect inch of him.
The twins help me into the car, so I don't have to let Antonio go. He seems to bury himself into me as they slide into the vehicle and get hands on him, as if he doesn't want them to see what was done to him.
Kissing the top of his hair, uncaring that it's matted with blood, I say, “I love you, Bel Fiore. You're safe now. We're going to take care of you.”
He starts to shake and I hold him a little bit tighter.
The fear and adrenaline might be receding, but my need for blood is rampant. Hopefully, Ten gets what we need from Cecily quickly, because I have to make that bitch pay for touching what's mine.
Kissing Antonio again, I breathe for what feels like the first time since losing him. My brat has cemented a place in my heart, and I'll burn the world down for him. Starting with fucking Cecily…