Page 35 of Unsettled
“We need backup on this side,” I say into the comms.
I don’t know who, or if anyone, responds, as I'm too busy trying not to get myself or the boys shot.Fucking impulsive Roman. Gonna kill him for this. Lio too, if Il Padrone doesn’t get to him first.
One of our men goes down, and I shoot the fucker who got him in the head. My heart pounds as the fucker collapses, and another enemy takes his place. They’re popping up like fucking daisies, and it’s getting annoying.
“Got eyes on Court,”Hollis says loudly in my ear.“Fucker was hiding, like I thought he was. Hurry, he’s headed into the Bosses’ room.”
Goddammit. There goes any finesse we had in killing these fuckers.
My feet barely seem to hit the ground as I sprint across the room behind Roman and Emilio. Roman gets clipped, hisbody jerking as a bullet rips through his arm. Emilio efficiently kills the fucker that shot at his friend, before quickly assessing Roman.
“I’m fine.” Roman’s words are accompanied by a hiss of pain.
“Be more careful, Little Prince,” I tell him, coming up behind them. “I will have you pulled if you can’t keep yourself safe.”
“Fuck you.” Roman doesn’t even look back as he and Emilio approach the door to the corridor.
Roman’s guards take up a position on either side of the open door, their guns drawn. We clear out of the line of fire, knowing the enemy is counting on us making a mistake. Hollis was right about this being a death trap.
If I remember the layout correctly, the only thing down this way are storage rooms, with one way out. And while some of the men guarding the corridor are now dead, or almost-dead, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy getting past whoever’s left.
“On my count,” I sign.
Roman nods, adjusts his grip on his gun, and takes a breath.
“Three… Two…” Adjusting my own stance, I filter out the chatter coming from the earpiece, as the Martellis make their way to our location, and our men do the same. “One.”
Benji, having worked with Roman and I long enough to anticipate our movements, sweeps into the corridor first, with Dante on his heels. Unwilling to let Roman or Emilio get shot, I go next, ignoring the way Roman growls my name.
There’s no cover in the corridor, so men drop like flies. Though that also means the chances of getting shot are high, so trying to keep myself and the boys safe is virtually impossible.
“Fuck.” The sting of a bullet grazing my arm is never pleasant.
“Second to last door is where you’ll find the Bosses,”Leandro says.
“Motherfucker,” Benji hisses as he stumbles backwards, after getting hit in the leg.
Roman empties his magazine, shooting the dickhead who hit his bodyguard—no, he’s not at all traumatized by Enzo almost dying in front of him last year.
“What’s Tom doing with the Bosses?” I ask.
“Nothing.”There’s surprise in Hollis’s voice.“He has a gun out, but he’s simply pacing, occasionally pointing it at them. I don’t think hewantsto kill them, but I wouldn’t put it past him, if you get too close. Tread carefully, Love.”
“You hear that, boys?” I ask mildly.
“Fuck that,” Emilio says. “I know you said to keep him alive, Roman, but…”
“Do what you need to, Amico Mio,” Roman tells him.
Together, Roman and Emilio close the distance to the only open door in the corridor. On quick feet, Roman dashes in front of the door, to get to the other side of it, while Emilio stands perfectly poised to enter.
The shot fired at Roman causes a red haze to fall over my vision. He meets my gaze and signs, “I’m fine.”
If it wasn't a stupid move, I'd try to cross, to be on the other side of the door with him. As it is, I can only keep his friend safe for him.
There's a commotion behind us that is either a stampede of Martellis and Jude coming to assist—or get in the way—or an actual stampede. Neither option is optimal, but I can't lose focus, so I don't bother turning to see, trusting my surviving men to get them under control.
Roman does a silent count: Three… Emilio shifts his stance and I follow, prepared to throw myself over him, if needed.
