Chapter 18
Emma
N o one stopped me on the way to the garage. So few guards were here on the premises, and I assumed that capo, Sean, had more out on the perimeter of the property.
I felt safe when Luke was here, but since he wasn’t, and not accessible with a call, I had to take matters into my own hands.
He rushed out to save his mother, so he couldn’t fault me for hurrying to help my friend. Our commitment to stay together had impacted others, and it was our responsibility to keep as many people safe as possible.
I couldn’t take this silence. The lack of being able to get ahold of Luke. The inability to call Krista and ask if she could get away. This predicament made me feel reckless, like I had to help. I had to step up and make sure I kept her safe.
I grabbed the nearest SUV that was parked in the garage, and within moments, I was backing up and heading out. No one stopped me from leaving. The guard at the gate frowned when he saw me approaching, but he likely assumed that I was another Rossini soldier or worker, simply heading in or out as expected. With the SUV’s tinted windows, he couldn’t see me driving.
Now getting back in, that’ll be something else...
I glanced at the passenger seat, checking that I had my burner phone and gun. Jimmy had shown me enough trust in letting me have a different, fully loaded firearm, but I wonder if he was so quick to trust me with a gun only because Luke explained that I’d shot the Giordino man to help us escape the safehouse.
The drive to the Marchese residence where Antonio was likely keeping Krista felt longer than usual. Every mile that passed put a little more doubt on my shoulders. I debated the entire way there if I was being foolish to fall for this trap or if I was brave to do my best with these circumstances.
I couldn’t leave Krista. I owed her more friendship than letting her be killed by the man who couldn’t accept that I didn’t want him. That I desired no part in any alliance between our families.
Before I could talk myself out of coming to her rescue, though, I reached the area where Antonio ruled with his father.
I parked further from the gates, but I was able to sneak in when I spotted Justin patrolling along the perimeter.
Krista’s friend. Her “hot” bad boy she couldn’t stop flirting with, even though he was loyal to serving the enemy.
I hissed, grabbing his attention from behind a hedge, and he frowned at me, crouching to speak. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Coming to help Krista.”
His face hardened. Deep resentment showed in the fine lines on his rugged face. “You can’t.” He shook his head.
“How did he get her?” I asked instead of arguing with him. For all I know, he’d grab me by the hand and drag me inside.
“Through me,” he bit out with a hefty dose of self-loathing. “She contacted me, lonely, and wanted to meet up downtown. We did, but Antonio had someone following me.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“I swear it. I love her,” he argued.
Love? If he loved my friend, how could he work for the sadist who wanted to capture me and treat me like a broodmare to share with his buddies? By continuing to work as a Marchese soldier, he was aligning with someone Krista could never forgive.
“I didn’t know I was followed. I missed her, so fucking much. I knew she had to be lying low and hiding because of him trying to find you. But I had to see her.” He hung his head, then looked around to check if anyone was watching. “They took her from the hotel room and brought her here. I snuck in to see her, to see if I could help get her away, and she told me to fuck off with a message for you.”
“For me?”
He nodded. “I think Antonio already sent you the bait message. She said if I saw you trying to save her, she’d kick your ass.”
I rolled my eyes.
“She said she’d rather be dead than live and know you gave yourself up to keep her safe.”
“Then fucking help me,” I insisted. “Get me in there so I can get us both out.”
He shook his head. “You’ll be seen.”
“I am not leaving her to—”
He held up his hand, pressing his finger to his earpiece, listening to something through his comms unit. “Fuck.” He changed his tactic, gesturing for me to come with him along the path of hedges. “Come on. Right now!”
“What happened?” I didn’t feel right about trusting him, but I had to follow my instincts. If he wanted to bring me to Antonio, he would’ve just grabbed me and dragged me inside. Telling me about his remorse in getting Krista caught swayed me to believe him. He wasn’t an ally. He couldn’t be so long as he remained as Antonio’s employee, but I felt certain that he’d do anything to spare Krista’s life.
I followed him, crouching like he did at a low run.
“They just brought in another hostage,” he replied, whispering under the cover of the night. “Head in and go up to the north end of the house. Third floor. Come back this way, and I’ll be watching out to get you away.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“I’m helping her . I fucking love her. If Antonio could get over his shit about having you, then I could quit and be with her.”
“Why not quit sooner?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Because of you . Krista says she’ll never speak to me again if I’m not here as a mole, as someone to help give her intel.”
Damn, did my bestie love me, or what.
“Stay to this end of the house. They should be focusing on getting the other hostage settled.”
I nodded and slipped inside. The gun in my hand should’ve made me feel stronger and more prepared, but setting foot in Antonio’s house filled me with nothing but dread.
No sounds of commotion came from other wings of the house, and I felt a silly sense of déjà vu. Like my father’s house, like the neglected Rossini mansion, the Marchese residence was overly large and not at all full of people. I encountered no one, but I remained on alert and kept as quiet as possible.
I reached the second floor, worried that I’d taken the wrong turn somewhere. The moon still shone from the same wall of windows as I went higher through the house, but it seemed like I’d branched out toward the west. I wasn’t sure how I’d reach a third floor, where Krista was supposed to be.
I paused, hearing the sounds of a woman crying on the second floor. Slowing my steps, I strained to listen closely and track where she was.
Maybe Justin got the floors mixed up?
I reached a door at the end of the hall. I stepped too quickly, not softening the landing of my shoe, and the woman gasped inside. Then coughed. And coughed.
I furrowed my brow, wondering if it was Krista at all.
Before I could think twice or debate my actions, I opened the door and stepped in.
Nina.
Her eyes opened wide at me, and her mouth hung open in shock.
“Shhh.” I closed the door and hurried toward her. I hadn’t come here to rescue her, but my friend.
If Jimmy and Luke are looking for her and they’re nowhere to be seen...
I swallowed hard and resisted more worrying.
“Are you okay?” I asked, pissed that Antonio had arranged to capture my friend and Luke’s mother. It seemed that he couldn’t rely on one bait, but had to use both. Or he was simply that cruel of a man and wanted to hurt us both as much as he could.
“Yes,” she whispered, replying in kind. “No. I’m here . Taken by those mafia thugs.” She shook her head. “But why are you here?”
“I’m—”
Men ran down the hallway outside and I stiffened, going quiet to listen as they passed by. Instinct kicked in, and I lifted my gun to aim at the door until all seemed quiet again.
“I’m Emmalina Giordino,” I told her.
She blinked, stunned. Then she narrowed her eyes. “Oh, fuck . Don’t tell me he fell in love with the enemy.”
“He didn’t know I was an enemy. Then again, how could he have known when you and Jimmy lied to him his whole life?”
She looked down, remorseful yet not. “You, of all people, should understand the better option of staying out of the mafia life.”
I huffed a quiet breath. “No. Actually, I can’t.” I’d dreamed of not being my father’s daughter, of not being a mafia princess. Many times, I fantasized about having a normal life. But that wasn’t something I could ever control.
“It’s not an easier option. Your lies are catching up to Luke now.”
We quieted when others walked by again. In the meantime, I took the slim knife out of my pocket—something Jimmy suggested I keep on hand—and cut at the zip-ties binding Nina’s hands behind her back.
“Why are you here?” she asked, seeming to trust me because I acted to free her.
“To help save...” I sighed, knowing that Nina wouldn’t be able to just run out of here.
Luke and Jimmy were supposed to be saving Nina. I’d taken it upon myself to save Krista. But now, it seemed that the plans would change.
“To help Luke. Which means getting you out of here.”
“Will you?” she asked, tears in her eyes.
“Yes.” Justin will have to help Krista.
I had to get his mother out of here. If I didn’t... I’d never forgive myself. He’d never forgive me either.
With more danger and more complications coming at us from every corner, I had to consider the real possibility that Luke and I might not make it to marry and be a family. Getting out of this house would be a suicide mission in and of itself, immediately made more challenging with needing to get Nina out with me now.
If Luke and I couldn’t overcome the constant obstacles we faced, then I at least wanted him to have some family, someone who’d love him.
“Just stay quiet, and stick with me,” I told her.
She tried to stand, but fell toward the chair. “I’m sorry. I’m just so scared. My body doesn’t move as well as it used to...”
I shook my head, sighing that she felt like she had to apologize for her health.
If I had to, I’d carry her out.
One way or another, I had to get moving. I slipped my shoulder under her arm and guided her to lean on me.
“Let’s go.”