Chapter 23 #3
I snatch him back by the collar of his shirt before slamming him up against the concrete wall. The sound of his head cracking against it is like music to my ears.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I ask, getting up in his face.
Dennis swallows. “I forgot something.”
“Yeah, you forgot something alright,” I say, my voice snaking out like a whip, making him flinch. “You forgot to check on your fucking daughter.”
I hear Bronwyn stir behind me as she coughs, her throat sounding dry and hoarse. I vaguely hear Matteo tell me he has her. My attention is on her piece of shit dad.
“I had to do it, man. I didn’t have another option,” Dennis pleads. “You’ll get it one day when you’re a dad.”
“I’ll never get it because I would never sell what’s mine,” I spit in his face. “For years you used and abused her. Except tonight when you put your hands on her and took her against her will, you touched something that’s mine. And that, my friend, is the biggest fuck-up of your life.”
My hand tightens around his throat until he begins to gurgle for air.
With my free hand, I pull my knife out of my pocket.
In one quick sweep, I remove my hand that’s around his throat and slowly drag the knife horizontally across, slitting it wide open.
Rivers of blood run down his neck, coating my hand in the warm liquid as Dennis slides to the ground, the life leaving his eyes.
I pocket my knife as I shake my bloodied hand, trying to get the excess off as I stare at him, wishing like fuck I would have brought my tools and cut body parts off. His death needed to be more painful, but sometimes life doesn’t pan out how you want it to.
“Gio,” Matteo breaks my thoughts.
I rush over to Bronwyn and crouch down next to her. Matteo got the restraints off her and has his jacket pressed up against the side of her cheek as she lies on the cold concrete floor. Her eyes are parted just enough for me to see the ocean blue color that brings me peace in any storm.
“A bullet grazed her cheek. It looks like a flesh wound to me, but Aldo is waiting for us at your house.”
My jaw tightens as I nod in understanding.
“Hey, cara,” I say softly as I lightly stroke her raven hair out of her face.
“You came,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I would have to be six feet under to not come for you.”
Ever so slowly, Bronwyn lifts hers toward me and holds out her pinky. “I kept my promise.”
I let out one strangled laugh because it’s the only thing I can do to keep the emotion at bay as I wrap my large pinky around hers and lean down, placing a kiss on our entwined fingers. “Pinky promise you’re stuck with me for life.”
“I like the sound of that,” she breathes out as her eyes slowly close, her breathing evening out.
I slide my arms under her and scoop her up. “How are we getting out of here? We can’t exactly walk out the front door. I want to get her checked out immediately.”
Footsteps coming down the stairs have Matteo drawing his gun, while I shift Bronwyn’s weight to one arm and angle her body so Matteo is blocking her, drawing mine as well.
My adrenaline is spiking again as the heavy footsteps get closer. My finger moves to rest on the trigger, ready to pull it without a second thought. Just as I’m getting ready to pull it, Alessio’s head pops around the corner.
Matteo curses. “Are you trying to die today? Announce yourself next time.”
“I didn’t know who was all down here. It was quiet as fuck,” Alessio says as he moves out of the stairwell. “We have a small problem, though.”
“What now?” Matteo sighs.
“Dimitri’s gone.”
Matteo and I freeze.
“What?” I ask, raising my brows.
“You said you left him toward the top, yeah? No one was there when I finally made it here.”
“Fuck,” Matteo bites out.
“We’ll find him. I want to get Bronwyn settled, and then we’ll meet to make a plan.”
Matteo nods his head as he runs his fingers through his hair.
This is the last thing we wanted to deal with after all this bullshit.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” I ask as I look Alessio over.
Instead of his usual suit, he’s in a nineties tracksuit with white New Balance sneakers on.
Alessio glares. “I didn’t have backup and didn’t know what I was walking into. I was trying to blend in.”
Matteo looks amused. “And you thought an old ass tracksuit would do the trick at a casino?”
“Fuck both of you. Next time you need help, find someone else’s number.”
“Let’s just get the fuck out of here,” I say as I move toward the stairs with Bronwyn in my arms.
Alessio shakes his head. “Wiz called me on my way over and said he found another entrance down here.” He points toward the door, one of the guys was standing in front of. “Leads outside to the back of the building.”
Perfect.
“Let’s go.”
“Are we leaving them all here?” Alessio asks as he looks at the dead bodies scattered throughout the floor.
“Yeah. They can clean up the mess they caused.”
“Even her dad?” Alessio’s brows raise in question.
“Yeah. He got what he deserved.”
Alessio shrugs. “After you.” He motions toward the door.
Now it’s time to see to my woman.