Chapter 55
Chapter fifty-five
“Don’t move,” Dominic booms. His voice echoes through the barren space.
Salvatore and Bruno look at each other, but remain calm and collected.
Their guns are still pointed at us.
“Dominic Cartieri. I was wondering when you were going to join us.” Salvatore’s lip curls. “After all, you were the distraction we needed to keep Cipi from finding out the truth.”
“You should really be thanking us.” Bruno adds. “We’re the reason you two are together again.”
“Drop the guns,” Dominic snarls.
They don't. Instead they grip their weapons tighter.
“You’re outnumbered,” Salvatore growls.
Dominic’s stance doesn’t waver. “Funny, I was about to say the same thing.”
“Two against one? I like those odds.” Bruno smirks.
“You really want to die for her, Dominic?” Salvatore sneers.
Dominic doesn’t hesitate. “Try me.”
Nobody moves.
The air is thick with tension.
My mind races as I think of how to help Dominic.
Lucia and I are weaponless.
Dominic is good with a gun, but even if he hits one, the other will do him in.
It’s then that I notice a tall stack of crates next to us.
I take a slight step to the side.
“I would think if you wanted me dead, I’d already be dead,” I lock eyes with Salvatore.
Salvatore snarls. “Don’t tempt me, Farfalla. You’re a fool to think everyone is going to get out of here alive.”
“I guess, I’m a dreamer then. Dominic move!” I lunge sideways and place my hands on the back of the crates. I push with all my might.
The crates teeter for half a second, then come crashing down with a loud boom.
Dust explodes into the air along with the echo of wood splintering as the crates slam into Bruno, Salvatore, and Dominic.
I grab Lucia and duck as the first shot cracks through the factory.
I don’t know who fired it or where it came from.
“The door is over there,” Lucia coughs.
“Dominic!” I yell.
“I’m okay, get out now!” Dominic appears from behind a broken crate.
I scramble to my feet, adrenaline racing through me.
“That’s what you think!” Bruno yells, getting up with his gun raised. Dominic fires, forcing Bruno to duck behind another stack of crates.
“Fuck!” Salvatore returns fire before diving for cover.
“Go, go, go!” Dominic comes around the side of the crates shooting in the direction where Salvatore and Bruno are hidden.
I grab Lucia’s hand, yanking her toward the stairwell door.
Dominic covers us with quick bursts of gunfire that keep Sal and Bruno pinned behind the wreckage.
My lungs burn as we tear down the narrow metal stairs.
Our boots clang against the grating.
Shouts explode behind us followed by heavy angry footsteps.
We burst onto the main floor.
Rows of rusty machinery and scattered debris stretch out like a maze. The smell of oil and dust clogs my throat.
“There!” Lucia points to the heavy double doors at the far end.
We race toward them. My lungs are burning as I shove at the handle, nothing.
“It’s locked!” I gasp.
Through the tiny slit of glass I see outside into the parking lot. The two guards from earlier lay sprawled out on the pavement, dead. Dominic must have killed them.
“Spread out,” Dominic orders. “They can’t take us down if they don’t know where we are.”
“Run all you want, Farfalla,” Salvatore’s voice booms across the factory. “There’s nowhere to go.”
Giving each other one last look we split up. Each of us sprint down a different aisle and hide in the shadows as our minds race trying to figure out how to defeat them.
I scan the factory as I creep between the crates.
Catwalks, ladders, dark corners are all I see.
There has to be an exit.
There has to be.
The place has become deathly quiet and the silence is worse than gunfire.
No shouting.
No footsteps.
Nothing.
This is a game of cat and mouse and right now we’re being hunted.
The rows of towering machines feel like a labyrinth closing in on me.
My own breathing sounds too loud, each inhale rings in my ears.
I slow my steps and place each foot carefully on the dusty concrete to keep from making a sound.
I pause, straining to listen, but there’s nothing.
A flicker of panic claws at the back of my mind.
There’s no other exit.
Only dead ends and blind corners.
The worst part is not knowing who I’ll run into first.
A scream breaks the eerie silence.
It’s Lucia.
Immediately I break into a run toward the sound.
Rounding the corner of crates, I find myself staring at a brick wall.
Dead end.
Turning back around I stop short as Salvatore enters the isle, his gun raised, blocking my escape.
Salvatore’s smile is cold. “This is the end of the line for you, Farfalla.” His gun points directly at my chest. “The queen has finally been checkmated.”
Panic flares through me, but I won’t give him the satisfaction. “You talk too much for someone who’s about to pull the trigger. And to think I thought of you as family.”
He takes a slow step forward. “Like I said before, it’s nothing personal, it’s survival of the fittest. I want you to feel this. To know that your father’s sins are the reason you’re dying. You never mattered outside his shadow.”
My throat tightens, but I hold his gaze. “If that’s true, then why did you go to such great lengths to try to eliminate me.”
That makes him pause, just for a second but his finger curls on the trigger.
“Don’t you dare touch her!” Dominic’s voice roars from somewhere above.
Salvatore’s eyes flick upward, as Dominic jumps from the catwalk.
Dominic’s large frame covers me as he slams into me with his full weight, knocking the air from my lungs as we crash to the floor.
The deafening crack of a gunshot rings out at the same time.
Hot sticky wetness spreads against my side.
Crimson droplets decorate the dusty floor.
I’ve been hit!
But I don’t feel any pain.
It’s not until I become aware of Dominic’s body going limp over me that I realize it’s him.
“Dominic!” I scream. I crawl out from under him and shove him onto his back so he’s slumped against the wall.
Dark red coats his shirt.
“I’m okay,” he groans. His jaw is clenched and his eyes are fierce despite the pain.
His gun lies just inches from my hand. I snatch it up, stumbling to my feet.
I stand in front of Dominic, lock my arms, and aim at Salvatore.
“You took my father,” My voice trembles with rage. “You’re not taking him, too.”
He laughs. “My dear, aren’t you forgetting that you’re incapable of harming people who you consider family? That’s why it took so long for you to figure out who was behind this.”
I stiffen at his words, but my finger tightens on the trigger.
We stare down each other, guns raised.
“Yes, you’re right,” I growl. “I don’t want to hurt people who I considered family, but you’re not family anymore.”
I squeeze the trigger at the same time as him.
Gunfire explodes in the air. The sharp crack echoes off the steel walls.
I duck behind a crate. Splinters bite into my hand as metal pings above my head. My pulse thunders in my ears.
Silence fills the space.
I edge around the crate.
Salvatore lies on the floor. His gun is just out of reach. I don’t think he’s breathing.
“Careful, Cipi,” Dominic gasps.
Cautiously I approach Salvatore.
Every nerve in my body screams for me to keep my distance, but my feet say otherwise.
My muscles are tense as I wait for him to jump up and shoot me.
Then I notice a dark crimson pool spreading beneath him. I crouch down next to him and roll him over.
The glassy stillness in his eyes gives me the confirmation I need.
He’s dead.
My breath rattles in my chest. I was always the better shot.
But I don’t give myself a chance to feel. There’s still one more traitor in the factory that I need to get.
I rip Salvatore’s jacket off his body. Then I snatch his gun and phone.
I don’t give myself time to think or time to grieve.
I turn and sprint back to where Dominic lays slumped. His breathing is shallow, but he’s alive.
“Dom!” I hiss as I kneel by his side. “Amore, stay with me.”
He groans and opens his eyes. “I’m alive. He got me just below the collar bone.”
I bunch up Salvatore’s jacket and press it over the wound. “Hold that there. You didn’t think to wear a bullet proof vest?”
“I was a little distracted trying to save the woman I love. Forgive me for the oversight.” He grabs my wrist. “I just need to know you’re okay. Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine. But you’re not. We need to get you to a hospital.”
“I’ve had worse, and I would take that bullet a thousand times over if it meant you were still standing, Cipi.”
I place my hand over his. “I need you here, alive with me, not dead.” Opening Salvatore’s burner, I call Enzo. “Enzo, it’s Cipi. I’m at the factory in the old Marconi territory. Get here now and bring back-up. Dominic’s been shot…”
Lucia’s scream rings out again through the warehouse.
A chill runs down my spine. I lock eyes with Dominic.
“Go to her!” He demands ripping the phone from my hand. “I’ll be alright.”
I grab his face and kiss him hard. “Don’t die on me.”
Snatching up the gun, I run in the direction of her voice.
“You’re going to have to do a lot more than that to get rid of me,” he calls after me.
“Cipi! Help!” Lucia screams.
Forcing myself to run faster I tear down the aisle, rounding the corner I stop fast. Lucia is pinned against the wall with Bruno pressing a gun right to her head.
“Calling for Cipi won’t save you!” Bruno snarls.
Holding my gun, I charge down the aisle. “Bruno let her go!” I yell.
Startled Bruno looks up and a smile crosses his face.
“Ah, just the girl I was looking for.” He shoves the barrel harder into Lucia’s temple, making her whimper.
“Typical Cipriani, always putting family before herself. That’s why you’re weak.
You’ll put yourself in danger for your family.
Drop the gun, Cipi or I’ll paint the wall with her brains.
“Don’t drop it, Cipi,” Lucia chokes out.
“Shut up!” Bruno snarls.
My hands tighten around the grip of Salvatore’s gun. “Don’t talk to her like that Bruno.”