Chapter 19 Vaughn #2
“Enough of this,” Nico barked, raising the gun again, aiming at Nova’s head. “I’m done wasting time.”
“Wait!” Riccardo barked, freezing Nico in place. “Just wait.”
He didn’t want to. Maybe Nico didn’t see it, but I did. The man had not lost his humanity, at least not to the point where murdering his daughter was something he could stomach.
“Let her go,” I said, raising my hands into the air, ignoring the agony of my wound. “Take me out, fine. But not her. She does not deserve this.”
“Shut the fuck up!” Nico shouted. He was getting a little more unhinged with every breath he took. “Boss, you know this is the only way!”
“Riccardo!” I shouted over him, holding the man’s gaze, fighting to keep his attention.
“Listen. Why do you think she hasn’t gone to the authorities yet?
She’s had weeks! But she couldn’t betray you.
She couldn’t go against you. She loves you, worships you.
It’s broken her heart to know what you’re into, but she couldn’t bring herself to turn you in.
Not the father she loves. I promise you, if you told her to, she would leave the country.
She would never say a word about this to anyone.
She could go on with her life if it meant you surviving because she loves you above everything else.
I know it. And I’m the only person she’s told,” I added, my gaze flicking over to the sweaty, panicking Nico.
“I know it because it took me weeks to get it out of her, myself. Don’t let this happen,” I begged with emotion throbbing in my voice.
“She’s your only daughter. Your only child.
And through it all, she loves you. Don’t end her life when it’s barely begun. ”
Nico was having none of it. “Boss!” Riccardo jumped a little at Nico’s sudden shout. “I am not dying for these people, and you know that’s what’s going to happen. They’ll fucking kill us! It’s either us or them.”
“If you worked with the authorities…” I murmured, “… they would work with you. Protect you.”
“He’s full of shit!” Nico screamed.
“Listen, Dad!” Nova begged.
Riccardo’s eyes moved around the room, his breath coming in short gasps that revealed his inner panic. He didn’t want to do this. It was a step too far. Was I getting through to him, though?
“Boss, we are fucking dead if you let either of them walk out of here tonight!” Was it me, or was there the beginnings of tears in Nico’s wild pleas? He was that undone. Terrified. “He’s lying, you know he is. She’ll go to the fucking cops the second she’s out of here. Especially if we kill him.”
“You won’t do that, will you?” I asked Nova, my eyes fully on Riccardo, willing him to listen to me and understand.
“Riccardo, I want you to remember something. The authorities have a never-ending hard-on for the Russians. You know they would play ball if you went to them and told them everything. You would get the sweetest deal. You do not need to have your daughter killed,” I concluded through my teeth.
Goddammit! I was losing too much blood. The room began to sway, or was that me, swaying on my feet? Get it together. I couldn’t pass out now.
“I’m doing it,” Nico warned, his voice high-pitched. “I’m fucking doing it! All you did was delay the inevitable, asshole,” he told me.
“Don’t do this,” I whispered, shaking my head, watching Riccardo’s eyes move back and forth between Nico and me. “Do not let him do this. There is no coming back from this.”
“Oh, fuck it.” Nico swung around, aiming the gun at me, and I closed my eyes.
Nova. I love you.
A shot cracked in the air, paired with Nova’s high-pitched scream. I waited for the pain from my arm to repeat itself somewhere else in my body, but that pain never came.
When I opened my eyes, it was to watch Nico stagger backward, blood spreading across the front of his shirt.
With his mouth hanging open, he looked at Riccardo, his expression almost comical, before he dropped to his knees, the gun falling from his hand before he fell face-first onto the floor.
His back rose and fell once, twice, before he went still.
“Drop your weapon!” Grayson stormed in with three men behind him, all of them training their weapons on the man who now covered his face with his free hand, handing over the gun when Grayson grabbed him by the wrist.
“Vaughn!” Nova sobbed. I staggered a few steps, determined to free her from the chair, but the room pitched violently to the side. I went with it, dropping to the filthy floor.
“Hang in there, buddy.” Grayson fell to one knee beside me, making me roar in excruciating pain when he slid the suit jacket over my arm. “Just a flesh wound, pussy. You’ll be fine.”
“Easy for you to say,” I moaned, struggling to keep my eyes open.
It was easier when someone joined me, someone who fell to her knees at my side and took my face in her hands. “You came for me,” she wept. “I’m so sorry you had to, but you came for me.”
“I love you, Oxford,” I whispered into her tear-streaked face.
“I love you,” she managed through her sobs. “I love you so much. Stay with me, please. Stay.”
I wanted to, but my eyelids were too heavy.
The last thing I saw was the red and blue lights that washed over the walls while sirens filled the air.
She was safe.
The police were here now, and she was safe.
I could finally rest.