Chapter 12
LEO
I grab Carina and toss her over my body so she lands on the floor at the side of the bed.
Darting up, gunshots ring through the air. I roll over and fall on top of Carina.
I take in her scared face, but when I blink, Haven stares up at me.
“L-Leo,” she sobs, terror etched into her features.
Realizing I’ve destroyed her, unspeakable pain tears through me.
“Leo!” she screams, the sound howling around me as I’m pulled away from her.
“What the fuck have you done?” Diego’s voice booms through the air, the force of his rage plunging me into darkness.
I shoot upright, my hand slapping over the tattoo covering my heart.
Gesù Cristo!
I suck in a desperate breath, and it takes a moment for the remnants of the nightmare to fade before I become aware of my surroundings.
I glance around the hotel room, then slump back down on the bed.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I rub my thumb over the tattoo of stars I got on the one-year anniversary of losing the Messinas.
Knowing I won’t be able to fall asleep again, I get out of bed and walk to the small kitchen to prepare a cup of espresso for myself.
While I sip on the beverage, my thoughts dwell on Haven.
Over the past few days, Edoardo has reported that Haven doesn’t leave her bedroom. She doesn’t even come out when Sofia is there. However, I’ve been assured she’s eating.
I’m tempted to call her, but I don’t. After all I’ve done, the least I can do is to give Haven some space.
My phone rings, pulling me out of my thoughts. I place the cup in the sink before walking back to the bedroom. Seeing Massimo’s name, I answer, “What’s up?”
“Sebastiano was just spotted coming out of a club. Get dressed. We’re leaving in five minutes. Dante is tracking the fucker.”
“Okay.”
I end the call and hurry to put on a suit. I grab my gun from beneath the pillow and check the magazine before tucking it into the back of my pants.
When I open the door of my hotel room, Massimo comes walking from the direction of his room.
“Dante just informed me that Sabastiano is on foot. He must have a place somewhere near the club.”
“Let’s go,” I mutter.
We hurry to the elevators, and the ride down to the first floor feels way too fucking long.
By the time we climb into the SUV, five minutes have passed. I pull my phone out and send Dante a message.
Leo: Do you still have eyes on Sabastiano?
It takes a few seconds before my man replies.
Dante: No. He went into a house. I’m out front. The rest of the guys just pulled up. Sending you the address.
Leo: Wait for me.
Our phones beep as the address comes through.
I read it to Massimo so he doesn’t take his eyes off the road.
“Got it,” my right-hand man mutters.
When we near the house, I see Dante waving at us. Massimo pulls over to the side of the road and switches off the engine.
We climb out and glance at my other three men, who are keeping an eye on the house. The six of us should be more than enough to take down one man.
“He’s still inside,” Dante informs us. “How do you want to handle this, boss?”
“Kick in the door,” I order.
“Mattia, you and Ricco go around the back,” Dante orders before we make our way to the front door while he screws a silencer onto his gun.
He points at the lock and fires a shot at it, then throws his shoulder into the door, which shudders open.
With our weapons drawn, we follow Dante into the house that smells like stale takeout and dirty socks.
Sabastiano runs from the living room on our left into the kitchen on our right, and Dante takes a shot at the fucker.
We rush into the kitchen, in time to see Sabastiano yank open the back door. Mattia’s fist slams into the fucker’s face, dropping him on his ass.
Dante hauls Sabastiano onto one of the kitchen chairs while my men spread out through the house to make sure there are no surprises. While Dante shuts the back door, I stop in front of Sebastiano and stare down at him.
With his head lowered and blood dripping on his jean-clad thigh, he mutters, “Sorry, boss.”
My voice is mercilessly cold as I demand, “Why did you do it?”
He shakes his head, then glances up, giving me a pleading look. “Money.”
“How much did your loyalty cost?” Massimo growls.
“I’m sorry,” Sabastino sobs.
“Klodian died because of you,” I growl while I tuck my gun into my pants behind my back. “Everything went to shit because of you!” I lunge at the fucker, grabbing his shirt with my left hand while my other fist connects with his jaw.
I shove Sebastiano onto the dirty floor and throw one punch after another.
Haven’s terrified face flashes through my mind, and it makes me lose control.
Blinded by rage, Massimo has to pull me away from Sebastiano’s lifeless body, his blood dripping from my hands.
“Enough,” Massimo says, his arm locked around my chest that’s rising and falling with heavy breaths.
My emotions are all over the place, and in a moment of weakness, my conscience gets the better of me.
Cazzo.
I rip away from Massimo, and with a roar, I throw the small kitchen table over onto its side.
Massimo’s arms lock around me, and he uses all his strength to drag me toward the front door. “Take care of this shit,” he shouts an order at my men before he shoves me out of the house.
He grips hold of my arm and leads me toward the SUV, where he fucking hovers over me as I climb into the passenger seat.
While Massimo slides in behind the steering wheel and drives away from the crime scene, I’m bombarded with the grief and guilt I’ve carried around for seventeen years, and the unforgiving remorse I feel for what I’ve done to Haven.
My voice is hoarse as I groan, “I’m a fucked-up mess.”
“I can see that,” Massimo mutters. “I’m taking you to the island. You need to get your shit together. Some time there will do you a world of good.”
Knowing Massimo is right, I nod while I wipe the blood on my busted knuckles off on my pants.
My breaths begin to slow down, and slowly my emotions settle until all that I feel is the relentless guilt.
“She’ll never forgive me,” I whisper. “I’ve tied myself to a woman who’s going to hate me until we die.”
“Yep.”
I shoot a glare at Massimo, his expression tight with anger. “I’ve been at your side through thick and thin, but you’ve never fucked up like this.”
His words hang heavy between us during the ride to the hotel.
“You’re covered in blood. Wait in the SUV,” Massimo orders.
I sit in total silence while he goes into the hotel to get our luggage and check us out.
The only way to soothe my conscience is by letting Haven go, but every time I think about it, everything in me revolts at the thought.
Why the fuck can’t I let her go?
The trunk opens, and Massimo loads our luggage before he slams it shut.
He climbs in behind the steering wheel, and without saying a word, he starts the engine and steers the SUV out of the parking area.
My thoughts return to Haven.
I’ve dated plenty of women, but none of them has ever caught my attention the way she has.
The instant I start to inspect my feelings, I shut that shit down hard.
There’s nothing to inspect.
An intense emotion grips my heart, and I shut my eyes.
Cazzo.
No, I don’t care about her. I only took her because she’s beautiful.
I fight an internal battle all the way to the airfield, and when Massimo stops the SUV near the private jet, I shove the door open and head straight for the steps.
The second I board my plane, I go to the bathroom and shut the door behind me. I scrub my hands clean and splash water over my face before I go back into the cabin to take a seat.
Massimo is already sitting and doesn’t even look at me, but after we’ve taken off, he gets up and retrieves a first aid kit from a compartment.
He comes to take the seat beside me, and without a word, he opens the kit and begins to clean the cuts on my knuckles.
I stare at the man who’s dragged me through hell, and knowing I owe him an apology, I say, “I’m sorry for all the shit.”
He nods. “We’ll talk once we’re on the island.” When he’s done cleaning the cuts, he gets up to put the first aid kit away, then says, “Stop overthinking everything and get some rest, Leo.”
I nod and recline my seat into a bed. Closing my eyes, I try to focus on the hum of the engines in an attempt to silence my thoughts.
A moment later, a blanket is draped over me, and I open my eyes. Massimo hands me a pillow, and while I tuck it under my head, he stares at me. The worry he feels for me is written all over his face.
“We have to stop in Italy to fill up for the flight to Chile,” he informs me.
“Okay.”
I shut my eyes again and let out a deep breath.
I hear Massimo moving around the cabin, then it grows quiet, and again I try to focus on the hum of the engines.
Haven. Haven. Haven.
What the fuck am I going to do with you?