11. Wolfe
WOLFE
We drove a few miles down the road and up the hill. It felt like forever since I’d been there, but once I saw the vines in the distance and Mount Etna over the horizon, I felt like I was home.
We moved quickly, arriving at the gate at full speed so they’d have less time to react.
Damiano was the driver, and when he came to a stop, Pietro and I immediately hopped out and opened the bag to retrieve the two bazookas from the rear.
Another one of our SUVs came around the front and parked next to ours, leaving a gap between them so we could take over. We had a few seconds before the gunfire started, and we put our guns into position on the backs of the vehicles before we aimed at the gate.
The guards started to spray us with their automatic rifles, but it was too late.
I fired first, and the missile immediately hit the gate and caused a massive explosion, a cloud of solid black smoke immediately obstructing the view.
Pietro fired his, just to make sure our way was clear.
We hopped back into the vehicle and drove through the smoke, over the broken gate, and down the dirt road between the villa and the other buildings.
Gunfire immediately sprayed the windows and the sides of the vehicles.
Damiano drove fast, running over one of the guys who was stupid enough to get too close, and he drove down the road, away from the gunfire, before he turned back around, giving us distance from the gunfire and a barrier to pick them off from afar.
The other vehicles followed, the bullets spraying the doors and the windows but unable to penetrate anything because everything was bulletproof.
We jumped out, and I took out my rifle with the scope, set up by the back of the car, and started to pick off the assholes one by one.
There were a lot more men than I’d anticipated, and I did see some familiar faces like Andre and Salvatore and Elio.
Andre was the first one to spot me, and the second he realized it was me, he lowered his gun and then grabbed Salvatore and shouted in his ear.
Salvatore turned and saw me in the distance, and his eyes widened in some form of shock and relief. They spread the word to the others that they weren’t under siege, but on the cusp of liberation. Instead of shooting down my men, they joined us in the fight and shot down Warren’s guys instead.
Damiano was beside me, picking off guys from a distance, but then he grunted when a bullet struck him in the shoulder, and he fell back.
“You alright?” I ducked down, knowing more bullets were targeted at my head.
“Fucking hurts.”
“Yeah, you got shot.”
He grimaced as he gripped the wound that burst with blood. “I’ve never been shot before.”
“You’ve never been shot?”
He bared his teeth as he grimaced and gripped his arm.
“Well, now you’re officially indoctrinated. Just keep the pressure—” A wave of bullets sprayed the vehicle and cut me off because it was like a hailstorm. “Apply pressure, and you’ll be fine.”
When there was a break in the gunfire, I sprinted from one vehicle to the next and then made it behind one of the buildings. I looped around and came from the rear, knowing they had all been ordered to take me down because I was running the show.
I snuck behind a group of adversaries that were all engaged in combat, so I used my knife to take them down one at a time while I cupped my hand over their mouths, their comrades oblivious to the stealth killing.
I did it to each one until a single guy was left, and by the time he realized he was alone, it was too late.
I stabbed my tanto knife into his neck, sliced it right open, and watched him drop to his knees and then collapse.
So Warren wouldn’t be able to flee, we had two cars block the gate. The only way out was to drive the opposite way down the dirt road to get off the property, but my SUV was also in the way.
Warren must be in the house, hiding like the pussy that he was.
The shootout continued, hundreds of men in the enclosed space, but we were prepared for the attack, while they hadn’t seen it coming, so we gained the upper hand quickly.
They didn’t have the protection of vests, and they also didn’t have enough ammo on their persons.
Once they couldn’t reload, the real fun started.
I whistled then clicked my tongue like I was calling for a dog.
“Who’s a good boy?” I whistled again until I found a couple guys trying to run into the field.
It was too much effort to chase them down, so I quickly sprayed them with my automatic rifle.
The rest of my men hunted down the others who tried to run.
Elio was the first one to make it to me, and it was the only time he’d ever looked at me with respect. All that suspicion was long gone. “Frankie—”
“She’ll be here in a minute,” I said. “And you better drop to your knees and thank her when she gets here.” I walked off and left him standing there.
“Pietro, move the vehicles.” I grabbed my phone and made the call to the driver as I continued to scan the property, seeing my men shoot and cut down the rest of the stragglers.
“We’re ready for you,” I said when Santino answered.
I hung up and returned the phone to my pocket before I approached the outside of the villa, seeing a new wave of bullet holes that we’d have to repair.
I stared up at one of the windows, knowing that whoever was inside would be able to hear. “Get ready, Warren. Daddy’s home.”
I waited to go inside until Francesca arrived so she could be part of the crucifixion. Leo hadn’t been spotted on the premises, so he’d probably hidden somewhere in the house because he knew what was coming.
Santino, Damiano, Andre, Salvatore, and Elio came to my side.
“What are we waiting for?” Andre asked. “Let’s get this motherfucker.”
At that moment, a cloud of dust from the road became visible, and then the SUV came into view. “Francesca is doing the honors.”
The car came to a stop, and then Francesca opened the door.
I held up my hand and told her to stay put.
She didn’t disobey me and shut the door again.
I jogged to her then opened the door, blocking her from a shooter from the window.
Now would be the perfect moment to pick her off if they were waiting for the right opportunity.
I pulled her with me and kept my body in front of hers.
That way, if someone took a shot, it would hit me instead of her.
We made it to the stairs that led to the entrance to the villa.
Santino loaded a shotgun and handed it to her along with rounds of ammo.
She pulled the strap over her shoulder and gripped that gun like she was ready for this. With eyes full of determination, she showed no hint of fear. She would blow that house to bits until the rats crawled out through the cracks.
“Stay behind me, alright?”
Her eyes shifted to me.
“Stay behind me,” I repeated, staring her down until she agreed with my orders.
She finally gave a nod.
I stepped inside the house first with my rifle ready to shoot anyone waiting for us. But the hallway was empty, and the kitchen off to the left was vacant except for the cooks huddled together in the corners with their hands up.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Francesca said, recognizing them as the same staff that had worked for her father.
“Fan out,” I said. “Baby, you stay with me.”
We broke apart and swept the rooms on the first floor one by one.
She did as I asked and stayed behind me. Gripped her gun and had it ready at all times. Scanned the room and did her own checks behind desks and inside closets. When we cleared the first floor, we went to the second. I expected another ambush at the top of the stairs, but there was none.
I repeated the orders. “Fan out.” I stayed at the bottom of the stairs and looked up to the landing that connected to the third floor, knowing Warren and whoever else was with him were waiting for us.
Francesca stood beside me and stared at the same stairs. “When Warren’s men came up the stairs, my father shot down at them like fish in a barrel.”
“Is there another way up?”
“No. The only terrace is the one in my father’s bedroom.”
The guys returned from their checks empty-handed.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a grenade.
Santino’s eyes narrowed. “Wolfe, what are you going to do?”
“This.” I pulled out the pin and moved into the opening up the stairs before I chucked it upward and onto the third floor. The second my arm was exposed, bullets rained down, but I was able to land the grenade before they could hit me.
“Cristo,” Elio said.
“Grenade!” the men shouted. The sound of shuffling feet was audible. All they had to do was kick it back down, but I suspected they would be too alarmed by an indoor grenade that they wouldn’t think straight.
Before it went off, I ran up the stairs to the next landing and then sprayed them with my rifle right when the smoke from the grenade detonated.
I fired a hundred bullets in less than five seconds, and while the smoke obscured the view, I knew they were all dead.
I grabbed the magazine clip from my pocket and reloaded as I stood there.
“I thought that was a real grenade,” Santino said as he came up the stairs.
“Yeah,” I said as I cocked the gun. “That was the point. Come on, let’s move.
” I moved along the top level and stuck my fingers into my mouth before I released a loud whistle.
“Ready or not, here we come.” My favorite part about conquering my enemies was the intimidation beforehand, just like how the Roman Empire announced its presence with the sound of musical instruments that could be heard from leagues away.
I strode down the hallway toward what was now Warren’s office and remembered the last time I came here. I’d spoken to Don Mancini about Francesca, but we couldn’t find any middle ground, and he dismissed me from the syndicate. Unfortunately, that decision had cost him his life.
I heard footsteps up ahead, and then someone was shoved into the hallway.
Leo’s body thudded on the hardwood floor as he grimaced.