Page 44 of Mafia Don's Secret Baby

“Higher ground,” I ordered. “There were at least two more shooters, but likely more. We need to get as far away as possible so we don’t get pinned down, and then we’ll call for backup.”

“Matteo, if we call backup, there’s going to be a lot of bloodshed.”

“That’s why we’re going to try to get away first.” I reached forward and pulled the gun from the harness she wore, handing it to her. “If you see anyone with a weapon, shoot first and ask questions later.”

“That’s what Silas always used to tell me,” she whispered, taking a deep breath and loading her gun. I saw the steely look in her eyes. “You were right. We should have killed them when we had the chance.”

I nodded. “I didn’t want to be. Keep close.”

I took off toward the short hallway in the building, looking for an elevator or stairwell as I held my sidearm close to my body. I took a mental catalog of my weapons. The rifle had been left in the car, but I had three pistols—one at each hip and one at my ankle. I had two knives strapped to my bulletproof vest and a pocketknife.

The small arsenal would have to be enough.

We pushed through a large metal door and found ourselves in an open room, elevators on the back wall. A receptionist sat in the center of the room with a smile as she glanced over at us. A large sign over her head said, “Harley and Williams”.

A fucking attorney’s office.

“Hello,” the receptionist said, her voice cutting off as her head flung backward and blood sprayed.

“Get to the elevator,” I shouted at Lilianna, pointing to the already open doors as the young receptionist fell to the floor in a puddle of her blood. I didn’t hesitate to lift my weapon and fire twice. The shooter dropped his gun with the first shot, and he fell back as the second bullet ripped through his throat.

A woman stepped forward, and Lilianna fired two shots. Both ripped through her chest, sending her backward and into the glass doors behind her. They shattered on impact.

When I looked at Lilianna, I found her already running toward the elevators.

“I think we need that backup!” she shrieked as another man rushed into the building, spotting us just before the elevator closed us inside. I hit the button for the rooftop as I pulled my phone from my pocket.

“I was wrong about you,” I admitted as I dialed Anthony’s number. “Your heart isn’t too soft.”

She tightened her mouth as she looked at me, but Anthony answered before she could respond. “What’s up, boss?”

“I need backup at the Harley and Williams attorney office. We’re pinned down.”

“Fuck,” Anthony cursed, moving around. “We don’t keep guys out there. It’s too close to the Russians’ territory, and we didn’t want a turf war.”

“I know where we keep our soldiers, Anthony,” I bellowed through the phone. “Get them here.”

“Fuck. I’m adding Marcus to the line to see what else we can do. I’m all the way out in New Rochelle right now. I won’t be able to be there for an hour minimum. Hide in a closet or something, Matteo.”

My jaw clenched. “They saw us come into this building. We can’t allow ourselves to be cornered.

“Where are the men we sent you?” he yelled into the line. “Jesus, Christ, Matteo. There was backup at the shop. People on the streets. Where are they?”

We’d only been able to assign a handful of men and we couldn’t bring them with us–not without being caught following the Russians. “They’re back at the tech shop. Send them.”

He went silent, and within a moment, Marcus’s voice came on the line. “Hey, man. Did you catch the game?”

Anthony’s firm voice filled the line. “Matteo is pinned down in Russian territory.”

“Fuck,” Marcus mumbled as he began clicking away on a keyboard. Anthony relayed the information I had given him, and I tucked the phone into my vest pocket, putting it on speaker.

“We’re heading to the roof. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

As the elevator continued rising, Anthony shouted demands at Marcus. He asked for the number and location of the enemy. He demanded backup from the men who were serving as lookouts. As always, Marcus was on it. He was sending the whole damn cavalry, but we’d need to survive until they got here.

The elevator opened, and I stepped out first, scanning the rooftop for any sign of life. Lilianna still had her gun in her hand, likely deciding that carrying it was the safest option.

Once we both stepped out, I shot the control panel once. The lights went out, and the door didn’t close as it lost all function.

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