Page 82 of Plus-Size Bratva Possession
“We need to move,” he said, taking one of the guard’s fallen guns. “Stay close to me.”
We slipped out of the room, and Gastone led the way with his gun raised. When we couldn’t find any doors, we realized we would have to cross the main warehouse floor to reach the exit.
“Ready?” Gastone whispered, and I nodded, though I was petrified.
We made it halfway across the open space, ducking behind crates and containers, before we were noticed.
“They're out! The prisoners are escaping!”
The next thing I knew, there were gunshots everywhere. Gastone returned fire, pulling me along toward the exit that now seemed impossibly far away.
“Run!” he shouted. “I'll cover you!”
I sprinted for the door with heart in my throat, when Ricardo stepped out from behind a container directly in my path. I skidded in shock, and he grabbed my arm.
“Going somewhere?” he asked, yanking me against him and putting a knife at my throat.
“Ajello!” he shouted. “Drop the gun or I'll cut her open right now!”
I saw Gastone freeze as he lowered the gun slowly.
“Let her go, Ricardo,” Gastone said calmly, buying time.
“Drop. The. Gun.” Ricardo pressed the knife harder against my skin, and I felt a warm trickle of blood.
Gastone placed the gun on the ground and raised his hands. “You have me,” he said. “Let her go.”
Just then, one of Ricardo’s men came and forced Gastone to his knees.
Ricardo laughed, the sound harsh and unhinged. “Why would I do that when this is so perfect? You, watching helplessly while I hurt her. Just like I had to watch Adriana choose you over me, again and again.”
“Please, no…” Gastone cried.
He shifted the knife from my throat to my cheek, the point digging in. I closed my eyes, bracing for the pain while Gastone roared with fury.
A gunshot rang out, and Ricardo's grip on me loosened. More shots followed in quick succession. I opened my eyes to see chaos erupting around us. Men were pouring into the warehouse from all sides.
Our families. They were here.
Dom was at the front, shooting at the men at the back. Caspian, Federico, and Dante were right beside him, while Carlo and Dino ran in from another entrance we must have missed. Ricardo held on to me tighter, taking me hostage.
“Stay back!” he screamed. “I'll kill her!”
In the confusion, Gastone had taken down the man guarding him and was now on his feet.
“Ricardo!” he called. “Let her go and face me like a man!”
Ricardo laughed. “You think I'm stupid? You think I'll just—”
I didn't stop to think. I brought my heel down hard on his foot and jabbed my elbow back into his stomach with all my strength. He grunted in pain and loosened his grip, and that’s when I managed to pull myself out of his grip.
The next thing I knew, Gastone was on him. He punched Ricardo right across the face, and Ricardo stumbled, before he found his footing and flung his knife wildly in Gastone’s direction. Gastone tried to avoid him, but I screamed when I saw Ricardo manage to cut into Gastone’s arm.
I panicked at the sight of that blood. His blood.
Around us, our brothers were fighting with the Espositos, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from Gastone and Ricardo. Gastone, even with his injured arm, pounced on Ricardo.
Ricardo managed to kick Gastone off him and scramble to his feet. “You took everything from me!” he screamed, lunging at Gastone.
