28. Elena #2
“How you ordered the hit because the prosecutor was sniffing around the ex-police commissioner’s death. How you were involved with some mafia families. How—”
The mayor slams the laptop shut, his face contorting with rage. “Give me one fucking reason I shouldn’t blow your brains out right now.”
Adriano chuckles darkly. “Because I’m not the only one with that file.”
The mayor scoffs, his knuckles turning white. I’d pay anything to see the permanent look of defeat on his face. “A recording is nothing. It can be faked, discredited.”
“Which is why I didn’t send it to the cops.
They’re too easy to lean on—a little pressure from the top, and evidence like that mysteriously vanishes.
That’s why I sent it to Martin Shane at the NY Ledger.
He’s the right person. Hates politicians.
Loves a good corruption story. And more importantly, can’t be bought. ”
“You bastard!” In a split second, the mayor lunges, striking a blow to Adriano’s stomach. Adriano wheezes, falling to the floor in pain. I bite my lips, my breath growing heavier. Is he hurt?
After a few seconds of wheezing, Adriano stands up and continues, his voice a low rasp. “Anything happens to me, Shane releases the file. He checks up every hour, and if I’m unresponsive, he releases the file.”
“You son—”
“It’s over for you, Alex Thompson. You can shoot me, but know that my death is the trigger that burns your world down.”
It feels like everything stills as the mayor makes his decision. I hold my breath when the sudden blare of sirens fills my ears.
FBI! EVERYBODY ON THE GROUND! HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!
The shout comes from somewhere near the front gate, followed by a series of gunshots as the mayor’s men fire.
The mayor looks confused, but it’s soon replaced with anger as he removes a gun from his waistband and fires at Adriano. Just in that moment, someone yanks my hair so hard that I fall back, my spine crashing against the ground.
“Get up, you’re coming with me.”
My heart shatters as I lift my head to see a frantic, furious figure, eyes burning with hate. I don’t know who he is… but I just know, one wrong move and he’ll kill me.
Still, I scream, clawing at his wrist. He only yanks me harder, dragging me across the gravel between blocks of containers. Through teary eyes, I see Adriano break into a sprint toward us, gun aimed at my attacker.
“Let her go, Caughn!” he roars through the sirens and distant shouting.
Caughn cackles and something cool presses into my side. I freeze.
“One more step, Bellandini, and I end her right here!”
“This is between us, Caughn. Let her go.”
Adriano grits his teeth and skids to a halt. I see the wheels spinning in his head as he lifts his hands slowly in surrender, tossing his gun aside.
“No. I’m going to kill every fucking person entangled in this mess… starting with her.”
His eyes dart from my face to Caughn’s and somehow anger wells up in my heart.
I’m fucking tired of every powerful bastard treating me like an object to trade. Without warning, I swing my head backward, hitting the bastard in his nose. And then, I swiftly turn to hit him in his balls. I hope he won’t ever have an erection again.
In that frozen second, Adriano closes the distance between them. Caughn meets the charge and they collide with a sound that makes me wince.
They both crash to the concrete, rolling violently as they grapple for control. With a feral growl, Caughn throws a jab at Adriano's temple, but before the bastard can land another blow, Adriano flips their position, headbutting him and punching his shoulder.
The raw brutality of their struggle makes my breath hitch as they tear into each other like savage animals, beating each other bloody in the dirt.
I watch in absolute terror, my heart slamming against my chest for Adriano, as I notice him double over in pain. And that’s when I see his bleeding side.
Shit. He must have been hurt before coming here.
I hold my breath as Caughn pushes with vicious strength, forcing Adriano to the ground.
Then he’s back on him again, now landing punches to his face.
I look toward the entrance, stupidly hoping the FBI might intervene, but we’re tucked deep enough between the container blocks that no one’s looking our way yet.
Besides, an FBI intervention wouldn’t exactly end well for Adriano anyway.
“You underestimate me, Adriano.” With a twisted smile, Caughn moves his hands to Adriano’s neck and begins choking him. “Every fucking person underestimates me… even my own father.”
Adriano claws at his wrist, his face turning blue.
“I’ll kill you… her… him. Damn, even myself, if I have to.”
The rage in his voice is raw… like he’s gone crazy.
Suddenly, Adriano bucks his hip, wheezing desperately. But that makes Caughn stagger. And right at that moment, Adriano rolls over and lunges for the gun on the floor.
“Watch out!” I yell as Caughn picks up the metal piece and slams it into the back of Adriano’s head. Fuck.
My fingers itch by my side, and I contemplate jumping in. But that’ll put the baby at risk, seeing as I stand no chance.
Caughn slams the metal piece on his back before angling it vertically and diving straight for his chest. I bite my lips so hard that I feel the blood as the metal grazes Adriano’s chest, but before it can penetrate, Adriano grabs the gun and fires two rounds at Caughn.
Finally, Caughn freezes, his eyes going wide, as blood spills from his mouth.
The shots still echo in my ears as he staggers backward, giving Adriano time to stand up. But then, in one second, everything changes. Caughn raises his hand to reveal a gun.
My eyes widen. When the fuck did he pick that up? He aims at me, then fires. My breath catches in my throat and I shut my eyes, waiting for impact. It never comes; instead, when I open my eyes, Adriano is in front of me, clutching his shoulder with a loud groan.
Shit. He really took a bullet for me.
Karma finally catches up to Caughn as he falls to the ground, his hand clutching at his side in a weak attempt to stop the bleeding.
“While you were in the cell in Nevada, I-I realized the greatest betrayal of my life. Y-You and Enzo were nev-never the last pieces of evidence my father wanted to eradicate,” Caughn chokes out in an almost inaudible voice.
Adriano furrows his brow.
“M-Me… I-I w-was the final target. The ultimate loose end. I found out my o-own father wanted to kill me, too.” With that, his head lolls to the side, and his body grows limp.
Adriano turns his gaze to me, hand grazing his blood-stained shoulder before clutching his bleeding side. And the world, for just a second, falls away.