16. Massimo
Chapter 16
Massimo
A drian is dragging Elio along with us as we run around the outside of the building. Elio is not making it easy to move fast. He is purposefully stumbling and falling, and Adrian is being forced to half-carry the asshole.
We've already attracted the attention of the guards, and now we are on the move to try and keep them away from the hideout. We have to create enough of a distraction to give Vera time to get in and out safely.
I hate the fact that she went in there alone. I hate the fact that I am not at her side to protect her and help her find our son.
But I can't think about that now.
I have to buy her time.
I don't know how long we are going to last though.
It is two of us against all of them .
Adrian ducks behind a container, his Glock gripped tightly in his hands.
I duck down next to him with Elio trapped between us.
"How many did you count?" I ask, trying to catch my breath.
"Seventeen."
I nod. "Fuck."
"Yeah. We are a little outnumbered."
Elio laughs and Adrian grabs him by the hair and slams his face against the side of the container. The sound of it echoes around us.
Elio chokes out a cry of pain.
Gunshots erupt, slamming into the ground just next to the container and we crouch lower.
Adrian leans around the side of the container and fires two shots into the dark night.
Someone screams and there is a thud as a body hits the floor.
"Sixteen," Adrian says with a smirk.
"Behind the container." Someone shouts, and we hear them running for us.
"Go, go, go," Adrian shouts, pushing me in the opposite direction. I stumble, but I'm up and running quickly, pulling my brother with me.
Neither of us has a chance to worry about Elio and he remains ducked behind the container. They will probably shoot him anyway. Right now, I am more worried about keeping my brother alive than the dead weight of that traitor .
We rush to the side of the warehouse and down an alleyway and I hear Elio shouting over the shower of bullets.
"It's me, don't fucking shoot. It's Elio."
My throat tightens. That fucker even knows the guards here? Was he really that deep in with the Vitale clan that he even knew their guards? Has he been here - at this place that many times? That means he has met my son. That asshole has met my son. He has looked me in the eyes - knowing who my son is.
My breathing is catching in my throat and my heart is racing so fast I feel dizzy from it. I can't seem to see straight through the blind rage that is flooding me.
"Hey, focus," Adrian shouts into my face. "You've been shot."
I look down at myself. Blood is oozing from a hole in my thigh. I don't even know when I got shot. I don't know when it happened.
"It must have been the reason you stumbled at the container. They must have got you then." He says, moving closer to me.
Adrian pulls his tie off and wraps it tightly around my leg. "You need to stay still to keep the bleeding down."
"I can't. I need to get my son." I reply.
"Massimo. For fuck's sake - you've been shot."
"And - look - you stopped the bleeding." I gesture over the tie, knotted so tightly that I don't think that blood is flowing into my leg at all anymore.
"Fucking Elio. I can't believe this is happening." Adrian says in frustration.
"I should have killed him." I snarl.
"We will." Adrian promises, "Let's just get out of here alive first."
"Let's get out alive and find my son." I sigh.
We both look towards the dead end.
Adrian pulls his mouth tight, not knowing what to say.
There isn't anywhere else for us to run.
We've run straight into a dead end and now we are surrounded.
From outside the open alleyway, we hear Elio. "You may as well just give up; they've got you completely surrounded."
I shake my head, pushing myself to my feet. Adrian stands up next to me. Neither of us will go down easily. We will both fight to the death.
"I'll give up if you come in here and personally escort me out," I shout back to Elio's voice.
"Fuck you." Elio snarls.
"Traitor." Adrian snaps back at him.
"Oh please, you were so fucking blind the entire fucking time. Both of you. Too stupid to see what's right under your nose."
I clench my fists. "You were family, Elio. Family doesn't do that to family. Of course, we didn't suspect you. You were like a brother to us."
"Yeah, well, you got something I wanted. So, I had to find a way to get it for myself." He says bitterly .
"No matter the cost?" I shout.
"You already have it all. What would you know about the cost? You have the power, the money, the respect. I was supposed to be the heir. I'm older than you." Elio's voice is rich with emotion.
"You could never have run our family. Someone as weak as you - you would never be able to do it." I taunt him, pushing him closer to the edge of losing control. A man who isn't in control will make mistakes. I need him to start making more mistakes.
"I'll fucking kill you myself." He screams in anger.
But from somewhere further back chaos erupts as tires screech and vehicles arrive in force. "Back up," Adrian says with relief.
"Thank fuck." I breathe, finally letting out the heavy breath I didn't realize I was holding.
The gunfire that explodes is pure mayhem.
They don't stand a chance.
"I have to get to Vera," I shout over the noise.
"Go," Adrian shouts back. "I'm going to help them."
I run from the alleyway, staying low to keep from being hit by a stray bullet.
My men are in a full-on war against the Vitale forces. Elio is nowhere to be seen. Fuck. He must have gone for Vera. He must be trying to get my son to use him as leverage. It's the only chance he has at this point of not dying.
I run faster, pushing forward, desperation searing through me. I can't even feel the pain of my gunshot wound. My adrenalin is too high .
My family is in danger. I hope Adrian tied that thing tight enough to last through whatever is about to happen.
I round a corner, nearing the hideout and a guard rushes towards me and slams into me. We both skid across the ground and he swings his arm down to try and plunge a knife into my chest. I grab his wrist and wrestle him off me, kicking and rolling him onto his back. He is trying to push the knife up towards me, but I lean my weight against his arms, turning the knife against his throat. I lean down harder, and the blade slips into his skin, and a small pool of blood forms. He is still fighting, desperate, wanting to live, but it's too late for him. The knife moves slowly deeper, piercing his breathing pipe, blood flooding into it. I stare into his eyes and listen to the terrifying sounds of a man drowning in his own blood.
His body goes limp, and I roll off him, fighting nausea.
Then I'm back on my feet and running again.
I slip into the hide-out building, not sure what I expect to find inside and not sure what or who is waiting for me.
Elio could be hiding anywhere.
I don't want him to get the better of me.
I creep slowly forward, my gun lifted, aimed high, ready for anything.