Page 93 of Sins and Secrets

“Have you caught the person who did this yet?”

Davide shakes his head. “We’ve searched the building twice, but we can’t get to the panic room in your office. We don’t have the codes. The men are still sweeping the building, but we suspect whoever did this is sitting in that panic room.”

“Kill the cameras inside the building,” I say as I head for the doors. “I want every camera turned off so they don’t see us coming.”

Several more of the capos are in the building, sweeping every corner and looking for whoever might still be in the building. A group of people huddle in the corner, paramedics leaning over them.

“You don’t think that they’re not going to call the cops?” Billie asks, nodding over to the group of injured people.

“They’ve been given a lot of money not to.” I look around and get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. We're going to be setting ourselves up to get shot. Whoever is hiding in the panic room is going to have the advantage. “This way.”

Billie follows me to the staircase. We climb the stairs together, guns drawn and watching for Paolo’s men. The higher I climb, the more I realize I’m tired of killing people. I want this to be over.

I want to have a month where I don’t have to kill anyone. A single month where I don’t have to feel like a monster.

Billie’s hand presses softly in the middle of my back as if she knows what I’m thinking. I look over my shoulder and offer her a small smile.

“Let’s do this,” I say as we reach the office floor.

I open the door and wait for her to pass through it first. She nods to me when she is a few feet away and we head for my office. My heart is hammering in my chest and my head is on a swivel.

This feels like a trap.

Either a trap, or one really stupid person.

I take a deep breath and open the door to Billie’s office, clearing it before walking into my own. As soon as I step inside, I nearly trip over the bookcase that’s been pushed to the floor.

“Watch yourself,” I say softly to Billie. “There’s broken glass everywhere.”

She nods and looks over at the wall. The hidden door to my panic room is fully visible and a bundle of hundred-dollar bills is sitting outside.

“They’re going to start shooting as soon as that door opens.” I lean down, keeping my mouth close to her ear so whoever in the room can’t hear us. “I want you to stay to the side. They’re going to be shooting in every direction possible. I’m going to be the main target, but you need to surprise them.”

Billie nods and stands to the far side of the door, half hidden behind another bookcase. I take a deep breath before keying in the code to the panic room on the panel beside the door. There is a low groan before the door swings open.

The shooting starts immediately. I throw myself away from Billie, getting behind a couch. More gunshots echo out. I pop up over the couch and shoot the man in the knee.

He drops to the ground, screaming as he grabs his knee. Billie appears from behind the bookcase, keeping her gun pointed at him. I join them, kicking away his weapon as Davide and a couple capos flood into the room.

“Who the fuck is this?” I ask, kicking the man in the ribs.

Davide looks down at him. “Jones. Low-level dealer working for Paolo.”

“Excellent.” I crouch down beside the man, shoving my gun into his mouth. “Here’s the thing, Jones, I could kill you now, but I don’t think that’s enough punishment for you. Davide here is going to take you away. Torture you. Make you regret the day that you decided to fuck with me. And then he is going to kill you.”

Davide hauls Jones to his feet, ignoring his protests and groans. He drags the man to the door, hurrying along, though Jones is hopping on one leg. The gunshots stop as more of my men flood the room.

“We’ve won,” one of the men says as he looks around. “The cleaning team is on the way.”

“Good.” I nod and put my gun away. “The capos will give further instructions. Billie, it’s time to go.”

She keeps her gun in hand as we make our way out of the club and back to my car. Billie’s stare is a thousand miles away as she gets into the car and leans back in her seat. I stand outside for a minute, watching as the cleaning crew’s van pulls up to the doors.

“It won’t be long before the cops are here,” I say as I get in the car and start the engine.

“I’m so ready for this shit to be over,” she says as her eyes close.

“I know.” I reach over and squeeze her thigh gently. “We’re going to get through this together. We’re getting closer and closer to Paolo every single day. Christian and his men are searching Paolo’s properties and killing whoever they find there. We’re going to end this soon.”

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