Page 19 of Caged Captain

“Let’s go,” I grit out, sprinting back to my car.

“Hold up,” Enrico calls out. “We need more of a plan than bursting into an abandoned building with guns blazing.”

“Sounds like a solid plan to me,” I grunt. I don’t just want to save my precious Imogine; I want to destroy the men who dared to touch a single hair on her head.

“Marco,” comes Enrico’s stern voice.

He approaches, his eyes trained on mine. Enrico rarely pulls rank, even though he’s the Underboss and the second in command of the Caparellis. Right now, he’s letting me know he’s in control of this situation, and I need to listen to him. I’m twitchy, my trigger finger itching to put a few bullets in the heads of the fuckers who kidnapped my woman.

“I won’t pretend to understand what you’re going through. Fuck if I can remember the last time I had any interest in a relationship. But I sense your urgency and panic. Take a breath and trust that I want Imogine to be safe. That means not pissing off the cops who have her in their custody, yeah?”

I grunt in acknowledgment, but that’s not good enough for Enrico. I trust and respect the Underboss and know he has objectivity right now when I don’t. “Yes, you’re right,” I admit.

Enrico gives me a small nod before rattling off his plan. “We park the cars before we get to the casino entrance so we don’t draw attention. Lorenzo and I will go in first and secure the perimeter. I have a feeling these guys are cocky and overconfident in their secret interrogation spot and won’t have guards, but we can’t take any chances. On our signal, you rush in, and we’ll cover you. Four cops, three of us, but we have the element of surprise.”

Lorenzo nods, and both men look at me.

“Fine. We’re wasting time,” I snap.

“On our signal, remember,” Enrico repeats. “Not a second before. Breathe, Marco. We’re going to get your girl.”

The plan unfolds as the three of us make our way to our destination. As per Enrico’s instructions, I hang back while he and Lorenzo circle the building to ensure there are no guards. As expected, the officers are all too comfortable in what they assume is a secret spot everyone forgot about.

Enrico motions for me to rush the entrance, and I take off, one gun in my hand and another tucked into my waistband. I also have a dagger strapped to my ankle and a switchblade in my pocket.

The double doors have a chain wrapped around the handles, secured by a padlock. Good thing they’re made of glass. I shoot the door frame, watching the glass splinter. With a final stomp-kick, the entire sheet of protective glass crumples and breaks into a million pieces.

A bullet whizzes past my head, and I duck out of the way. Lorenzo and Enrico are right behind me, one of them cracking off a shot at the fucker who fired at me. They go down with a yelp and a thud. I scan the large room, my chest aching while adrenaline and pure, righteous anger course through my veins.

Imogine is tied to a chair with duct tape covering her mouth. She squirms in her seat, her eyes widening when she sees me. I’m completely gutted by the tears streaming down her face, my rage boiling over at the men who did this to her.

“Now, now,” one of the officers says, holding his hands up. “No need to incite violence, right, boys?”

“Fuck you,” I snarl, walking forward with my gun drawn. With one of their detectives down, it’s three against three.

“This is perfect, actually,” the man who has been following me for weeks says. Detective Shilton, though I refer to him asDetective Shithead. “I was just getting tired of questioning your fake cow of a girlfriend, and now you show up.”

“Motherfucker,” I shout as I lunge forward.

Shots ring out in the dilapidated building, but my gaze is narrowed on Shithead. He reaches for his gun, but I’m quicker. As much as I’d like to blow his brains out, I know Aurelio doesn’t want to deal with a dead cop right now. Instead of ending his life the way I so desperately want, I aim for his kneecap.

“Jesus Christ!” he screams as he falls to the ground.

I stand over him, pistol-whipping him until his nose cracks and blood pours down his face. The reprehensible piece of shit rolls around on the floor. I kick him in the stomach over and over until something pulls me out of my red haze.

I realize it’s Imogine trying to get my attention. Everything else falls right out of my head, my sole purpose switching from retribution to saving my woman.

“I’m so sorry,” I say, carefully cutting the zip ties from her wrists and ankles. “I’m sorry,” I repeat as my fingers curl around the edge of the duct tape covering her mouth.

She nods once and squeezes her eyes shut as I rip it off, trying to make it as quick as possible.

Imogine gasps for air and falls forward into my waiting arms. I scoop her up, cradling her against my chest and covering her with my body as I run toward a side door leading to the parking lot.

“I’ve got you,” I whisper, tightening my hold on her. “I’m never letting you go again.”

Imogine curls into me, burying her head between my neck and shoulder. She’s trembling, her breaths coming in short bursts.

We finally reach the car, where I place her inside and buckle her seatbelt. Looking over my shoulder, I see Lorenzoand Enrico following behind. The Underboss is on his phone, undoubtedly reporting back to Aurelio.

---