18. Emilia
CHAPTER 18
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do,” Ama said after the waiter left with her credit card to pay our lunch bill.
“Don’t apologize. I missed you too.” I did. As much as having off time with the guys was amazing and fun and the break I needed, I genuinely liked Ama.
I really, really shouldn’t. Getting attached was the worst possible idea and would only lead to more pain down the road, but it was impossible not to. She’d been so sweet from the very first time we’d met. She hadn’t needed to accept me with open arms. She hadn’t needed to let me into her world and her heart, but she had without hesitation. She made this whole mission bearable.
“Alessio is taking this so much harder than I could have ever imagined. He loves you so much, but it’s like he’s finally seeing how much danger he’s put you in.”
Finally. It only took getting shot at twice.
“I’m glad Pedro asked you to stay with him.”
Alessio was alone, and that seemed to be working to our benefit. Without his sister or me around, he was growing increasingly unstable.
His men were sick of him. More and more were whispering, the unease rising.
“Yeah, that was unexpected. I never thought he saw me as anything more than Alessio’s little sister.” She blushed. “He makes me so happy.”
She deserved that. For however long it lasted.
“Thank you both for coming in. Have a wonderful evening.” Our waiter placed the receipt on the table and left.
She quickly signed and put her card away. “You’re going to love this place. I found it last year, and each time I go, I come out with at least three new favorites. I found a dress there I loved so much I contacted the designer and bought it in every color available.”
It hadn’t taken too much convincing for me to agree to check out her favorite boutique. Derek had given me a nod when she’d asked, so I knew the guys were prepared for the itinerary change.
We stood and headed through the airy restaurant to the street. Her driver waited at the curb and opened the back door.
“Last time I was there, they said they’d have a new designer’s full line available. I got a sneak peek of the lookbook, and I’m obsessed. I think you’ll really like it.”
“You do have excellent taste, so I’m sure I’ll get into trouble there. Hopefully, my dad doesn’t notice the bill.”
I smiled at the driver and got in next to her. Derek would follow in our car.
“Just put it on my card. Alessio owes you a shopping spree for the stress he’s put you through.”
I sank into the cool leather with a contented sigh. “That’s not a bad idea.”
We stopped at a red light, and I stared at the ocean. Maybe I’d get a chance to lay out at the beach soon. I hadn’t done nearly enough of that.
“Oh, you missed the turn.” Ama tapped the back of the driver’s seat.
“I know a faster way,” he quietly replied.
She ignored him and turned slightly to face me. “If you want Alessio to apologize properly, we should go to my favorite jewelry store after. They make these incredible pieces, and they’re all one of a kind.”
I grinned, but something about the driver didn’t feel right. It was one of the rotating men who usually drove Ama around, but he seemed off. Tense. I didn’t know where the store was, but we’d been driving for ten minutes, and Ama had said it was only a few blocks from the restaurant.
“Is this the right way?” I asked her.
She glanced out the window. “No. Raf? It’s back on second.”
“I know,” he grumbled.
“We need to turn around,” she said sternly.
He didn’t reply, just continued straight.
Something was wrong. My gut knew.
I took my phone out and texted the group.
Em: The driver isn’t taking us to the boutique. Ama told him to turn around but he won’t
Cruz: D, you on her?
Derek: Yeah, he knows I’m following
Marco: Don’t lose her
Derek: I won’t
Javi: We have a tracker on that car
Em: Any chatter about us?
Marco: Nothing
That made me feel better, but it didn’t explain what was going on. This wasn’t a plan Alessio’s men had discussed, at least not by anyone we were tracking.
“Stop the car,” I demanded. We were getting out and getting into mine.
“I can’t,” he whispered.
Fuck that. I pulled on the handle, but it was locked. I flipped the lock but still couldn’t open the door. Child locks?
“Raf, stop the car now!” Ama ordered.
Em: The child locks are on. He won’t let us out. I told him to stop
I glanced behind me. Derek looked at the dash, where his phone was, then up at me and nodded once.
Marco: Pit maneuver?
Derek: Too many other cars
Javi: And pedestrians
Cruz: Shoot the driver
Marco: Too risky
Javi: At the next red light, get out and go to the car
That didn’t sound like the best idea, but I couldn’t think of alternatives without me using my claws or fangs.
Em: I’ll try to distract him. Come from the driver’s side
Ama had her phone out. She was texting. Raf’s phone rang, but he ignored it.
It took two more blocks for us to hit a red light. Derek jumped out.
“Raf, is there something going on we need to know about?” I leaned forward, hoping he’d turn to look at me.
“No.” His eyes went to his phone.
“Did something happen? Where are you taking us?”
Derek pounded on the window. “Open up!”
“Fuck.” Raf jerked and pulled a gun from his hip holster.
“No!” I screamed as he raised it.
He rolled down the window and shot as he slammed down the accelerator.
Derek fired back, but it hit the passenger seat.
Raf shot back blindly twice as he sped away, going through the red light.
Ama screamed, and I spun to see Derek on the ground. Unmoving.
“Stop!” I cried. “Stop the fucking car!”
I reached forward, trying to grab the wheel. Raf threw his elbow back, hitting me square in the nose. I fell back, holding my face.
Damn it! I should have seen that coming.
“Millie!” Ama grabbed my arm.
I ignored her and grabbed my phone.
Em: Derek was shot! He’s on the street. Raf won’t stop
Cruz: I’m two blocks away. I’ll get him
Marco: Hurry! Don’t let an ambulance take him
Javi: Em, you have to stop the car. Do whatever is necessary
Shit. He was telling me to reveal myself if I had to. I couldn’t do that. Ama would see and blow the whole mission.
But he was right. I had to stop the car.
I reached forward again, not caring about getting blood all over the car. I wrapped my arm around Raf’s neck. He swerved, and I slammed into the door.
He jerked the wheel again, turning down an alley. Another car was waiting, with two men outside.
“Fuck!” I tried to hit the unlock button next to Raf, but he grabbed my wrist and snapped my hand back. Pain flooded through me.
The back doors opened.
“Ama!” I reached for her with my good arm, but she was already being pulled out.
“Millie! Run!” she yelled back, but arms were already wrapping around me.
I grabbed for my phone but was too late. The man lifted me and ran for the car. I fought with all I had, screaming and kicking and throwing my elbows back.
He tossed me into the backseat, next to Ama, and climbed into the driver’s seat. I reached for the handle, but once again, it didn’t open.
Ama was crying until her eyes met mine, and she mouthed, “Do you have a phone?”
I shook my head. She didn’t either.
We lurched back as the car took off.
“Your hand!” She reached toward me, but I tucked it against my stomach.
“He broke it.” It would heal eventually, but right now, it was useless to me.
“Let us go!” she yelled at the barrier between us. This car was set up as a limousine with a full wall. We couldn’t reach them, but at least they couldn’t get to us either.
“Ama, I need you to calm down,” I begged. “We need to pay attention to where we’re going.”
Her wide eyes shot to the windows. “We’re heading inland, toward the industrial area.”
Great, warehouses out here were everywhere. Hundreds of large, nearly identical buildings.
“Watch the streets closely.” She was more familiar with the area, and we’d need to get this information to someone as soon as we could.
She focused as I began to spiral.
He shot Derek. He was on the ground. If he had been able to move at all, he would have been fighting to get to me.
Was he dead?
No.
I couldn’t think that way. He was just injured. He’d be okay.
He had to be.