Chapter 25
Jaxon
Zorro refused to leave my side. I was lucky he hadn’t been hurt in the accident. In truth, I was thankful the three of us had remained alive.
I’d heard from one of the cops that Zorro hadn’t wanted anyone to get close to us. Only with Donatello’s arrival had he finally allowed the EMTs to intervene.
“Answer the phone,” I said, willing my sweet angel even before I hopped out of the vehicle. That wasn’t happening. My first thought had been Anastasia. She’d been on a call before. Now she wasn’t answering.
“Take your time,” Donatello growled as soon as he flanked my side.
“We don’t have time. The motherfuckers are here. I can feel them,” I barked. Zorro nuzzled my leg, a reminder to calm my ass down, but at this point, it was impossible. Not that I knew who was planning on taking her. Russians? Italians?
“You were almost killed, for fuck’s sake. You were out of it for over two fucking hours. And you look like shit.”
“I don’t give a shit about me. Where the hell are the men watching Anastasia? Why haven’t they checked in?” I’d never been so furious in my life. Even as I headed toward the theater, I yanked out my weapon, slapping in a fresh magazine. I couldn’t care less if I was terrifying anyone else.
“Calm the fuck down, boss. I don’t know. I was thinking about you when I heard the news. Two of my men are searching for them. Okay?”
“I’ll put a bullet in their brains for not getting her away.”
He could barely keep up with me as I ran up the stairs.
Yeah, my suit was scorched, my face one fucking bloody mess and my entire body ached. But I was fucking alive. So was my brother.
And Zorro was insistent on being with me.
The hit had been bold, especially for Carmine. He would fucking learn what fear was like.
This wasn’t about a weakness. This had been a masterful coup. What pissed me off was that I should have known the shit with the drugs had been to keep our attention elsewhere.
What bothered me more than anything was that Irina had orchestrated bringing Anastasia to New Orleans.
For which fucking family? She’d known my father, but she’d also known Vitelli.
That much I’d already deciphered since the Russos were friends to the ballet.
Maybe she’d been some informant for Vitelli for all these years.
God, I was so furious I couldn’t think straight at this point.
There were soldiers scouring the city in search of both Carmine and Sergio. Both had managed to disappear. Why hadn’t I followed my instinct, convinced my brother the Russos were against us and taken them out. Then the hit wouldn’t have been ordered.
Thank fucking God we were alive, but two of our best men were gone, toast. “You do have the goddamn family secure. Right?”
“They’re surrounded, boss. Stop worrying.”
Even before I threw open the door, I could hear the music. The fucking ballet had already started.
I’d been taken to the hospital, forced to endure tests I hadn’t wanted. When people noticed the weapon in my hand, they scattered quickly. I’d lost precious time.
I turned in a circle until I figured out the way to get backstage.
Donatello and two of my men followed, others attempting to surround the theater, which was two blocks long.
“I think Anastasia is on stage.”
“I don’t give a shit,” I told him. “She’s not finishing the performance.”
He grabbed my arm, yanking me to a halt. “We’re right here, Jax. We won’t let anything happen to her. No offense, boss, but you need to take a deep breath.”
While he was right, that didn’t soothe my nerves.
I took gasping breaths, trying to control my rage while his goddamn phone rang.
“Yeah,” he answered, immediately turning his head in my direction. “Fuck. Alright. Yeah, I’ll tell him. Keep the building surrounded.”
“What?”
“They found the men. They were in a stairwell shot dead execution style.”
“That’s it. She’s coming off the stage.” I moved through a set of doors, taking long strides down the corridor.
“Mr. Prince. Mr. Prince. Wait!”
Hearing Irina’s voice shocked the hell out of me. I stopped short, spinning around on my heel. She was frantic, rushing toward me. Unable to control my emotions, I grabbed both her arms, shaking her before driving her against the wall.
Terrified, her eyes opened wide.
Zorro stood guard, whining from his uncertainty of what was going on.
Donatello gave me a sharp look but moved to block the view of any struggle.
“What did you do to her? What? You fucking brought Anastasia to New Orleans so she could be sold off to the Russians?”
Her mouth twisted in horror as she blinked several times. “You do not understand.”
“I understand damn good and well. You’re working with the Russo family. You know, Italian mafia. How much did they pay you? How much is her blood worth to you?” I shook her violently, my anger uncontrollable.
“Please,” she cried. “Listen to me.”
“Then tell me the truth. She is Anastasia Scavullo, the daughter of the Capo dei Capi of the Italian Five Families. Isn’t she?” When she didn’t answer right away, I debated pressing the gun to her forehead. Her tears prevented me. “Isn’t she?”
As her chest rose and fell, she could barely talk. “Yes. Yes… But her father asked me to protect her, not hurt her.”
“What?” The words stopped me cold. “What did you say?”
“What?” Donatello chimed in.
She nodded as tears rolled down both cheeks. “Francesco and I are very old friends. He called me and said his daughter was in trouble. He said I was the only person he could trust.”
“What did her father ask you to do? Get her ready to sell her off? An arranged marriage?”
“No. He never wanted that, but his enemies were closing in. I’d never heard him so angry. I owe that man my life so I did what I could, offering her a position. Nothing more. He didn’t tell me very much. You need to believe me. I had no way of knowing she’d even accept the offer.”
“I believe you, alright. I believe you lured her here under false pretenses straight into the arms of men who were told to keep an eye on her. Or was this a bidding war situation?”
“No. Never. I care about her. I’ve followed her career. I’ve watched her grow. I’ve…”
Whatever the fuck was going on, Irina was of no use. She simply didn’t know anything.
“Keep her here while I get Anastasia off stage.”
“No!” she yelled. “That’s why I wanted to find you. She’s not on stage. Her understudy is.”
“What? Where is she? So help me God, if you did anything to her, you will not like what happens.”
“It’s because of her father.” Irina was hysterical.
“What? Talk to me now!”
Irina gripped my arms. “She believes her father is dead. She was in tears. Hysterical. I could barely understand her.”
Jesus Christ.
“What?” I did everything I could to calm my voice. Irina was close to being hysterical herself. “Tell me what you know.”
“She said her brother had her father killed. To take control of their empire.”
“Who told her that?”
“I don’t know. She was upset. I just talked to Francesco a few days ago. I cannot believe he’s dead.”
“Where is she, Irina? She’s in danger and I’m likely the only man who can protect her.”
“She went on stage and couldn’t handle the performance. She ran off before I could catch her.”
I glanced at Donatello. “Find Ms. Novikov a comfortable place and stay with her. I’m not finished with you yet, Irina. If you’re not telling me the truth, you will suffer my wrath.”
She continued to grip my arm. “I would never hurt her, Jaxon. Never.”
“Yeah? And why is that?”
The way her expression changed was chilling. “Because she’s my daughter.”
I took a step away, shaking my head. “I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true. I gave birth to her. I was just supposed to be the surrogate, but things didn’t work out that way. Teresa Scavullo’s eggs weren’t viable. I was paid well for my body and for my silence.”
Jesus. “Anastasia doesn’t know.”
“No, and she can’t. I only wanted to protect her. I would do anything to do so. You need to save her, Jaxon. Please.”
Maybe what she’d told me was true. Maybe it was a lie. At this point, the only thing that mattered was finding Anastasia. “Where’s her dressing room?”
She pointed to a room only a few feet away. I bypassed her, storming into the location.
My angel’s phone was on the dressing table and there was no sign of a struggle. If she’d been taken from the building, the chances of seeing her again were slim. I grabbed a leotard tossed over the back of a chair, bending down and sliding it under Zorro’s nose.
“I need you, buddy. Find her. Find my Anna.”
His ears perked up and after a single woof, he took off running.
I didn’t give a shit about the agony in my legs or the pain in my head. I would find her. And I would protect her.
Zorro didn’t waste any time, rushing down the corridor. With no one to hinder our movement, it was easy to follow.
When he reached an exit door, he sat back on his haunches, barking. As soon as I flanked his side, I threw open the door.
The loading dock flanked an access road. As soon as I was on the concrete plank, the sound of tires squealing in the distance caught my attention.
Things again seemed to move in slow motion as I turned my head.
Just as Anastasia screamed while being shoved inside a speeding sedan. Exactly like the one from before. While there was nothing more I wanted to do than to take aim and fire, I couldn’t risk hurting her.
This time, I didn’t need to give Zorro a single command. He took off charging the vehicle.
Nothing would stop me from saving her. Nothing and no one.
There was no time to contact any of my men. I’d need to do this myself.
And with the help of my best friend.
A weapon appeared from the open back window.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
I pitched behind a dumpster, firing off shots aimed at the tires. With the driver swerving back and forth, my shots missed.
Jerking up, I continued running forward, narrowly avoiding being hit by a spray of bullets.
Zorro was fast, but the driver obviously noticed my approach. Yet just as he hit the end of the road, starting to make a turn, my pup lunged through the air, managing to throw his body in through the window.
The man holding the gun screamed.
The driver swerved.
I fired off two shots, hitting two of the tires.
Seconds later, the driver lost control, ramming into a parked car.
There was no time to waste. With the weapon in both hands, I rushed the sedan, firing off a single shot as soon as the asshole in the passenger seat threw open his door.
I tossed him aside, not wasting a second in yanking open the back door. Zorro was wrestling with the asshole in back, his teeth wrapped around the man’s arm.
“Zorro, heel!” Growling, Zorro backed away, allowing me the opportunity to grab the asshole by the neck, firing off a single shot. “Anastasia.”
What the fuck?
With Zorro growling, I noticed the open driver’s door. The unknown man had dragged her out before I’d reached the vehicle.
“Jaxon!” she screamed.
I jerked my head up, catching sight of her just before she was yanked around the corner of another building.
By that point, there were people running toward us, including three of my men.
“Take Zorro to safety,” I yelled before taking off running after them.
The location of the theater was busy, traffic coming from all directions, businesses open on both sides of the street.
After crossing to the other side, I shut out all sound, listening for her and watching for any sign of them.
Seconds later, I noticed a trail of blood.
I kept close to the building, following the trail. When I noticed a parking garage, I crouched low before heading inside. Some sounds of traffic were drowned out, allowing my keen hearing a chance to catch several other noises.
Hearing footsteps, I kept low, moving behind the vehicles as I followed. Less than twenty yards later, I caught sight of them.
“Sergio Russo,” I called, which shocked the hell out of him.
He swung toward me, pointing his weapon in my direction. His shoulder was bleeding, blood soaking his shirt. I’d clipped him before.
As expected, he had his arm around Anastasia’s throat, but it was obvious he was in agony. I moved closer.
“Don’t,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “I will kill her.”
“No, you won’t.” In the dim lighting of the garage, I could see the stage makeup running down her cheeks.
“You were hired to take her to the Ivanovs for a wedding. Right? An alliance between the Scavullo and the Ivanov family planned all those years ago. You’d exact a vendetta against your Italian family for ostracizing you while falling under the good graces of the new boss of all bosses, Francesco’s son. Who had his own father killed. Yes?”
He chuckled as if I was such a fool. “Business.”
“Yes, you’re right. It is.” I wasn’t in the mood for this to continue. So I did what was necessary to keep the woman I was falling in love with safe.
Pop!
As soon as the shot hit Sergio between the eyes, Anastasia pushed herself away, falling to the concrete. Her gasps ripped my heart out.
I rushed forward, kicking his weapon away before dropping to my knees, cradling her against my chest. “I’ve got you. You’re alright. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Jaxon,” she wailed.
“It’s okay, little angel.”
“No. No! My papa is dead. My brother killed him.”
“Shush, baby. I know and it’s going to be alright. I promise you.” As she clawed at me, I held her close, keeping her face pressed against my chest.
And I made her a silent promise that I would provide her with the method for revenge should she want it.
Fuck mafia politics.
Alexander was right.
Family was all that mattered.