35. Killian
35
KILLIAN
I was pissed.
More than fucking pissed, I was murderous.
I took aim and shot another fucker who was trying to come at me, the bullet hitting right between his eyes. He fell to the ground and joined the rest of the other bodies. I looked around for my brothers and for Mila.
If something happened to Mila and our unborn child, I would burn this entire church to the ground with everyone in it, myself included.
Maverick caught my attention then. He pointed at something to his left, and I looked over to see the bastard Cline trying to get to Mila. I didn’t think as I ran toward Maverick, shooting any fucker I came in contact with. There was just too much chaos going on right now. And dear old Uncle Fionn had brought his men here, and they weren’t fucking here to play.
We knew it was a risk to invite him to the wedding. The fucking plan had been to get him out here and take him to one of our many warehouses.
We had a feeling Fionn might be the reason Sebastian was so good at escaping our grasp.
And the fucker was just full of surprises. Who knew he would have brought Sebastian right to our front door?
We shot at Sebastian and the group of men he had with him, intercepting the bastard before he could get to Silas and Finley, who were doing their jobs, keeping all the bastards away from Mila, Cara, and Rachel.
I could see Silas flipping a table nearby and placing it in front of the women, trying to protect them from the bullets flying everywhere. It might protect them, but it was only temporary. The only way to ensure Mila’s safety was to kill all the bastards and end this.
Most of the people in the church who didn’t want to get in the middle of the crossfire had left out the back door, while our men stayed behind, along with the men we had placed around the property of the church, in case something like this happened.
They were all coming in now, though it was hard to tell whether we outnumbered the other side. It didn’t fucking help that Fionn had brought men with him, and they were all working with the MC.
The bastard turned to us with clear hatred in his eyes. “You fucking ruined everything.”
He turned away from where Mila was and started aiming his gun at us, shooting. We climbed over the pew to avoid the flying bullets, aiming our guns in his general direction.
I looked around, keeping myself low. Where the fuck was Fionn?
He knew he was dead the moment he turned on us and worked with Sebastian. And now the bastard was nowhere to be found.
“We have to put an end to this,” Maverick said. I agreed, but how? Sebastian and some of his men had also taken cover around the pews, away from us— hidden from us at this point. I looked around the church, finding a small, opened window from above. If I remembered correctly, only part of the roof was slanted. There was room to stand.
“I have an idea,” I said. “Cover me?”
Maverick nodded. I rolled out from the bench, and Maverick leaned over. I caught Finley’s eyes. I indicated to the door outside, and he nodded slightly, looking back at Cara briefly before he signaled for Emilio to take over his position. I waited until I heard Maverick’s shot before running out of the church, Finley close on my heels.
We stayed by the wall outside the building. “What’s the plan?” Finley asked.
I pointed to the roof. “I need to get up. Hoist me up and stay around in case any of Sebastian or your father’s men come around.”
He nodded.
Pushing away from the wall, we walked around the back. The car Mila took to get here was still parked there, close to the church. Perfect. We were about to get to it when a bullet hit the wall close to my head.
We both turned to see Fionn and Giovanni. Fuck. I didn’t fucking have time for this. Any minute I didn’t have access to that window was a minute that Mila was in danger.
I narrowed my eyes at the bastard Giovanni. He had come here with Lorenzo, but the kid was nowhere to be found.
“I want to say this is a surprise, but that would be a lie,” I said.
“What the hell did you expect? You killed my don and put a fucking kid in charge,” he said, his voice tinged with anger.
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re more upset over the fact that we put Lorenzo in charge of the operation than you are over me killing Vincent?”
He didn’t answer me, but the look on his face told me I was right. I laughed.
My gun was aimed at him while Finley had his pointed at Fionn.
“What are you going to do?” I asked. “Shall we play a game and see whose bullet is faster?”
Fionn narrowed his eyes at us, deciding whether or not I would actually play that game. Or whether he should. But I knew him. He wouldn’t play this game unless he was sure he would come out of it alive. Movements from behind them caught my attention, and I knew Finley noticed.
Lorenzo was edging toward us with his gun drawn. It was still undecided whether the kid was on our side or theirs. I would just need to make sure he was on ours.
“So what is the plan? Kill us, then Lorenzo, and then take over the Cadorna Famiglia?”
Lorenzo frowned. If he was surprised over the snake that had been by his side since his father’s death, then the kid still had a lot to learn.
“And I suppose dear old Dad had offered his assistance,” Finley said, catching on. “You really think my father has the manpower to help you, especially without the Chicago Syndicate?”
Giovanni frowned slightly before he schooled his expression. He turned to Fionn.
“What are they talking about?”
“We’re talking about how the power in Las Vegas is quickly dwindling. You work with him, and you will soon find yourself trying to fight off the surrounding powers.”
This was nothing more than a game of strength, and the moment the vipers realized you didn’t have it, they would quickly move in to remove your head. The reason why they left Fionn alone for so long was because of his connection to us. And now he wants to betray us?
“Don’t listen to them,” Fionn said. “Besides, you showed your cards already. You think they're going to want to work with you after this?”
That was fucking true. We didn’t give second chances.
I looked past them and met Lorenzo’s eyes. He was calm when he held his gun up. He took aim. I didn’t stop him when he pulled the trigger, and his aim proved true when it hit Giovanni directly in the back of his head. The fucker went down quickly.
I focused my gun on Fionn as Lorenzo stepped closer and pressed the barrel of his gun on Fionn’s back.
“You got this?” I asked Finley. He was the one who wanted Fionn’s head so badly. “Consider this the syndicate’s gift.”
His lips tilted up in a smirk. “But it’s your wedding. Shouldn’t I be the one to bring the gift?”
“Let me be a part of the audience when you cut off your father’s head,” I said.
Fionn paled as Finley’s smile widened. “You got it.”
I looked at Lorenzo. “We owe you one.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything. I didn’t have time for his turmoil. I turned and made my way to the car, climbing on. I used the added height to hoist myself up onto the roof. I nearly lost my footing on the way. There was a stone bar protruding out from the corner, and I used it to help get my bearings. Once on top, I carefully scaled over the slanted side of the roof, making it to the other side of the church.
The fight was still going on, but there were fewer people now. Most were nothing more than dead bodies on the ground. I looked down from the open window and took in the scene. Silas and Emilio were still working hard to fight off the men from getting close to where the women were hidden. Maverick and Sebastian were exchanging shots from their places inside.
I checked the magazine. I still had some bullets left but not enough. I pulled out another gun I had tucked into the waistband of my pants and took off the safety.
I aimed my gun at Sebastian and his men. My first shot hit the man closest to him. The second hit the man to his right.
I purposely killed off the small group of men surrounding him first.
Sebastian looked around the church, trying to find where the source of the bullets was coming from.
When I got the last of the men, I kept my gun steady, waiting for him to look up and notice me.
It didn’t take him long. He looked up, and our eyes met. His eyes widened in fear, and I reveled in it.
“Silas!”
My heart stopped at the sound of Mila’s voice. The sound of her fear… her heartbreak sent chills down my spine. I turned in time to see my little brother fall to the ground, clutching his side. Mila got out from where she was hiding, heading over to Silas while Emilio yelled at her to get back.
Maverick let out a loud roar, jumping over the pew and trying to reach Silas. I covered him, taking out the men trying to get to him.
Sebastian came out from his hiding place as well, running to her. If he gets to her…
I couldn’t think about that right now. I couldn’t even fucking think about my baby brother’s unmoving body.
No, he wasn’t dead, and I needed to get fucking Sebastian Cline.
I aimed my gun, but the fucker was moving, making it hard for me to hit my mark. And I had a very limited amount of bullets left.
I watched as the two men raced toward the front of the church. It was hard to tell who would get to Mila and Silas first, Maverick or Sebastian.
Mila looked up, her face wet with tears as she clutched Silas’ side, trying to stop the bleeding. She noticed Maverick and Sebastian then.
I watched as fear took over her face before she grabbed Silas’ gun.
Everything happened in slow motion then.
Mila pointed her gun in their general direction and closed her eyes.
She pulled the trigger.
Fuck.
The boom from the shot seemed to ring out louder than the others, and I felt my breath getting caught in my throat, wondering who the hell she hit.
Four seconds.
Four fucking long seconds.
As Maverick and Sebastian stopped, they looked at each other. They didn’t react. They barely moved.
And then the fucker Sebastian fell to his knees, his hand moving to his stomach. Blood seeped out through his shirt, and his eyes focused on Mila, who, at this point, was staring at him with wide eyes.
I aimed my gun at the fucker’s head and fired away.
Blood spurted out from his head, splattering all over the floor of the church.
I shot him a second time.
And a third.
His body slumped over before, finally, he died.
The doors to the church burst open, and Finley walked in, his father in front of him, his hands raised as Lorenzo led a group of men inside.
The shots stopped.
The MC knew they’d lost when Sebastian took his last breath.
Men surrounded the church as the other side laid their weapons down. Maverick ran to Silas, checking his injuries.
A high-pitched sound started in my ears as I took in Silas’ still body, trying hard to keep the darkness from taking over.
He wasn’t dead. He couldn’t be. Because if he were dead…
I took a deep breath, unable to finish that thought.
Maverick looked up at me from the window.
I didn’t wait. I moved away from my spot. My family needed me, and there was nothing that could keep me from them.