Chapter 17
Roux Cantrell
R oux Cantrell
Alessandra (Alex)
The place is buzzing with activity. This explains why they had chosen the time—busy enough to muffle any sounds of gunfire and screams. Hell, the Allegrini family employs half the workers. The saying, ‘ see no evil, hear no evil’ applies to everyone who works on the docks. You rat, you ended up swimming with the fishes.
Large cranes are whirling and whizzing as they pick up and move containers to ships, creating loud noises. I think about the rows and rows of stacked containers standing watch like silent soldiers keeping secrets of the dead.
Dock workers shout over the loud machinery, making me hyperaware of the choice I’ve made. Subconsciously, I run my free hand over the non-existent bulge in my stomach. If I live through this, soon my stomach will be large and in charge. I’ll be able to rub my hands over my belly. Movement within me will flutter across my palms, reassuring me of the life growing. The thought’s enough to center me. There’s more at risk here than just me.
“Alessandra.”
Turning to look at Papá, I immediately notice his concern. “Don’t worry.”
He simply nods as we head into the building. The old wooden door resists as we pull it open. Glancing at the men we’ve brought with us, along with Dante and Enzo, I feel confident of a positive outcome.
The door closing behind us with finality sends a shiver through me. Our team fans out, moving through the stacks of wooden crates and barrels that are piled high. It’s a maze of sorts with no clear path. Gunfire raining throughout, along with various men shouting, gets us all moving. Papá grabs my hand, making sure I stick with him. Our well-laid-out plan is going to shit already. I check over my shoulder but don’t see Dante. Rather than let me pause, Enzo signals for me to keep going, so I do.
Coming around a small stack of barrels, a shot rings out above all others. It’s close. “Oh God! No!” I shout in terror, as Papá crumples to the ground clutching his chest.
Falling to my knees, I reach for him.
“Go. You know what has to be done,” he tells me. I don’t want to leave him, but I hear his words and know what they mean.
This has to end today.
Helping him into a seated position, I swiftly check the wound. It’s in his shoulder, not his chest—thank God. He won’t die, but he’s of no use to me bleeding with a bullet in his flesh. Leaving him is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I must.
“Alex, let’s get going.”
Staring up at Enzo, I want to tell him no. Instead, I kiss Papá and leave him to go confront Uncle Carlo.
It takes us only minutes to locate the bastardo . I come up short as I find Uncle Carlo pointing a gun at Dante. My heart is in my throat as I witness him pull the trigger, but I manage not to flinch. That would be a sign of weakness, and I refuse to give this man any power over me. I’m in charge, and he needs to feel my rage, to know I’m taking control of this famiglia when it’s my time. My father, my baby, and Braxton all need me to be strong right now, so I steal my spine. Enzo is on my left, but still, something feels off. “What did you just do?!” I shout as my gut twists with internal panic for my cousin, although my voice has no inflection of the sort.
“He’s a traitor. I’ve done everything to give him your throne.”
“What do you mean everything?” Long-forgotten images flash through my mind. Words said in anger and fear. The realization grips my heart. “You were behind Emily being kidnapped and killed.” I feel sick at the notion. He’s been the cancer to this family for much longer than I’d realized. He’s tried to steal everything from me, all in the name of power. Of selfish greed.
“I sent boys to take care of you when I should have sent men that day. It was the last mistake I made.” Uncle Carlo’s confession has everything becoming clearer. Even when I thought I was safe, I was always in danger.
“You’ve lived your life thinking you were protected, content with my son right next to you,” he tells me through gritted teeth, while his irises shine with hate that I’ve only seen reserved for speaking of enemies. Today I am that enemy.
Multiple quick-moving footsteps from outside make their way to us, telling me Braxton and the Jokers have arrived to take their own vengeance. I can’t let him walk into an ambush. He could get hurt, just like Papá, and I’d never forgive myself. Uncle has lost his mind, as it shows on his face. The years have caught up with him… finally. A momentary glint of sun on metal off to the side catches my eye. Turning toward it, I’m shocked to see the one person I thought would always have my back pointing a gun at my head.
Breathe, Alex, you know what to do. Count, damn it. Stay calm.
The flash of the shot reaches my eyes before the sound echoes in my ear. The cry that bubbles up doesn’t say I’m in control. The burning sting of the bullet causes me to yell. If I’m going to die, I can still warn the others. “Goliath, Carlo’s here!” Screaming as loud as possible to them gives me the distraction I need as I manage to scramble away from Enzo.
Running down the aisle, my heart is thumping so hard I can hear it in my ears and swear it may burst from my chest at any moment. Darting between overturned storage drums and boxes, I manage to find some cover, but now I have to concentrate on my breathing. It’s loud as I gasp, and I immediately suck it in. In the same beat, I try not to completely hold it and make myself panic and pass out. I need to distract myself, to count through the soul-crushing anxiety attempting to slither its way in as I wait for the Jokers. Dropping low, I take a moment to look at my arm. Blood is seeping through the fabric of my jacket. It’s the first time I’ve known the bite of a bullet, and it damn sure doesn’t feel good.
“Alessandra. It’s no use. We’ve got men outside to take care of that country bumpkin you’re mixed up with.”
Enzo’s voice echoes through the building. His words piss me off. Leaning against the stack of old crates, I’m already working out the details of my current situation. I should have known this was more than a simple meet. Blinders. I’ve lived my life with blinders on when it came to those closest to me. Never again will I make the same mistake.
I should have paid more attention instead of letting the sights and sounds of the docks distract me. Had there been something that my eyes saw but my mind missed? It was reckless, especially this close to danger.
A sound to my left catches my attention. Easing forward, I find Papá staring at me, holding a finger to his lips. Nodding, I silently tell him I understand, then watch as he slides a gun towards me. Reaching forward, I grab the weapon, noticing the heavier weight. It belongs to him, and he’s trusting me enough to keep both of us safe.
I’m his daughter. It’s my time. My choice. Signaling to him to stay hidden, I make up my mind to do what needs to be done.
Peering around the crates, I can make out my uncle standing over Dante, who’s sprawled out on the ground bleeding. I can’t believe Carlo shot his own son. Keeping the Smith & Wesson gripped firmly in my hand, I take a calming breath, centering myself. The stale smell of oil and seawater has my stomach rolling, but the adrenaline keeps pushing me forward.
“Alex, there’s no place to hide. Nowhere to go. Braxton has walked into an ambush. He won’t be coming to your rescue, cousin.”
Closing my eyes, my heart is splitting in two. I always knew someone would betray me. Just not the one person I always thought would have my back. Enzo. “I thought you were on my side, Enzo.”
Moving down the row of discarded storage drums and rotten crates, he’s getting closer to me. “That was the mission, Alessandra. To get close to you until it was time to take you out.” His words are laced with hate, not love. It only serves to hammer the betrayal home.
Saddened and angry by what I have to do, it’s Enzo’s treachery that cuts the deepest. Everything I’ve believed in, everything I’ve trusted up until now, is shattered.
Every laugh.
Every tear.
Every first we experienced in our lives is nothing but useless lies.
Noise mere feet away from me gets me moving again. Staying as quiet as possible, I slip around another stack of crates. With Dante on the ground and Carlo near the building’s loading dock, I know Enzo’s closing in on me. I’m now the prey I’ve fought so hard not to be.
Do not be a pigeon, Alex.
With every step I take, the sound from my shoes vibrates in my ears. The soles squeak against the concrete floor, giving me away with each move, making me cringe. Sliding them off, I kick the shoes under an empty box and quickly take off for my uncle’s position. It’s time for a showdown, one that’s been coming since I was born. It’s time to finish this.
Men shouting and more gunfire off to the side let me know that Braxton may not come for me. Not that he doesn’t want to, but that he might not be able to. Resting my gun hand against my forehead, I send up a silent prayer for my man.
Go! The one-word command puts me back in motion. Rising, I turn the corner and come face-to-face with Enzo. Not who I was looking for.
“Pigeon.”
“Fuck. You.”
Enzo shakes his head at me. Something tells me he won’t shoot me. Not yet anyway. Is this being part of his plan? Could he be playing his father, making him believe he’s against me?
“I can hear your thoughts, cousin. And let me answer those questions. I’m not on your side. All I’m waiting on is Goliath to walk through those doors. I’ve got five bullets waiting on him. Don’t worry, he’ll live long enough to see me put one in your pretty head next.”
There it is, the answer to my unasked question. All the times Enzo watched me sleep. Every time he’d enter the bathroom while I showered. He wanted something he couldn’t have.
The one thing that wasn’t his for the taking. He was so good at hiding it, but now I see it clear as day. His true intentions, his unrelenting desires.
Giving Enzo a sideways glance, I stare up at him and watch as he glances away. It’s the moment I need. Yanking my arm down forcefully, I manage to get loose from his grip. Turning to run, the weight of his larger frame crushes me as he tackles me to the ground. “Get off of me, asshole!” I yell through my wheezing. His hold is tight and so help me, I want to kick him in the balls then shoot his ass.
“That’s enough,” Uncle Carlo shouts, then orders, “Tie her to a chair.”
Enzo grabs my arm, yanking me back to him none too gently. The fucking prick.
Just as my family groomed me since birth to keep my enemies close, Enzo’s has too. The mask of devoted cousin has slipped. Now, I see him for exactly who he is. A devil in disguise. Letting my guard down with him made me an easy target. Easily manipulated. I see the lust in his eyes. The emotions simmering underneath the surface, waiting to burst free. The hatred he feels for me.
Struggling against him gets me nowhere except forced onto a rickety chair. Disgust fills me as Enzo kneels in front of my legs. His face stares up at me from between my thighs. “You’re disgusting!” Using my elbow, I slam it down on his nose, breaking it.
I smile as blood pours from it, as I stare at someone I never knew.