33. SIENNA
33
SIENNA
I bring my gun up quickly, firing at both of them, and then yell, “Run!” to Gia before we both sprint back into the maze. I hear angry yells, and then hear them running after us. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I curse.
“We need to find somewhere to hide,” Gia gasps. “If we keep running we’re going to tire ourselves out or get trapped in a dead end.”
“Why the fuck was this fucking thing built like this?”
“Nico said his mother built it, and his father used to use it to taunt and toy with him. He also said his father used to do the same thing with other people until he killed them,” Gia grits out as we take another turn. I try to find something around me to use as a mental marker, but the fucking walls all look the same. “He said that there are only a few ways out of it, but I don’t know how to figure it out.”
“We just need to keep ourselves ahead of these two. Once we lose them, then we can work on getting out,” I tell her as we make another right turn. I realize too late that we’ve made too many of them, and we’re heading back the way we came.
We exit one of the paths just as Rafaele and Lorenzo come from another, all of us nearly running into each other. Gia screams when Lorenzo immediately tries to grab her, and by sheer luck she manages to jump back and barely avoids him. I’m not as lucky, as Rafaele manages to tackle me to the ground, my gun flying from my hand and into the underbrush. “Gia, run!” I scream. She immediately follows my order, even as Lorenzo takes off after her.
“You’re going to pay for that bullet, you worthless cunt,” Rafaele spits as he pins me down, slamming his fist into my face. “When I’m done with you, you’re going to wish I killed you.” The punch to the face momentarily stuns me, and it’s just enough for him to haul me to my feet and shove his gun into my face. “When your cousin gets back, I’m going to kill your worthless sister before I take you back to Italy with me. You are going to give me as many sons as I want before I kill you.”
“Fuck you,” I grit out, staring at him defiantly. “I’ll kill myself before I’ll allow you to touch me.”
The smile he gives me is downright sinister. “You can try, but I won’t allow it. No, I’m going to keep you alive for as long as it pleases me. But if you don’t bear me a son, you’ll be useless. You’ll be given to the men to do with as they please.”
“You’re a sick bastard,” I tell him, desperately trying to find a way out of this without ending up dead. I need to get to Gia. “I’m surprised you want anything to do with me considering how often I’ve been fucking Alessio Caruso.”
His eyes flash with such anger I realize I may have said the wrong thing, until I feel the gun pull ever so slightly away from my forehead. “You’re going to pay for that dearly,” he threatens as his hand comes up and wraps around my throat, squeezing. It’s covered in blood, his grip not being as tight as I know it can be, meaning the bullet I shot him with didn’t damage many of the nerves that connect to his hand.
I bring one hand up to the grip he has on my throat, clawing at him, and use my free hand to find one of the knives I hid away in the back pocket of my pants. When I grip the handle, I wait, because I need to time this perfectly.
“I’m going to wipe any memory of that worthless fucker from your mind. And then, when I’m done with you, I’m going to send your body back to him piece by piece, reminding him what I took away from him.”
“He’ll kill you,” I gasp as he tightens his grip a fraction more, cutting off my air.
“He will die,” Rafaele vows. “And with him out of the way, I’ll take out his worthless father and brothers, and take over everything they think they have. Nothing will be left of their line when I’m done. The world will forget about them, and they will forget about you.”
“Big talk for someone who’s never managed to best them before,” I taunt breathlessly. I’m using precious air to talk, but when he leans forward, I know it’s worth it. Just a little more...
Rafaele leans in , his face so close to mine that I can smell his acrid breath. “You—” He lets out a scream of pain when I bring my knife up and shove it deep into his shoulder, directly over the bullet wound. His hand releases my throat and I stumble back, rushing to grab my gun and then taking off into the maze, trying to clear my vision and drag more air into my lungs. I need to get to Gia. “I’m going to fucking kill you,” he roars, the sound echoing around me.
“Gia!” I scream, my voice hoarse and not as loud as I want it. I run, no direction in mind, and just pray I can find some clue to where they are. Then I hear it, Gia’s scream of terror, and I rush toward the sound, cursing that I can’t see through the thick bushes on either side of me. I know they’re deeper into the maze, and I have to get to them fast.
Gia screams again, but then I hear an answering angry bellow that gives me some hope. Gia’s managed to stay alive, and when I hear running up ahead, I realize with elation that she’s managed to get away. “Gia!” I scream again, trying to find her.
“Sienna,” she cries, a sob in her voice. “Where are you?”
I run toward the sound of her voice, taking another corner and coming up to a dead end. “Fuck!” I yell, realizing that I need to go back.
“Sienna,” Gia cries desperately from the other side. “Where are you?”
“I’m in a dead end over here,” I tell her grimly as I hear footsteps coming. “Shit. Gia. You need to find a place to hide. Is there anywhere you can hide that you can see?”
“No,” she gasps out, desperation making her voice tinge toward panic.
“Then you need to keep running,” I order her as the footsteps get closer. “Keep going until you find a place to hide. I’ll find you.”
“But—”
“Go!” I hiss, hearing the steps getting closer. “You can do this. I’ll find you. Now go!”
Gia takes off. I turn and come face to face with Lorenzo, who is sporting a deep slash to his cheek, and a wild look on his face that matches Rafaele. Shit. He gives me a sinister, Joker-esque smile as he walks towards me. I don’t see a weapon in his hand, but I’m not taking any chances. I bring up my gun and I fire at him, but he dodges and lets out a snarl. “Fucking whore. I’m going to kill you.”
“Fuck you, cousin,” I taunt as I continue to fire. But I’m too tired, my body too unsteady to get a good shot other than to graze his arm, making him even more angry. By the time I’m out of bullets, he’s too close for me to get the other magazine from my pocket and reload.
He launches himself at me and we both roll into the bushes, thorns tearing into my skin as I struggle to get him off me. I bring my knee up and manage to catch him in the balls, making him groan in pain and fall backwards. I follow up with a kick to the gut, sending him back, and then I’m scrambling to my feet, jumping over him to rush for the end of the path and back into the maze.
But, of-fucking-course, who is waiting for me but Rafaele, his face contorted with rage as he advances on me, arm hanging limply at his side, my knife still sticking out of him. He doesn’t say anything to me as he advances toward me. The only way to get around him is through him, and that means letting him get close to me again. Damn it.
My heart pounds as I watch him, even as I hear Lorenzo coming after me from the other end. I’m about to be outnumbered, and I need to make a decision on what to do. Considering the state of Rafaele, I pick him, and launch myself at him with a roar.
I hit him hard, sending us both falling and my gun flying again, and he yells in pain when we hit the ground. I’m moving before he can recover, and smash my fist into his face before I rush to get to my feet, my hand hurting and my body starting to get sluggish with exhaustion. Fatigue is the very last thing I can afford right now. Fuck!
I manage to get off of him, but I throw myself to the ground again when a bullet comes flying past my head. The heat of it sears the air, and my ears ring as I try to get myself back to my feet. But then Lorenzo’s face is over mine, and he’s reaching for me. I thrash my arm out, but it’s weak and nowhere near where I need it to land, my equilibrium off kilter.
Then, just as he’s about to grab me, he’s gone. I shake my head to try and clear it, and my heart stops when I realize he’s on the ground, Gia over him as she fights him. He bucks her off and sends her flying, getting to his feet. No! I shake my head and stagger to my feet. No, he’ll kill her. I can see it on his face.
“I should have fucking killed you all those years ago, you worthless whore,” he gasps as he stalks toward Gia, who is scrambling back and into the bushes. “You are the very reason why there should be no women to taint our bloodline. You’re stupid. You’re worthless. And you whore yourself out at the first opportunity.”
“You’re the one who’s worthless, Lorenzo,” Gia gasps as she stares at him. “You never could do anything without your father’s approval, never having a thought of your own. You thought that by beating me, you were so much better. But all you did was prove you are no better than the rest. You’ll never be a Don, and you know it. You don’t have the brains or the connections. Face it, Lorenzo, you might be a De Luca, but you’re a worthless one.”
I want to scream at her to shut up, to stop taunting him, but I also realize she’s keeping his attention off me, and I’m getting closer. Just a few more feet .
“Shut the fuck up, cunt,” Lorenzo roars, incensed, as his voice echoes around us. He reaches her and goes to grab her, but I launch myself at him. Gia ducks and dodges as I send us falling into the bushes, my arm coming around his neck and squeezing tight, even as he screams from the thorns scraping along his face.
“Gia, run!” I scream at her desperately when I see that she’s trying to get close again.
“No! I’m done running.” Then she launches herself at Lorenzo, and we all fall to the ground. I manage, barely, to keep my grip on his neck, choking him as Gia punches him in the face. Any other time, I would laugh, but right now, I’m too focused on making sure this bastard passes the fuck out.
A shot splits the air and Gia screams, rolling, and I realize that Rafaele has gotten ahold of my gun and reloaded it. Shit. “Run, Gia!” I yell at her. She does, even as Rafaele continues to fire. I don’t hear her scream, so I have to pray that means he hasn’t hit her. But then I realize he’s not chasing her, as Lorenzo finally goes limp.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Lorenzo is heavy, his weight pinning me down. Rafaele comes to stand over me his gun aimed at my head. “This whole fucking thing is turning out to be more trouble than I need to concern myself with. So I’ll settle for killing you and leaving Caruso in shambles.”
I stare down the barrel of the gun, my mind desperately trying to figure out how I can dodge the bullet that’s about to come out of it, but I know that there is nothing I can do. Lorenzo is too heavy, and even if I manage to avoid the first, I won’t avoid the second.
“Alessio will kill you for this. And I’ll see you in hell and make you pay for any of the pain you gave him.”
His laugh is glacial. “You went and fell for a man that will never love you back, whore. Caruso might want to kill me, but he won’t succeed, and even if he does, I’ll know I took you away from him. And if I’m wrong and he loves you back, well, that will be just extra special, won’t it? I’d give you last words, but that’s an idiotic Hollywood concept, and I’m tired of hearing your worthless mouth.”
I brace, accepting my fate.
Suddenly, a vicious snarl fills the air, distracting him, and I could sob with relief as I buck Lorenzo off me with every ounce of strength I have left. From one of the pathways, I watch a black blur come running, amber eyes glowing in the light, and white teeth stained red. Rafaele whirls, firing at Hades, but mercifully the bullet goes wide, and I launch myself at Rafaele before he can try again. I knock him to the ground, staggering as I try to keep myself from falling with him, and Hades is on him.
Hades latches on to the arm with the gun, his massive jaws crunching down. Rafaele’s screams rent the air, and I’ve never heard anything sweeter. He drops the gun and I quickly pick it up, my entire body shaking. Rafaele’s other arm is useless, and no matter how much he twists, he can’t get the dog off. “Hades,” I gasp, “Out!”
Hades doesn’t let go right away. Instead, he savagely jerks on the arm, tossing his head both ways, and I’m sure that I hear bones snap before he finally releases his prize, teeth dripping with blood as he snarls into Rafaele’s face. Rafaele’s terror is satisfying, and that memory will be one that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. “Good boy, Hades,” I rasp. “Good boy.”
The click of a safety behind me has me rounding, just in time to see a now conscious Lorenzo holding a gun of his own up and aiming it at us. Or rather, at Hades. I don’t think, I just squeeze the trigger, and I watch as Lorenzo falls. His gun goes off, but the shot goes so wide that it doesn’t hit us. My cousin stares unseeing at the sky from the bullet that I put in the middle of his forehead. I’ll never know if I aimed for there, or if it was pure luck, but either way, I’m okay with it.
“Sienna!” I turn slowly and see Alessio emerging from the path at a full run, Rori behind him. There’s no sign of Sofia or Nico, so I have to hope that they found Gia. Alessio’s face is thunderous, and he doesn’t stop until he’s reached me, pulling me into him. Rori quickly takes the gun from me before turning to Hades, who is still keeping Rafaele on the ground.
“Move, and I tell him to go for your throat,” Rori threatens the Don.
Any other time, I’d laugh, but instead, I cling to Alessio, my entire body shaking with relief. “I have you, coniglietto ,” Alessio assures me, scooping me up into his arms, one hand coming up into my hair and the other wrapping around me tight when I tangle my legs around him and bury my face in his neck. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” he chants as he holds me.
I’m too in shock to cry, but emotion grips me and I can’t reply. I just hold on to him as tightly as I can, trying to catch my breath. He continues to murmur in my ear, but I don’t pay any attention, too relieved he’s alive, and that I’m alive. God, I’ve never felt so relieved before.
Finally, I manage to pull my face away from his neck, and desperately take his mouth. I need him. Need the connection. Need him to ground me. He kisses me back, seeming to know what I need, until he finally pulls away and murmurs, “You’re safe now, cuore mia. You’re safe. I have you.”
“Gia?” I gasp out.
“Nico found her, she’s safe too. Sofia is with them.” I slump against him in relief. Thank God.
“I hate to break this up,” Rori says drily, “but we need to decide what we’re going to do with this asshole.”
Alessio turns, and his gaze goes cold as he looks down at the still prone Rafaele. Then he looks back at me. “I’m going to set you down now, but we’ll pick this up once I’ve dealt with this.” Then he sets me gently on my feet, and nods at Rori, who calls Hades to her. Hades moves to her, but he still lets out a warning growl. I step back, my entire body buzzing with relief that this is over. I also purposely don’t look at the body lying only feet away from me. I’ll process that later.
Alessio moves to crouch over Rafaele, and even from here I can see the smile on his face is sharp, anticipatory even. “You know, Rafaele, it’s a shame you had to grow up to be such a cunt. Do you remember when we were kids and we used to challenge each other at all kinds of different competitions? Do you remember how I beat you at all of them? And then you vowed you would beat me and take everything from me when we were adults? Yet, here you are, a failure once again; this time, bested by my woman and her friend. Because no matter how hard you try, you will never succeed, and today, your failure finally caught up with you. It’s a shame your father isn’t going to have a body to bury.” He pulls his gun.
“Fuck you, Alessio,” Rafaele grits out. “You’d risk a war over a useless whore?”
“I’d risk everything for the only woman that matters to me in this world,” Alessio replies darkly. “But there won’t be a war. You see, your father knows what a worthless piece of shit you are, and he can die in peace knowing you aren’t destroying the legacy he created. I am going to marry that woman, and I’m going to enjoy you watching me from hell, seeing your failure every day for the rest of eternity.” He reaches out and grips the knife still in his shoulder, twisting it. Rafaele’s face turns ashen, and a scream of agony is pulled from him. Then Alessio stands up, aims his gun, and says, “I told Sienna that any man who touched her would die, and I’d kill them with a smile on my face. You dared to hurt her, to stalk her. To make her fear for her own life.” He fires a bullet, straight into Rafaele’s groin. The sound that Rafaele makes is almost inhuman. Then he fires a shot into his gut. “I’m going to kill you, but it’s going to be slow and painful. For every second that you made her fear, you’re going to feel that pain tenfold. I’ll see you in hell, Parisi.” Then he fires one more bullet into his throat and steps back.
I don’t know how long we all stand there, no one making a sound except Hades’ low growls, and Rafaele’s gurgles and twitches as his eyes slowly start to fade. He fights his own death, trying to use his mangled arm to grip limply at his throat. Finally, just before he’s gone, Alessio smiles that smug, taunting smile as he stares down at Rafaele, letting it be the last image the man sees.
God, he really is insane. But the moment he turns towards us, I don’t care. I step toward him, letting him reach out and scoop me up into his arms. He looks at Rori. “We’ll deal with his body later. Right now, we’re heading back into the house.”
Rori agrees. “I’m going to need a spot to bathe the blood off him and let him calm down a bit,” she tells Alessio conversationally, gesturing towards Hades as she falls into step with him.
“Consider it done,” Alessio promises as we head down a path. “I’ll also arrange for him to have a huge fucking steak every night for the rest of his life.” He glances down at me, and I see the intensity in his eyes as he holds my gaze for a moment before he looks ahead again. He tightens his grip on me, and I know he’s thinking about how close it came to me not being here, had Hades not reached us. I lay my head on his shoulder and nuzzle at him, both to soothe him, as well as myself. The feel of him, the scent of him, is settling me enough that I’m only trembling now instead of shaking.
Rori chuckles. “He won’t argue with that, but I think one for tonight will suffice. I’ve got him on a strict diet so he’s always in top shape.”
They talk more as we make our way out of the maze, and even though I know I should be paying attention, they clearly know where we’re going, so I allow myself to close my eyes.
God, that was close, and I hope it never happens again.