Chapter 34
STELLAN
Islam on the brakes half a block away from my house and kick the door open.
I nearly collapse when I step out onto the sidewalk. The pain in my knee is unbearable. I have burns on my arms from the fire in the hotel, and my chest throbs from getting shot. The slugs are still stuck in the bulletproof plates in my vest.
Kira’s in trouble. My guard didn’t get to her in time. Something went wrong, so terribly wrong, and I have to get to her. Forget the book, forget my injuries, forget Vural, the police, everything. I need her. I need Kira.
I push myself to my feet, snarling with the effort, and nearly fall again.
When a pair of hands grab me. “Stellan. Stellan! You’re here!”
I look up and find Gem staring at me, her face smeared from crying, fear shining from her pores.
“What are you doing out here?” I ask, managing to prop myself against the truck.
“They have Kira. I don’t know who they are, but they have her. She screamed, and I ran. I went into your room and climbed out the window, and they nearly got me, but I dropped and climbed the fence and just kept running until I saw you.”
I pull her against me, drawing my gun. “How many?”
“I don’t know. What’s going on? They’re hurting her, Stellan.”
“Stay with the truck. Get behind the wheel. If anyone comes looking for you, drive the fuck away. Keep driving and don’t look back. You hear me?”
“Stellan—”
“I’ll get your sister. I promise.” I stagger forward, teeth gritted with the effort, but I’m a man of my word.
The house looms quiet and calm. Except there are three SUVs parked out front. All of them have a guard waiting behind the wheel, and I’d bet there are more men inside.
Fuck, I’m outnumbered. There’s no way I can win this fight. I’m injured, burned, bleeding, and broken. Every part of me hurts. But if I stop, Kira’s dead. I’d rather cut my own throat than quit on her.
I stagger on, throwing myself at the first SUV. I tap on the glass with my gun. The driver looks over—
I shoot him in the face.
His head explodes. I drop to my knees as the driver of the second gets out. I shoot him in the hip, in the back, and in the neck. Blood spurts from the third wound. He gags, drops to the ground—
And I nearly get shot in the face. The bullet whizzes past my ear. I roll sideways, into the street, and come up shooting. The third guard gets hit in the shoulder, but he runs instead of fights. He disappears into the house.
So much for surprise.
I get to my feet, breathing hard, drenched in sweat and blood. I stagger on, following.
This is my home. This is my property. And they have my wife.
I’m about to push in the door when more cars pull up.
I turn, getting ready to fire, but just barely manage to hold myself back when Saverino gets out of the lead vehicle, followed by more Corsetti men.
They’re good, loyal soldiers, grim-faced killers.
Saverino jogs over to me, seemingly unfazed by the corpses I left behind.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine. How many did you bring?”
“Twelve. Plus Prime’s on the way too. He finished cleaning up the hotel.”
“Any blowback?”
“We lost a few, and I have a feeling the cops will be on our ass for years to come. But you got the book back.”
“I got it back.”
“Your father should have told us.”
“I know.”
“You should have, too.”
“Sav? We can argue about this later. My wife’s safety comes first.”
He nods once. “Yes, my Don.”
Those words give me more strength than I ever thought they would. Four of my soldiers take up positions at the door while more go around back to watch our escape. I pull the pin on a flash grenade, and a big man in a skullcap kicks my front door off its fucking hinges.
I toss in the grenade.
Gunfire erupts. I flatten myself on the ground and shut my eyes.
The flashbang explodes. It’s deafeningly loud and bright. My men have done this before, and they storm the door immediately while the guys inside are distracted and temporarily blind. I struggle to stand, growling with agony and effort, and I follow, gun at the ready.
It’s a slaughter. Four thugs were waiting on the steps, but all of them got the flashbang straight to the face. I watch my soldiers mow them down. I push on, toward the back of the house, and come to a staggering halt.
Matteo’s standing by my fireplace. He’s got Kira, one arm across her chest, and a gun pressed to her head.
She looks at me, afraid but alive.
“Don’t move.” Matteo sounds more in control than he is. “Point those guns at the ground.”
I gesture for my men to listen. Matteo’s got three soldiers with him, but they’re heavily outmatched now. If it weren’t for Kira, this would be over.
“Let her go.”
Matteo shows his teeth. It’s a smile or a grimace. I can’t tell. “What happened to Vural? Did you kill him?”
It clicks into place. “You were working with him, weren’t you? Frankie wasn’t the only traitor.”
“Vural was going to remake Philadelphia with that book. I was going to sit at the head of the Corsettis, but look at the fucking mess you made.” Matteo shoves the gun harder against Kira. She yelps, her eyes locked on mine and pleading.
I step forward. “Put the gun down.”
“I should kill her. I should make you hurt for this. That bitch sister warned you, didn’t she?”
“You don’t have to die. Cut a deal with me. Kira’s life for yours.”
Matteo laughs, shaking his head. “I know you, Stellan. You’ll never let me live.
After all the shit we’ve put you through, after the way we treated you like you’re not good enough just because you’re not full Italian, here you are, still a loyal fucking Corsetti dog.
I was going to fix this family. You’re going to damn it to hell. ”
“One more warning. Let her go.”
“Fuck that. And fuck you. I want to make you suffer, just like—”
He doesn’t finish. Kira jerks her head back, slamming her skull into his mouth, and drops downward.
His gun fires and misses. His bullet catches the guard to his left. I raise my weapon and shoot. Matteo’s skull snaps back, his brains splattering the wall, as my soldiers gun down the remaining thugs. I’m running before their bodies hit the floor.
Kira’s curled in a tight ball. She’s covered in blood and gore. I grab her and drag her into my lap, hugging her tightly. “Tell me you’re okay. Kira, tell me you’re okay. Talk to me, baby. Tell me you’re okay.”
She slowly looks up. “I bit my tongue.” She pokes it out at me and grins.
I laugh with relief. “Could be worse.” I hug her so hard I probably break a rib, but she clutches at me just as tightly. I’m dimly aware of Saverino and the soldiers going through the place and clearing it while I hold my wife.
“Where’s Gem?”
“She’s safe. She got away.”
“Oh, good. All my screaming worked out, I guess.” She touches my face, head tilted to the side. “You got the book back, didn’t you?” Her voice is thick and slightly slurred.
“I did.”
“And you killed Matteo.”
“He deserved it.”
“Yeah, he really did.” She leans into me. “Now what do we do?”
“Now you and Gem go stay somewhere safe while we fix this place up and get rid of all those bodies.”
“You sure the bodies can’t stay? I was just getting used to them.”
“This is for the best.” I squeeze her tight. “I love you, Kira.”
“I love you too.” She kisses me. It tastes like blood. I hold her, drinking her in, until we finally break apart. “Now seriously, I need ice for my tongue. It’s a mess. And go make sure Gem’s okay, please.”
“Whatever you want.”