Chapter 71
Chapter Seventy-One
Killian
While Cameron is with Vidalia, Darious meets me on Douglas Ave. We park far from the lounge and meet in one of the alleyways to scope the place out.
“I had the other locations checked, and she wasn’t there, so this is definitely it,” Darius says.
“I can do this on my own, you know.”
“Well, considering this will be the last time we work side by side or even see each other, for that matter, might as well fight one last battle together.” Darius almost looks sad.
“You getting soft on me?” I turn the moment into something lighthearted.
He chuckles. “It hasn’t been fun being on opposite sides. We’ve known each other for too long. Seen too much. Got this far in life and haven’t been killed.”
“I don’t think I’ve come this close to death after getting involved with an Andretti.”
“They come with headaches, but they are worth it.” Darius looks at me. “You’re going to take Lily with you, aren’t you?”
“Only if she wants to come,” I reply.
“We all know she will.”
“Is that going to be an issue?” I challenge.
He shakes his head. “I’ll deal with Alessio. He can’t handle her the way you can. She wakes up screaming for hours throughout the night, and he has no idea what to do. He’s scared to touch her. That marriage is doomed before it would even start.”
I nod. “Everyone is up to speed on the plan?”
“They are. No one is thrilled about it. You have a wild imagination, Killian.”
“With these kinds of people, you need it. Just wait till you hear from Cameron.” I laugh.
We walk right up to the place. We exchange a look, knowing they are waiting for us. A few of our men go in first, then some follow in behind us after we hear a few shots fired.
The basement under the lounge is a breeding ground for trafficking girls. Doors lead to rooms with beds and messy sheets, where young girls are curled in the corner, and men are quickly getting dressed.
At the end of a long hallway of rooms is a large space where there is seating and stripper poles. On one of the stages is Viktor Vaks holding a gun to Lily’s head. The room is full of men pointing guns at one another. This can get deadly very fast.
“You’re going to want to think very carefully about what you do next,” Viktor says. He digs the gun deeper into Liliana’s temple. “I don’t want to kill her. All I want is what’s owed me.”
“You could have reached out to me,” I state. “Something could have been worked out. Instead, you trusted Nico Vidalia in a city he doesn’t know and doesn’t have any authority in.”
“Spare me the dramatics,” Viktor snaps. “Give me the money or I keep the girl.”
“Neither of that is happening,” Darius replies.
“Let me make it clearer for you,” Viktors shoots back. “Either you die or you don’t.”
“There are no ultimatums,” I reply as I step closer to them. “How about this. I plan to retire. How about you give me the girl and I’ll make sure this city is yours.”
Viktor doesn’t seem convinced. “You can’t guarantee that.”
“Yes, I can. See, my men are at the Costello home, ready to take action,” I say.
He looks at me skeptically. “You came into my space with the underboss. Don’t take me for a fool.”
“Then consider this an act in good faith.” I turn and shoot Darius right in the chest. My men follow suit, taking all the Costello men down.
Lily screams through the cloth wrapped around her mouth. Now I have his attention. He lets his guard down. I glance at Lily. We’ve practiced this before.
She kicks her leg into his stomach while pushing the gun pointed at her upward.
He takes the hit but still manages to smack Lily across the face.
She drops to the ground, trying to crawl to me as I rush toward her, but Viktor’s faster, lunging, grabbing her by the ankle, and ripping her backward toward him.
I drive my shoulder into him, knocking him back off her, and we tumble to the ground. My head cracks against a table. Pain blossoms, black spots dancing across my vision.
None of it matters, though. The only thing that matters is getting Lily out of here alive. Gunfire erupts around us. Darius and his men get up, springing into action. They are wearing bulletproof vests—all part of the plan.
Viktor pulls a knife from his belt, whipping around and driving it into Liliana’s thigh. Her scream tears through the room. It chills me to my bones, and I know that this is the moment when I’m going to lose her. She’s not going to pull through this time.
I can see it in the way the blood spurts out of her leg. He nicked an artery.
Darius dives for her, hauling her out of the room as fast as he can, leaving me there.
Good. If I’m going to lose her, then this fucker is going to die too.