Page 17 of Reign of Hope

“What’s wrong?” I ask my brother.

“I think we’re being followed,” he responds. I flit my gaze around but see nothing out of the ordinary.

“I don’t see anything,” I reply.

“Leo says to trust my gut, and I’m pretty sure that red car, about four cars back, has been on our tail since we got on the main road,” Victorio says, then turns to Elena. “Call Dante.” He’ll know what to do.”

While Elena makes the call, Victorio makes his call to Leo. Part of the training Victorio is doing with Leo includes letting his boss know if things don’t look right. “I can’t be sure,” I hear him tell Leo, “but you told me to trust my instincts.” There’s a pause, then he looks through the back window and gives a description of the car he believes to be a threat.

“Dante’s on the way with Sebastian. He says to hold tight,” Elena jumps in. By this time, we’re all staring out the back window. The driver of the limo is speeding up. The car behind us withNostra Casasoldiers slows down to see what the red car will do.

With our eyes glued to the back window, we see the red car attempt to pass the black SUV in which our bodyguards sit. The SUV swerves from side to side to prevent the vehicle from passing. This only seems to piss off the sporty red car, and suddenly, gunshots ring out.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” Victorio cries out, lowering the screen between us and our driver. “How far to the church?”

The driver begins to race, taking swift turns, when we hear a horrid thud. “Fuck! Blown tire,” he shouts. The driver manages to keep the car steady, but we can see the SUV and the red car approaching quickly. “There are guns hidden under the seats. Grab them,” he instructs Victorio. Victorio reaches down and pulls out several pistols. The driver is holding one of his own but takes two out of Victorio’s hands, giving one to Elena and the other to me. He flips off the safety and turns to the three of us. “I’m thinking I’m a better shot than you three, so save your bullets unless they’re right in your sights. Stay inside the car unless I instruct otherwise,” he warns, bringing the car to a sudden stop. Our driver pushes open the driver’s door, positioning himself to be partially shielded. The black SUV, has swerved, skidding to a stop between us and the red car, which is coming in fast.

“Get down as far as you can,” Victorio shouts, pointing his gun out the window, preparing for what’s to come. When shots patter against the metal, I throw myself on top of Elena and push her to the floor.

Elena and I clutch one another. Tears stream down Elena’s face. I think I’m in too much shock to do anything but hold on for dear life. I don’t know what’s going on outside the limo, and I’m too scared to look.

More screeching tires come to an abrupt halt. I hear men shouting just outside the limo. Footsteps pound toward us, then Victorio calling out Dante’s name has Elena struggling to sit up. The door is wrenched open, and Dante pulls Elena out of the car and into his arms. Victorio is already out of the car and holds out his hand for me to step out.

I look around to see a slew of very pissed-off men huddled together. Sebastian calls Victorio over to join them.

The driver stands by my side. Dante tears his gaze from his wife to me, “How’re you doing?”

“I…I’m fine,” I whisper loudly, nodding wildly, but my insides are screaming,Hell no!

“Grab her bouquet,” Dante directs the driver. “You’re with me, Allegra. We just let Zano know what happened. He’s not going to be satisfied until he sees you in person.” The driver hands me my bouquet, then Dante walks me over to his car. Joining us are Sebastian and Victorio.

“Who the fuck were they?” Dante grits out through clenched teeth to his brother, who climbs into the driver’s seat.

“No fucking clue, brother. Good thing Victorio is paying attention to Leo,” Sebastian replies, giving Victorio an expression that shows his appreciation.

Dante’s far from happy. Sebastian goes quiet as we pull out and head to the church.

“I’m a mess.” I finally find my voice and turn to Elena. “I can’t let Zano see me like this.” I haven’t looked in a mirror, but being jostled around and dropping to the floor of a car is sure to have turned me into a less-than-perfect-looking bride.

“We’ll fix you up at the church, Ally,” Elena tells me. “We’re not going to let those people ruin your day.”

I want to tell her that they already did, but that hopeful look in her eyes stops me from saying anything. I force myself to smile back at her. A wedding with lilac and cream roses, lace, and bullets. Who would have thought?

ELEVEN

Today Is for Us

ZANO

Iwalk around like a caged animal, pacing back and forth at the entrance hall of the church. The priest disappeared when all hell was breaking loose. One glance from Reno, and Father Franco discreetly left to his office. Dante raced out the door when Leo broke the news. I was on my way out the door when Reno told me to hang back and sent Sebastian instead.

Everything inside me wanted to beg Reno to let me go with them, but this would only anger him. Reno doesn’t like being questioned. Once Reno walks away, Leo pulls me aside.

“Smart move. Dante and Sebastian have this,” Leo says, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“What do we know?”

Victorio spotted a red sports car that had been tailing them. I advised the car behind them to check it out. Victorio was right. They’ve taken action to get Elena, Ally, and Victorio to safety,” Leo replies. We all have given her that nickname, and Allegra seems to like it.

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