Page 112 of Hush 3: Hidden Family

“It has always been two. The one who slaughters and the one who gives a peaceful death. You have taken me and now there might as well be one.

“My husband can be gentle, but once you touch me, he becomes as savage as his brother. Only the dead know of this secret. You will join them.

“You want to know why my husband and I are the only option to run such a powerful family? We don’t talk about who we are; we show you.

“Für Elise” fills the air right as I finish my words. It’s not the classical version, it’s the one I danced to my senior year with Ximena. The first time Michael hid in the audience to watch me.

While still holding myself in the air, I coil the loose chain beside me around my ankle as this jerk continues to run his mouth. I shift my leg into arond de jambe, moving it away from my other leg. Then, bringing that same leg back across my body in abattement, I swing the chain across my body with all the force I can muster.

The chain smacks the jerk I beat up earlier across the face. He spins with the impact and falls to the floor. I believe a few teeth fly out of his mouth, along with blood.

I whimper as pain shoots through my inner thigh. I knew there was a chance I would injure my groin from the weight of the chain, but I took the risk. As I release my hold on the chains above me, I drop into a crouch.

At the same time, four figures drop from above. I know right away the largest one is Michael. The tails of his dark coat float up through the air as he comes down like an avenging angel.

The dark look on his face says all I need to know. They will all pay for this. For every ache I feel, he will make them pay.

“I’ve got you,” Annabella says as she catches me in her arms as Val covers us.

I pull one of Annabella’s guns to help as she lifts me to my feet and helps me move forward. I fight through the tears and pain and hold my arm up the best I can to aim and shoot.

“We can’t leave Michael,” I whimper as they try to lead me out and away from where Michael and Uri are in the middle of a gunfight.

“There isn’t a single Donati not leaving this building. Let Annabella take you to safety. I’ve got this,” Val orders. “I promise, sis.”

I close my mouth and swallow my words as she says her last three words. I trust Val. I know she means it.

Annabella shoots our way out. My arms are so tired I barely manage to help. I’m more than relieved when we get to the SUV.

Logan stands by the vehicle with a red-haired man. They both have smoking pistols in their hands as they seem to be standing guard.

“Aye, so this is the wee lass the lad has lost his noodle over,” the redhead says while opening the back door of the SUV and narrowing his eyes at me. “Where do I know ya from, lass?”

“You killed a man for me once,” I say as I remember his face from when I worked for the O’Sheas.

“Aye, the accountant.”

“I am not an accountant. I told you this back then.”

He chuckles. “Aye, love. I know. That’s not why I gave you the name.”

Logan lifts me from my feet then helps to place me into the vehicle as the redhead laughs. Annabella jumps in after me and gets to work checking me for injuries. I’m sore, but I don’t think I have any life-threatening wounds.

“Thank God, no open wounds. She’s okay,” Annabella breathes.

Michael

As my sister’s words come through the comm, an ounce of my sanity returns. Not much, but enough for me to see the faces of the men I slaughter as they fall to the ground.

I roll my shoulder and toss my coat away. Then, just as swiftly, I drop the two guns I have emptied and reach for two more. I put a bullet into the head of the bastard running toward me as I make my way for Leonardo.

That motherfucker is mine. This ends now. LaSalle sent Logan O’Brien and Ronan McGowan after Uri to let him know we have his full support in finally ending this bastard’s life.

“You can’t kill me,” Leonardo screams in Italian as Uri shoots his gun from his shaking hand. “They will come for you all now.”

He looks between the two of us as if he’s going to shit his pants. It seems he’s trying to figure out who’s who. Sweat begins to pour down his face.

“Which one of you is Uri? I can give you power. Between the fear you bring and my connections, we can take over everything,” he says.

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