CHAPTER 22
Antonio
THE UNCOMFORTABLE PAIN brewing in my chest was entirely unfamiliar to me.
I had never experienced such heavy emotions until her. I didn’t recognize them, nor did I know how to process them. And worst of all, it was fucking with my plans.
“I want your plate half empty by the time I get back.”
With that, I left the room, closing the door behind myself. Logan sat idly against the wall and jumped up as he saw me. What is it with my goddamn men sitting all the time?
The other two were already standing, so I didn’t get to release my frustration.
“Is she okay?” Logan asked and I nodded.
After a quick call with Cesar, the door behind me opened and I immediately turned, finding Nirah leaning against the wall for support. “What are you doing?” I rushed over to her and she looked between the four of us.
“I just need to use the bathroom,” she said, shifting her weight onto her other leg. I scooped her up bridal style and she rolled her eyes. “You’re so dramatic.”
“And you’re testing my patience,” I warned and she adjusted her arms around my neck.
“Don’t I always?” she showed me a closed-mouth smile. This woman is going to be the death of me.
I carried her to the bathroom—at the end of the hallway—while she played with the stubble along my jawline.
“I like it,” she grinned and cupped my face with both hands, running her nails up and down my jaw.
“It’s…” she slowly trailed off, pretending to be deep in thought and I almost smiled. “ Sexy ,” she playfully whispered.
We reached the bathroom and I carefully put her down on her feet. “I got it from here,” she stopped me, closing the door in my face and I smiled, dropping my head.
I turned around and rested my back against the wall. After a short while, I heard her calling me from inside.
When I opened the door, she was washing her hands. “Do you mind?” she batted her eyelashes, nodding towards the paper towels on a little shelf above her head.
She flashed me her little smile as she turned the water off and it took everything in me not to smile at her right now. I grabbed the roll of paper towels and ripped three sheets off, handing them to her.
“You’re too kind,” she teasingly pouted and dried her hands. After she finished, she threw them in the trash can and turned to me. “Up, up and away,” she put her hands in the air.
“I want to blame this on the medication, but we both know it wouldn’t be true,” I shook my head at her and she let out a little giggle as I gently lifted her up into my arms.
I carried her to the door but stopped. The hairs on the back of my neck rose as I heard faint voices in the distance.
“What is it?” she asked and I stood still for a while. I peeked my head through the door and saw three men—in suits—reach the top of the stairs. They looked around until they spotted Logan. One of them grinned, rushing towards him. I recognized them, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
I stepped back into the bathroom, closing the door with my foot. “What’s wrong, Antonio?” she asked and I adjusted her in my arms to take my cell phone out.
“Call Logan,” I said and she did exactly that. She put the phone on speaker as we waited. The phone rang until he finally picked it up.
“Logan who are they?”
“ I don’t know ,” he almost whispered into the phone. It was as if there were lots of movement happening before he spoke again. “ Boss, it’s— ” he got cut off and she looked at me with worried eyes.
“Call him again.”
She did and when the call connected I felt reluctant. “Logan?”
“ Try again .” I recognized that voice too. “ Ah, yes ,” he softly sighed. “ Antonio De Luca—I should have known ,” the man on the other side chuckled. “ Di— ”
“Where’s Logan?” I cut him off. There was momentary silence before a groan was heard.
“ Right here. Unfortunately, the other two can’t speak right now. Or ever. Just give me the girl and you can have him back, ” the man demanded and my jaw subconsciously clenched. “It’s that simple De Luca.”
The call ended and I carried Nirah over to a chair in the corner of the bathroom. I carefully sat her down and shrugged off my suit jacket. “What are you doing?” she asked as I placed it around her shoulders.
“I’ll be back soon. I need you to stay here and do not come out no matter what you hear.”
“Antonio what are you talking about?” she grabbed my shirt to stop me. “Don’t leave me here.”
“Listen,” I said, taking her face in both hands. “I’m not letting them take you, do you understand me?” I asked and her nod was hesitant. “I will be right back.”
“What if they hurt you?” she fearfully asked, panic rising in her voice.
“I thought we’ve been over this,” I said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “You’re not allowed to worry about me.”
“But I do,” she whispered.
“I’ll come back without a scratch, just trust me.”
She nodded, looking at me in faith and I pressed a kiss to her forehead before standing up. I walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind me.
I spotted a male nurse walking out of one of the rooms and called him over, pulling out my gun.
He immediately put his hands up and I pushed him against the wall beside the bathroom door.
“The most important woman in my life is behind that door, so listen closely,” I said pushing my forearm against his throat.
“She does not leave on her own or with anyone else. If someone tries to get in there, you stop them, and I don’t care if you have to die trying,” I threatened and he swallowed hard with fear ridden eyes.
“If I get back and she’s gone or hurt,” I paused, pointing the gun between his eyes. “I’ll blow your fucking brains out.”
His body tensed and I added slight pressure to his neck.
“Do you understand?” I asked and he rapidly nodded.
“Yes.”
I pulled back and he stayed pressed against the wall. Good .
I walked down the hallway and spotted both of my men dead on the floor. You motherfucker . I didn’t recognize the third dead man. I guess there’s only two left.
I slipped into the room next to Nirah’s and thankfully, it was empty.
I walked towards the door, joining the two rooms, and pulled out the silencer from my pocket. I stopped at the door, carefully twisting the doorknob—creaking the door open. I spotted one of them on her bed, and the third one… my eyes scanned the room but I couldn’t find him.
Opening the door a little wider I saw the third one holding a gun to Logan’s temple. Easy . On the bed, a bullet through the forehead. His body jerked back and his blood scattered on the wall.
I closed the door and heard frantic talking on the other side.
I walked out of the room, standing against the wall by Nirah’s door, hearing the one inside twist the doorknob. The male nurse down the hall turned to me with big, wide eyes. The fear was pooling out of his shaking body.
I brought my finger up to my lips, telling him to be quiet and he stood against the wall, holding his body stiff.
I could hear the footsteps of the man inside get closer and as soon as he was far enough out the door I put a bullet in his back, making him drop to the floor with a groan.
His gun fell down next to him, and I kicked it away. Using my foot, I pushed him over so that he laid on his back.
His face scrunched up in pain. “You should know better than to threaten me,” I crouched down in front of him.
“I had to.”
“Oh, you had to?” I taunted and he nodded.
“Sylvester he—he said that if he wasn’t home in three hours, we should find the girl and take her—” he cut himself off, coughing out blood. “Please, get it out,” he panted, lifting his back off the ground.
I tapped the muzzle of my gun on his chest, thinking . “You’re no use for me anymore,” I sighed, cocking my gun. “Help me out here,” I said, placing my gun to his forehead. “Through here?” I asked, then moved it down between his eyes. “Or here?”
“No, no Antonio please,” he begged and I moved it underneath his chin. That’s it.
“Try again,” I said, pressing the gun into his skin. His eyes shifted between mine, practically falling out of his head. His breath came out shakily. “ Diavolo ,” he murmured—full of fear.
His blood and brains splatted across the hall and onto the already red carpet, slamming against the white wall. I pulled my hankie chief out of my pocket, cleaning the muzzle of my gun. I turned around and as soon as the male nurse locked eyes with me, he fainted. Oh, for fucks sake.
I let out an annoyed breath before walking over to the bathroom. I put my gun back in my waistband and grabbed him, throwing him onto my shoulder. I carried his limp body to the room opposite the bathroom and tossed him inside before closing the door.
I headed back to the bathroom, opening the door.
Nirah’s head snapped up in my direction and she jumped up but immediately winced. “Easy,” I smiled, picking her up. “Not a single scratch, remember?”
She took my face in both hands, examining it thoroughly. “You’re fine,” she nodded. “But how did you—”
“Don’t worry about it,” I shook my head. “Will you do me a favor, tesoro ?” I asked and she nodded. “Close your eyes for me and don’t open them until we get to the car.”
“But… why?” she scrunched her brows together.
“Just trust me.”
She was fearfully hesitant but agreed. Adjusting her arms around my neck, she closed her eyes and I carried her down the hallway. Logan already had her things packed, waiting for me outside of her room.
“Loro sanno. Dobbiamo andarcene.” Her location is compromised now.
Logan nodded, pulling out his cell phone. “C’è più?” he asked, looking around and I nodded, dropping my eyes to Nirah. Of course, there are more, you fucking moron.
We made our way downstairs and headed straight to the car. She shivered in my arms as soon as I stepped foot outside and I smiled down at her.
“You can open your eyes now.”