Chapter Twenty-Two
Mikhail’s POV
The bang of the gunshots held a weight that was impossible to ignore.
The night was cold, and the light pierced into my eyes while I tried to arm myself.
My chest heaved as I loaded my pistol. This was it, I thought.
I'd expected the Italians to come, but this felt like a gong show, an ambush that was meant to catch me off guard, and it did.
Their appearance filled me with surprise.
Nonetheless, I knew that this was the best time to protect Isabella from falling into the hands of the goddammed Italians.
The air thickened around me. My eyes darted from the door to the windows before settling on the balcony.
And that was when I heard the open fire that exploded downstairs.
I heard the shatter of glass, the bang of doors, alongside the screams which came from the maids downstairs, and immediately, I knew they were close.
I stood erect. My eyes calculated how I'd unleash hell on the bloody Italians. My breath steadied, and my jaw tightened as hard as my fist.
The spray of gunshots filled me with much anguish, and then the door opened. Yuri walked in with a sudden grace. His left hand held on to a shotgun while the other hid in the chest of his black suit.
“Thank goodness.” I sighed, grateful not to have pulled the trigger, or else I would have killed the one guard I trusted more than myself.
“Yuri, I need you to take Isabella to safety. Protect her at all costs from all this mess.”
He closed the door behind him, walked towards Isabella, who stood at the right side of the room, and held her by the arm. “Let's get going, miss.” He said in a calm baritone, and she resisted his pull.
“Let go of me.” Isabella yanked her arm out of Yuri's grip, and the sight of this was enough for me to confirm that she was going nuts.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” My voice cut through the thickness of the atmosphere, and all she did was sigh.
“There's no need to hide, Mikhail. If we fight, we fight together.”
“You're not armed. Yuri can protect you and take you to a safe room.”
“No. I can protect myself, and see, I'm armed.” She brandished the black pistol I gave her a while ago, and it shone in the white light.
It was something about her courage that stirred a passion in my soul. She wasn't just mad but insane, and I admired it. But this was not the best time for her to display bravery. Such an act would only get her killed, and the thought of her getting killed ignited the rage within me.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and held the gun with no fear. Her brown eyes shot a glance at me, and I traced the calmness in her look.
“Isabella, it is wise for you to keep the gun and let Yuri lead you. This is no time to be a hard ass.”
“What are you saying?” She shot back in retort and cracked the gun. “This is the perfect time to be a hard ass. It's either now or never.”
The rush of adrenaline in my body made me feel like running to her so I could raise her up until she lay on my shoulders.
I know she'd resist, but I wouldn’t mind.
I would then walk outside with Yuri, and we'd kill every Italian we set our eyes on, but that wouldn't be a smart move.
My jaw pressed tight, and I wanted to tell her not to be stubborn.
But before I could utter another word, the door opened, and a group of Italians walked in with guns akimbo.
The first two that walked in had their eyes on Yuri and Isabella.
Yuri was just about to raise his gun when I shot the first two bullets that passed through their skull.
Isabella ducked down, and Yuri shot the next two bullets, yet my eyes landed on Isabella.
I watched her fire the gun. It hit an unlucky Italian who just walked in.
Yuri shot two bullets in his chest until he was sure he was dead.
“Come on. We should leave.” We turned and walked outside the bedroom.
The damage was severe. I never had the urge to kill in a wild rampage the way I did now.
The smell of dust and gunfire clouded the atmosphere.
Dead bodies lay on the floor, and it frustrated me that we had to walk over the very people who swore to protect me.
“I'll show them not to ever mess with a Lobanov,” I muttered beneath my breath and ran across the hallway.
I recalled that I hid a rifle underneath the counter in the kitchen, so I went in search of it. I heard more gunshots upstairs, and my heart jumped in thought of Isabella. Thankfully, I found the rifle, and it was fully loaded.
Both Yuri and Isabella walked in, and I raised my index finger to my lips, telling them to hush.
My steps were slow and my ears sharp. The first shot was aimed at me, and I heard it pass by my ear.
Then it followed an endless spray. I hid with Isabella behind the counter and aimed my rifle at the bloody Italians.
Yuri shot toward the left of the living room. I shot toward the right. The Italians were many, but that wasn't a problem. All I wanted was Isabella's safety, and I would stop at nothing to ensure it.
“Lay low,” I said to her, and the flesh on her forehead creased.
“Where are you going?” She asked, and I replied almost immediately.
“To war with these bloody men. If anyone comes close, pull the trigger, you hear me? Aim for the head. I'm about to bring hell to these bastards.”
I was amazed to see Isabella stay back in obedience.
This time, all I could smell was blood. The blood that I was willing to shed for the cause of protecting my wife.
I shot my rifle with precision and walked out of the living room.
Yuri backed me up, and we fired back at them without hesitation.
We were winning, at least. Some of the Italians took cover, yet I kept on shooting until I heard my rifle click.
“Shit!” I hissed. It was empty.
I ran back, hid behind the sofa, and removed the pistol that hung between my waist belt.
Gunshots sprayed towards me, and the foam of the sofa flew out of its place. I turned to my right and saw that the bullets shattered the TV screen and the chandelier, which crashed onto the marble floor.
“Enough of this shit.” I took a quick inhale of the smoky air.
My hands held tight to the gun. I stood up to see the Italians flee.
I was confused for a moment. So I walked outside and saw Viktor and Roman bring in the reinforcements.
I ran towards the retreating Italians and shot one of them in the leg.
He screamed, but no one would dare save him, now that he was alone.
Out of hopelessness, he looked at me, and I shot him in both of his arms.
“Kill me if you want,” he spat out. “Caruso has promised to come for his bride. This is only the begin…” I pulled the trigger on his forehead before he could finish the sentence.
I turned back, and Viktor looked disgusted at the damage that was done to my mansion. Yuri stood beside me, and I sighed.
“I need you to clean up and ensure that you refurbish this place.”
“Sure thing,” he answered and walked back into the building.
Isabella walked out and ran towards me. We held each other in a warm embrace, and I kissed her forehead.
“Are you alright?” I asked, patting her mussed-up hair
“Yeah.” She nodded, catching her breath.
“Go back inside. Have a nice shower and a change of clothes. I'll be with you soon. I have business to attend to.”
I knew she understood that business only meant a meeting with my brothers. She left without hesitation, and I walked towards Viktor and Roman, who stood side by side.
No one said anything for a while.
“Thanks for the backup.” I began after releasing a sigh.
“Family comes first, right?” Viktor said. His voice had a solid rhythmic tone that commanded order and respect.
“Yeah.” I combed my hair to the side with my fingers.
“You have to be careful, Mikhail. Your safety matters a lot to me.”
“I know about that, and I'm indebted to you for your care.”
“Are you alright?” Viktor asked, and I gave a light nod.
“Yes, I am. What about you?”
“I don't think I'm alright, Mikhail. All this doesn't feel right.”
“Well…why?”
Silence ensued for a while.
“I want to think that you have it all figured out, and you're in control of yourself.
But here I am, fighting back the truth that you might just be slowly losing yourself to Isabella.
You've become obsessed with her, and the way I see it, she's more of a liability to you, and that's dangerous, even for a Lobanov like yourself.”
I let Viktor's words settle for a while, and I thought about it.
I didn't let myself think twice before I labelled his judgment as false.
There's never been a point in time when Isabella put me at any risk.
I'm the one risking all I have to protect her, and as dangerous as it may seem, I’ve never felt more certain about anything.
“She's not a liability to me, I can assure you.”
“If she's not, how would you explain all this?” His hands opened wide, and I turned to visit the chaotic sight of my already damaged mansion.
“Isabella is my wife, and she has never felt like a burden to me.”
“She's making you weak, Mikhail.”
“No, Viktor, she's not. She's the only person who brings out the strength in me.
I'd kill the whole world if I had to, for her safety's sake.
I don't want you to take this the wrong way, brother.
I love her, and I promise that no man will ever touch her.
She's a part of us, Viktor. She's family too.”
Roman stood silent. His arms were folded over his black suit. I’d hoped he'd defend me, but he didn't.
Viktor sighed, dusted off the top of my shoulders, and looked at me.
“I admire your courage, Mikhail. You're brave, smart, hot headed.
I watched you come out with your rifle and stand your ground against the Italians.
While that was an incredible display of bravery, I thought it was insane.
You should know that you ought to be alive if you want to keep saving Isabella from the enemy, and fighting violently won't save you from trouble.
Rather, you're putting yourself out there to be killed because your heart and mind are clouded with emotions.
If you're dead, she won't be worth saving and would be snatched off from you. Promise me, Mikhail, that you will stay careful.”
“I promise to be careful, ” I replied, trying to reason with the sensible words of wisdom he uttered.
“I don't want you to say it like it's nothing. I want you to mean what you say.”
I sighed. “I promise to be careful, Viktor. It's not just a promise but a vow I make to you. At least for Isabella's sake.”
Viktor gave a half smile, and I knew he was pleased. He hugged me and broke the embrace in less than a second.
“Do you need help with your place?”
Of course, I needed help. All hands needed to be on deck to rebuild my walls. I'd love to get new furniture. But most importantly, I'd need help with clearing all the dead bodies inside and outside of the house. But, with all my pride, I looked into Viktor's eyes and said.
“No. I have it all covered.”
“Hmm.” His reaction seemed as though he was impressed. “I see my work is done here.”
I smiled.
**********
Yuri walked up to us after we had entered the mansion. Both Viktor and I sat on the chairs in the bar area. Roman looked around the house as if it were something that had once haunted him before.
“I have news, Mikhail.” He said.
“Okay, you have my attention.”
“There's been a sighting of Marco.” The mention of his name made my stomach churn. I felt the rise of veins in my arms, and my pulse increased in rage.
“Where?” I asked. Yuri fastened his necktie before he answered.
“Here in Manhattan. I believe that's the location where he plans to hand Isabella over to Caruso.”
“Marco, that bastard!”
“Take it easy, Mikhail. You haven't seen him, and your rage is all over the place.”
I shut my eyes at Viktor's words and took a large inhale of air, telling myself to be calm, before sitting back in the chair. My chest tightened, and my stomach still felt sour.
“I want to kill him,” I said and laughed a little. “My goodness, I want to bust a cap in his fucking head. I want him to know what it feels like to have no other option but to die for all the chaos he's brought upon Isabella.”
“I know, and you will. But remember, you don't want to act rashly. It will only ruin you. We'll have to think straight. Strategy is the best way to go about this, Mikhail.”
I knew that this was the perfect time to strike.
If I had my way, I'd dash out to Manhattan, and my first sighting of Marco would be his last. But thank heavens that Viktor was here with me, or else something terrible would've occurred.
I could only imagine the possibilities of how I'd make Marco suffer for all the pain he had caused Isabella.
So I breathed out, exercising the patience that was never a part of me, reclining on the chair with my hands folded tightly in defeat to Viktor's calm.
“Of course,” I said. “Strategy.”