19. Axel
I stopped by my study and popped my earbuds into my ear. I called Aldo, and he answered right away.
“Sir, are you alright?”
“Are the cameras working?” The safe room had access to hidden cameras positioned throughout the house. The visibility was poor, because the cameras were inside statues and paintings, not always at eye level, to make their presence less obvious.
“The regular security cameras have been destroyed. They shot at them as soon as they came in.”
“And the others?” I opened one of the drawers and pulled out a knife before I dropped it into my pocket.
“They remain intact.” His voice was audible because the safe room was soundproof. The obnoxious alarm was no longer blaring. “Most of them are on the second floor, but they’re coming to the third.”
“Can you turn off the alarm?”
“I assumed you wanted it on.”
“It’s not like the police are coming. My guys are on the way. What’s outside?”
“They have a couple armored trucks. They’re prepared for visitors.”
“Can you figure out who’s in charge?”
“No,” Aldo answered. “They all look like soldiers.”
“So whoever this is doesn’t do his own dirty work.”
“Looks like that way.”
“Aldo, I need you to guide me. I’ve got to clear out these assholes and keep them away from Scarlett.”
“I’ll do the best I can,” he said. “They reached the top of the stairs. Half are turning left. Half are turning right.”
“How many?”
“Three on the left. Two on the right.”
I moved to the door and stood against the wall. “I’m in the study.”
“Yes, I can see you. They’re heavily armored, so I don’t think that rifle will do much.”
“Thanks for the tip.” I put down the rifle and pulled out the knife.
“One of them is about to enter the study.”
The knob turned quietly and then he flung the door open, giving a sweep of the room with his rifle. When he spotted me, there was an instant of recognition, but I pushed his barrel to the ceiling and twisted the gun before he could pull the trigger. The knife went straight into his neck, and he stumbled forward.
I caught him, getting blood all over me, but I stopped his body from making a loud thud against the hardwood floor.
“One of them is approaching the bedroom. The other is in the guest bedroom.”
I moved into the hallway and snuck up on him from behind. My arm circled his neck, and I stabbed the knife through the plates of his armor before he could release a scream. I caught his body and steadied it before it fell, but I didn’t have time to hide his corpse because the other one was coming out of the guest room.
There were ten feet between us, so a stealth attack wouldn’t work.
He raised his gun and pointed it at me.
Bullets sprayed the wall as I dodged away. The sound of firing bullets echoed in the hallway, and I knew Scarlett could hear that loud and clear. I got behind a pillar just in time, and the stone took the brunt of the damage, while I slipped into a guest bedroom. Underneath the bed, a rifle was strapped in place. I grabbed it just before the guy walked in with his muzzle pointed at me.
I fired first, spraying him with bullets until he stumbled sideways from the momentum. But he was still alive because he fired his gun at me underneath the bed.
I jumped over the mattress and landed on top of him, knocking the gun away before he could squeeze the trigger again. My fist hit the front of his helmet and shattered it before I shoved the knife right through his neck.
He went still, choking for seconds, and then died.
I moved back into the hallway, seeing the rest of the men coming for me.
I had to get off this floor and lead them away from Scarlett.
They opened fire, and I ducked back into the office, the bullets marking the walls and destroying the paintings and the moldings. I poked my head out and fired back, knowing I had to get a lot of bullets in to defeat the carbon fiber armor they wore from head to toe. They weren’t regular henchmen that I’d encountered, who came in armed with just a gun and a bulletproof vest. These guys were practically SWAT.
Who the fuck wanted me dead?
Back and forth, bullets were exchanged. Some of them started to fall.
“More of them are coming from the bottom floor,” Aldo said.
“How many?”
“At least a dozen.”
“Goddammit.” I stepped out again and sprayed them with bullets, taking them down because they hadn’t expected me to lunge right toward them like that. After they all collapsed, I grabbed a fresh gun because I was out of ammo and headed to the stairs. I took them two at a time as I headed down, and when I reached the railing that stretched along the second floor, I put the strap of the gun around me, climbed over, and then swung myself forward and dropped down to the first floor. I landed behind the twelve guys, and I quickly scrambled to my feet to raise my gun.
They turned at the sound, but the stairs were precarious as they pivoted, so their response wasn’t as fast as it would normally be.
I fired the rifle and knocked half of them down, shells littering the floor around me. The destruction was enough of a distraction for me to run and head down the stairs to the ground level.
“Axel, there are even more by the entryway.”
“Fuck.”
I could head out the back and run, but if I did that, Scarlett would be here alone. They may not realize she was even there. They might chase me instead. But what if they didn’t?
“Axel, someone else is here.”
“Is it my guys?”
“No, someone else. They overrode the security system and closed the gates.”
“Who the fuck is it?”
“He just got out of the car. He’s tall. Wearing all black. No armor.”
Definitely the boss.
“He’s coming inside,” he said. “What are you going to do?”
The men from upstairs were running down to get me, and the boss was about to step inside and finish me off. My guys couldn’t get to me with the gate closed, at least not for a while. But all I cared about was Scarlett. “Fuck.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Aldo, I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything, sir.”
“I’m going to hand myself over. I need you to get Scarlett and bring her into the safe room. Ignore whatever happens to me.”
Aldo was silent.
“Can you do that for me?”
“I’ll call her and guide her down. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that should work.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course, sir. I’m—I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “Tell her I love her, alright?”
He hesitated before he answered. “I will.”
I tapped the button on the earbud and ended the call. Now, all I had to do was give myself up and hope that would be enough of a distraction for Scarlett to get down to the safe room. It was hidden inside the house, impossible to find, and unless they had a bulldozer, they wouldn’t be able to get into it.
I came around the front of the stairs and tossed my gun on the floor as the soldiers approached with their guns pointed in my face. But none of them fired, so at least their orders were to keep me alive.
Alive to torture me, no doubt.
They circled me and yanked my wrists behind my back like I was under arrest and secured the zip tie in place.
I wanted to ask questions, but I knew it wasn’t their place to answer them.
They marched me forward toward the front doors, and just then, they swung inward, and the man Aldo had described stepped through, one hand in his pocket, a carefree energy about him. Instead of looking at me first, he got a lay of the land, looking at my floorplan before he was directly in front of me.
Then he finally looked at me.
Brown eyes in a hard face. In just a look, I could tell he was confident but not arrogant, that he was smart even though he hadn’t spoken a word. Everyone possessed an energy that you could just feel—and I certainly felt his.
I bet he felt mine.
“I apologize for the fanfare. But you know how it goes.” His voice was deep and possessed a hint of a French accent.
My blood started to boil because I knew who he was without knowing his name. “What do you want?”
“Let’s start with an introduction.” He looked away and scanned the room again. “I’m Draven—and I’m here to take the business.” He turned his gaze back on me.
I needed him to focus on me, not the stairs. “I quit a while ago. I have nothing to offer you.”
“Yes, I’m aware. Chosen to settle down in a quiet life with your lovely bride.” He studied my expression, waiting for the rise of my anger. “And she is lovely, by the way. And her cooking…” His hand moved to his chest. “Phenomenal. And that means something coming from a French man.”
I tested the zip ties, but they were locked tight.
His eyes lifted again.
I did what I had to do and decided to charge him.
He anticipated it and sidestepped me.
I lost my balance and hit the floor.
Two of his men lifted me and forced me upright.
But now his back was turned to the rest of the house, and the timing couldn’t have been better because I spotted her making her way down the stairs. I yanked my gaze away and locked eyes with Draven, knowing any shift in my stare could give her away.
“That was elegant,” he said with a slight smirk.
“I told you I’m not in the business anymore, so what the fuck do you want?”
“And I heard you the first time. But I need you for something.”
“What?” I snapped. “Just tell me, and I’ll do it.” I couldn’t care less about it, especially now that Dante wasn’t a part of it. Draven could have the damn thing. The rest of us would be just fine without it.
His smile widened. “I wasn’t expecting such enthusiastic cooperation.”
“I just want you out of my fucking house. So what do you want?”
His hands slid into the pockets of his pants. “Theo. I want him here. Now.”
The blood started to drain from my face. For a moment, I forgot about Scarlett when I realized my brother was the real target.
“From what I understand, you’re very close.”
Fuck.
“Call him. Tell him if he doesn’t show up here in fifteen minutes, you’ll get a bullet to the brain.”
“I’m sure he would bow out if that’s what you want.”
“Really?” he asked, his tone suggesting he’d already explored that route. “Because we already had words, and he made it very clear, in no uncertain terms, that he would skin me alive and hang me from the Duomo for all to see if I stepped foot in his territory.”
Yep, that sounded like Theo.
“I don’t underestimate him. He’s the Skull King for a reason. So the quickest way to end this is for you to make that call. One of you is going to die—him or you. Who do you think he’ll choose?” He cocked his head slightly, a flash of mirth in his eyes, like this was child’s play for him.
“Dante is the one who involved you. You should talk to him?—”
“He’s notified me of his retirement. I have my own production, but what I need is the distribution channels. And from what Dante has told me, Theo can move product like no other motherfucker.”
“Even if you kill us both, the Skull Kings will come after you?—”
“No, they won’t,” he said simply. “Not when I take his place. You’d be surprised how quickly loyalty can switch once they’re on a commission scale rather than a salary. The Skull Kings will make far more than they ever have with me in charge.” He nodded to one of his men.
He reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. He opened the screen, found Theo’s name, and held it up between us.
“Ready?” Draven asked.
I didn’t know what the fuck to do. If I made that call, Theo would come, and he would be shot. And I wasn’t entirely sure if Draven would let me go at that point. He might kill me anyway. Why hadn’t Theo mentioned any of this to me?
The guy tapped the screen, put it on speaker, and then the phone started to ring.
Please don’t pick up…
It rang and rang.
Jesus Christ, don’t pick up the phone.
“Yeah?” Theo barked into the phone.
I closed my eyes in sheer disappointment. I’d never been more annoyed by the sound of his voice. One of the men kicked me, and I jerked as my eyes opened again.
Draven stood there, hands in his pockets, and watched.
“Axel, you there?”
“Yes, I’m here.” I gave an irritated sigh.
“What’s your deal?”
If I didn’t have a wife, I knew I would just take the bullet and spare Theo. But I did have a wife, I did have a family, and if I died…she’d be alone. So I told him the truth. “Theo, you need to listen to me, alright?”
When he turned quiet, I knew he understood shit was real.
“I’m here with Draven.”
Theo’s reaction was an audible breath.
“I’m in zip ties. Not much I can do.”
He didn’t ask questions, didn’t play his hand, and he didn’t ask about Scarlett to protect her.
“I think you know where this is going.”
He remained quiet.
“It’s you or me—and I’m not sure which one you should pick.”
Draven took the phone from his guy. “Come to Alexander’s home in fifteen minutes—or I’ll shoot him in the back of the head. It’s that simple.” He returned the phone to the space between us. “What’s it going to be?”
Theo finally spoke. “He’s got nothing to do with this?—”
“Then come,” Draven said simply. “Or make Scarlett into a young widow who will be my personal chef in Paris…in addition to her other duties.”
Now the stakes had just gotten higher—and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it. I wanted to beg Theo to come, not for me, but for my wife. But I kept my mouth shut. Even with Scarlett in that safe room, she wouldn’t be protected from Draven forever. I didn’t trust her father to do the job either.
Theo spoke again, his voice gruff with anger. “I’ll be right there.”
I needed that answer but also hated it. “Theo?—”
“This is my fault, Axel. You chose to leave, so you shouldn’t have to suffer because of my greed.”
“You know he’s probably going to kill me anyway.”
Theo asked. “Hopefully not. But if he does, at least we go together.”
Draven hit the button and ended the call. “That was touching?—”
An explosion sounded outside, so loud it felt like we were in a war zone and a bomb had just gone off. It was so strong that the floor trembled beneath my feet, and I nearly fell over sideways.
Draven kept his cool as he turned toward the double doors while his men were deployed into action. Gunfire was audible a moment later. My guys must have bombed the gate to get through, and now they were taking down the enemy.
I felt a rush of pride.
Draven pulled out his pistol and pointed it at me, his stare suddenly vicious like he was a butcher with a knife and I was the lamb next up for slaughter. He stepped toward me, the gun steady in his hand, and then he grabbed me by the arm. “You think you’re going anywhere.” He shoved me forward so he could stand behind me, the gun pointed at my back. “When they get in here, you’re going to order them to stand down.”
I turned around to look at him. “After the threat you just made about my wife, I’d rather die. So, shoot me. I don’t care, because they’re going to shoot you, and that’s all that matters.”
He cocked the gun and gave a smirk. “Then maybe I will.”
The sounds grew louder, like the threat was right outside the door and about to push in.
He raised the gun a little higher and steadied it on my face.
My heart raced with the uncertainty. I assumed the men would break through that door and take him out. Scarlett would be fine. But without actually seeing it with my own eyes, I would never know. But that was what I had to believe would happen if I were to die right there.
His fingers tightened over the trigger, and it looked like he was about to squeeze.
But then a bullet struck him from behind, hitting him in the back of his shoulder, and as he squeezed the trigger, the bullet missed me and hit the wall.
He grimaced before he gripped his shoulder then spun around to face his assailant.
It was Scarlett.
She stood there, her gun shaking in her hand, a little blood on her from the wound. “Drop your gun.”
“You fucking cunt.” He raised his gun, and I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to shoot her.
“Baby, run!” I launched myself onto his back, knocking him clear to the floor and making his head slam into the marble. Without hands, I was almost useless, so it was quite the physical feat to roll over and kick the gun just out of his reach.
The doors popped open, and more gunfire ensued.
“Get down!” I yelled.
Scarlett dropped to the floor.
Draven moved for me and grabbed me by the neck, choking me hard before he threw his fist into my face. He hit me so hard, he broke my nose on the first punch. “I will relish this moment as I fuck your wife?—”
I slammed my head into his face, stunning him for just a second.
Scarlett must have had her gun again, because a gun fired nearby, but it missed its target.
Then Draven was thrown off me, a heavy body coming to knock him flat onto his back.
Draven reacted quickly and punched his assailant. He moved fast, fighting like he had experience in the ring. He threw a punch and then a kick, knocking the gun from the other man’s hand before kicking him in the face.
I realized it was Scarlett’s father.
The two men went at it, neither having a weapon, both fighting with their fists and nothing else.
“Scarlett, don’t shoot.” I watched her train her gun on the fight, unsure when to pull the trigger to hit Draven and not her father. “There’s a knife in my pocket. Cut me free.”
She tossed the gun on the floor then dug her hand into my pocket, pulling out the big blade inside of the sheath. She pulled it free then cut my zip ties.
In that short amount of time, both men had landed substantial blows on each other. Dante was bleeding from the mouth, but so was Draven. Dante had to be fifteen years older, but he still held his own pretty well.
“Dad!”
I joined the fight, knocking into Draven’s side and sending him across the floor.
Dante dove for the gun he’d dropped.
Draven stayed down for a second then spun his leg, catching my ankle and forcing me to flip down to the floor. Then he got on top of me, grabbed his dropped gun, and pointed it at me. He forced me up, using my body as a shield with the barrel against my temple.
Dante pointed his gun, but his hand shook.
Scarlett stood behind him, in a mess of tears.
“Let him go,” Dante said in a strong voice.
The fight started to wind down. It was just a pile of bodies with lingering gunfire.
Draven continued to pull me back farther, back toward the staircase and the rest of the house. Then he let me go, the gun pointed at the back of my head. He took one step back then another. And then, once he was blocked by the wall, he took off and moved into the kitchen and the back part of the house.
Dante dropped his gun.
Scarlett ran straight to me and jumped into my arms, not caring about the blood that continued to pour down my face.
“Enough of this shit.” Theo stepped inside with his shotgun and took out the remaining guys who still put up a fight.
It was silent after that, just the sound of Scarlett crying in my arms.
I held her against me, bleeding all over her, and just breathed. Breathed because it was over—and it was over because she’d saved my life. She always had my back, even if it meant risking her own life. I squeezed her and cherished her in a way I never had until that moment.
“Sweetheart, are you alright?” I knew Dante couldn’t stay away. Needed to interfere with our embrace because his daughter meant more to him than our affection.
She left my arms and ran to him next. “Dad!”
I felt cold the moment she was gone.
Dante gripped her hard and cupped the back of her head. His eyes were immediately wet with tears that had been ready to fall for weeks. “Oh, sweetheart.” He closed his eyes as he held her, getting blood in her hair.
“Did you get him?” Theo came to my side, his eyes throbbing with pure malice.
“He ran off.”
Theo motioned for his men to follow.
“There’s a small gate in the back corner,” I said. “He probably shot off the lock and ran for it.”
“We’ll find that motherfucker.” His hand moved to my shoulder, looking at my broken nose. “You alright?”
“I’m fine.” My eyes traveled to Scarlett and Dante, who continued to hold each other in a happy reunion. “She’s fine, so I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry I got you mixed up in this.”
“It’s not your fault.” I continued to look at Dante. “It’s his, remember? He’s the one who looped in that French bastard in the first place.”
“Yeah, but I kinda stirred the pot…a bit. Something I’m known to do.”
“You think he’ll be a problem again?”
“No.” Theo withdrew his arm. “Because I’m going to kill that motherfucker before he heads back to France. If he makes it out of here, he’ll be heading to his private plane at the airport, and there’s only one airport around here, so he won’t be hard to find.”
“Good luck.”
He pointed at his face. “Good luck with that broken nose. You look like shit.”
“Fuck you.”
He grinned before he walked off. “Fuck you too.”
Scarlett and Dante finally broke apart.
“I’m sorry for everything,” Dante said. “Truly, I am.”
“I know. I know you are.”
Dante had a light in his eyes, a joy in his expression that defied all the bloodshed that had just happened. “So…are we okay?” He seemed to hold his breath as he waited for her answer.
She nodded, new tears emerging in her eyes.
Dante’s looked the same. “That makes me…very happy.”
After Scarlett hugged her father again, she turned back to me. “Oh, your nose.”
“It’s fine. I don’t even notice it.”
“Are you alright?”
I pressed a kiss to her temple as I pulled her close. “I’m alright because of you. Nice shot.”
“Told you I knew how to use a gun,” she said with a slight smile.
I smiled back before I looked at Dante. “I’m alright because of you, too. Got here just in time.” I extended my hand to shake his.
He took it. “I’m glad you’re alright, Axel. I’m glad everyone is alright.”
I squeezed her into me again and kissed her temple. “Me too.”
“Your beautiful house is destroyed,” she said sadly.
“Our house,” I said. “And it’s fine. We’ll go on our honeymoon while it’s being fixed.”
“Ooh…” She kept her cheek against my chest. “I guess something good did come out of all of this.”