23. The Take Down
TWENTY-THREE
The Take Down
ALLEGRA
M y fingers glide across the screen of my phone over Zano’s message. I pray for his safety and those of the other men who are walking into battle.
“Sis, are you okay?” Victorio asks.
I lift my gaze and manage a small smile. “I’m fine.”
“You’re worried,” he sums up. I shrug. “And you’re feeling guilty.”
“Is it that apparent?”
“No, but I feel guilty, and I know you. You’re thinking that if we never got involved with the Skulls, then Zano wouldn’t be in this position. I’ve been kicking my ass for weeks, no, months, about falling into Drake’s trap. If anyone should feel responsible, it’s me,” Victorio says with a heavy sigh, sitting down on the couch and dropping his head in his hands.
“Knock it off! Both of you!” Olivia interjects as she walks into the room, followed by Anna and Elena. “ Nostra Casa would be in this regardless. The Triad is attacking all four of the families. If anything, because of the situation that happened with Victorio, we know more than we would have. What seemed like a play for information against Raffaele uncovered a bigger problem.”
“Olivia’s right. It was fate that brought you to us. Reno and the other capos were completely in the dark about the Triad. I think you and Victorio are a blessing,” Anna says, sitting next to me and sliding an arm around my shoulder.
“They don’t trust me,” Victorio says.
“What?” Elena asks, sitting next to him.
“I asked Leo to let me go with him. He wouldn’t let me. Leo said I’m not ready, but the truth is that they don’t trust me,” Victorio says sadly.
“That’s not true,” Lucia says as she walks in to join us. “Leo has spoken highly of your progress; however, he is correct. You’re not ready for the magnitude of the battle that’s coming tonight. You’ve been training for a short time. You’re not prepared, and my husband doesn’t send anyone into a fight if there’s any doubt in his mind. You’re young, and you’re impetuous. You make decisions based on your heart and not your head.” Lucia comes closer and ruffles Victorio’s hair. “You’re entrusted to take care of the women in Nostra Casa , along with several of Reno’s most loyal soldiers. If you weren’t worthy of his trust, you wouldn’t be here.”
“I am ready,” Victorio begins.
“Lucia’s right. You’re not,” I say, backing Lucia up.
“Ally—”
“A soldier doesn’t ask to be trusted. They follow orders and do as they’re asked. When you can follow orders without bitching or whining about it, then your maturity shows, and that means you can regulate your emotions. This situation is too close to us. Nostra Casa , especially Reno, is protecting us,” I tell him.
“Trust works both ways,” Anna adds. “You need to trust Reno to make the decisions for the entire family. He doesn’t do this lightly. Every soldier is a brother, a father, a son to this family. Reno doesn’t want to bury any more of his men. Do you understand?”
He sighs deeply, nodding. “I just want to help.”
“You can do that by going up and seeing what the guys need in the security room or walking the perimeter. It may seem trivial to you, but it means something to them,” Anna replies.
Victorio gets up and begins to walk away, turning to look over his shoulder. “Thanks.”
I wait for Victorio’s footsteps to fade before turning to the other. “Thanks for that.”
“It’s just the truth, Ally,” Olivia says.
“We need coffee,” Elena says. “I’ll make some.”
“It’s going to be a long night,” Lucia adds.
I wonder where Zano is. Is he being safe? I need him to come home to me. I can’t imagine my life without him. God wouldn’t be so cruel as to take him from me. We’ve only just found one another.
* * *
Zano
S pike didn’t come alone, but he’s also stupid enough to leave his mark on the trail that leads to the meeting spot at the abandoned train station outside town. Several of our men hid their cars and are on foot, making their way to the meeting spot. In our earpieces, we hear them take down one Skull member after another.
Demon asked to be let out at the fenced area at the entrance. He immediately climbed up onto an old box car and is hopping from car to car while we wait for his instructions.
“Spike has three other guys with him.” Demon’s voice rings in my earpiece. “One is inside the shed with a rifle aiming out toward the street. I’ll take care of him. Hang tight.”
Elio and I hang back, eyes peeled. Several of our men check in to let us know the coast is clear from their position. Others have found positions to cover us when we make our move.
The minutes seem like hours, but still there’s no word from Demon. It’s worrisome and I’m ready to initiate contact, but Elio stops me.
“Give him time. We don’t want to distract him,” Elio says. I nod, when something catches my attention. It’s Demon. He’s waving us forward.
“There he is,” I whisper, and Elio turns his head to see Demon. Demon takes his position on the roof of the decrepit shed. I’m surprised it doesn’t collapse with his weight on it.
“Ready, bro?” Elio asks.
“Fuck yeah!” Never more ready, I think to myself. I want Spike dead, but Reno has other ideas, so I’ll have to settle for bound and gagged.
Elio and I get out of our vehicle and slink around the old box cars, peering through the gaps between them until all that’s standing between us and Spike and his two Skull gang members is a group of old barrels, piled one atop the other.
Elio draws his gun; I do the same. We decided that I would be the one to lure Spike into the open. I’m wearing Tony’s hoodie and draw the hood over my head. I need to rely on Demon and Elio to eliminate the threat of the other two men standing with Spike.
I step out from behind the barrels, and instantly, guns are aimed at my chest. The darkness hides my face.
“Tony, we’re so glad you’re alive,” Spike says in a disgustingly sweet tone, wearing the same smile as an alligator getting ready to rip its prey apart. I stay perfectly still. “Aren’t you going to say hello?” he asks, throwing out a hand.
I remain where I am, gripping the gun in my pocket, wanting nothing more than to pull it out and shoot the fucker in the heart.
In my ear, I hear Elio. “On three.” I keep my eyes peeled on Spike. “One. Two.” There’s a slight pause, then, “Three.”
Demon and Elio take their shots simultaneously. Each one hits the Skull members on either side of Spike, one in the arm, the other in the leg, both dropping their guns and hitting the ground. Spike pulls out his gun at the same time as I do, and we aim directly at each other.
“I wouldn’t do that, Spike,” I warn. “I guarantee I’m a better shot than you, and if by some miracle you hit me, my men will make you suffer until you beg for death.” That’s when Elio shows himself, and Demon whistles above him. Spike looks around and sees he’s in a precarious position.
“I’m going to die, anyway. Might as well go out in a blaze of glory,” Spike says, then gives an evil laugh. This fucker doesn’t care if he lives or dies. That makes the worst kind of prisoner because he’ll bullshit you with any kind of information to throw you off track or won’t talk at all. Killing him now or later won’t matter. Except, Reno wants him alive.
Spike has other ideas, and when I see him turn his gun on himself, I know I need to do something fast. I take aim at his knee and take the shot. Spike buckles to the ground, loosening his grip on the gun, giving Demon just enough time to leap from the roof onto the floor beside Spike to kick it away.
I make my way over to Spike, who is writhing with pain. He sees me, and I draw back the hood of my jacket.
“You!” Spike spits out. He chuckles. “Might as well kill me. I won’t talk. I’m dead either way. Either you kill me, or Drake will.”
“You’re right. You’re a dead man. But you get to decide how you want to die. I made a promise to bring you in alive. That’s what I’m going to do,” I tell him. By this time, our other soldiers have gathered. “These three we take with us,” I tell them.
“Spike comes with us,” Elio adds.
Our men take the other two Skull members, leaving Elio to tie Spike’s hands behind his back and shove him into the back seat. I sit next to him while Demon rides up front next to Elio.
“Was her pussy worth the trouble?” Spike asks.
I ignore his provocation.
“I don’t get it. You and Drake, both being led by your dicks. Allegra must have a golden pussy. She’s nice to look at, and she has spirit. I’ve spent hours thinking of ways to break her. Drake promised me I could have a go at her. I was going to make sure she paid for all the times she looked at me with disgust.”
I can’t help myself; I elbow him in the face, relishing the crunch of his nose. Blood pours from his nostrils. You’d think that would be enough to shut him up, but Spike keeps at it. I’m tempted to choke the life out of him. But that’s just what he wants.
Spike wants me to end him before he meets up with Reno. Not a fucking chance. If my capo wants him alive, that’s what’s going to happen.
* * *
B ack in the warehouse, we have Spike locked away in the back cage with his two other buddies. The doc has looked at them and said they’re in good enough shape to question. We leave them locked away and wait.
Waiting is the worst!
Elio and I check our phones constantly for updates. Until we know that Reno and the others are safe and on their way back, I can’t contact Allegra. Reno’s orders.
Demon is waiting on the platform of the warehouse, looking out into the vastness of the night, arms crossed over his chest.
“It was barely a fight,” he says with a chuckle.
“More of a takedown,” I kid along with him.
“An easy one at that,” Demon adds.
We both turn when we hear Elio’s footsteps. “They’re on their way back. You can make your call,” he tells me.