Page 33 of Sweet Union
Footsteps come running down the stairs, and my hope is dashed when Romeo appears. “Your husband is here. Which means it’s showtime.” He points his gun at me. “We’ll wait.”
“Luca!”
Romeo hits the cage with the butt of his gun. “Shut up. He’ll be down here soon. I know he’s looking for you. And when he comes down, I’ll kill him. But if you speak again, I’ll put a bullet through your brain. How does that sound?”
I press my lips together.
“There. Look how easy that was.” Romeo faces the steps but keeps his gun leveled at me.
Soon, the sound of sirens fills the air. That’s either a good sign or a terrifying one.
Another set of footsteps clomp down the stairs.
Luca enters the basement, and I feel a momentary set of relief before Romeo lifts his gun and fires at Luca.
Luca manages to dodge out of the way, throwing himself back up the steps. Romeo keeps firing, keeping Luca at bay.
After he realizes he’s not hitting him, Romeo stops. “Fine. Come out, Luca. I have your wife. If you don’t out in the next five seconds, I’m going to kill her.”
“No, Luca! Don’t!” I shout.
But, of course, Luca doesn’t listen. He wants to protect me. He always has. So, he steps off the stairs and enters the basement. His gun is aimed at Romeo, but he doesn’t shoot.
“Let Nat go,” he growls.
Romeo chuckles. “Like I’m going to do that.” He presses his gun against my temple through the bars. “If you shoot me, she’s dead.”
“Let. Her. Go.”
“You can keep asking, and you’ll get the same answer. Your wife isn’t going anywhere. If you want to save her, you’ll put down your gun and let me kill you.”
Luca’s eyes flit to mine. “Nat? Are you hurt?”
“No,” I whisper. “But, Luca, don’t do this. Don’t die for me.”
“You know you can’t ask me to do that. I’ll always save you, Nat.” He starts to lower his gun.
I look at Romeo more closely. The keys to the cage are dangling off his belt. If I can just reach them …
Romeo has his eyes set on Luca, so he doesn’t even notice me grab the keys. “Just set your gun down, Luca. I’ll kill you quick. I’m tired of wasting time.”
“The police are out there,” Luca tells him. “If you kill me here and now, you’re going down for murder.”
“No, I won’t. I have another way out of here. You’ll be dead, and your wife will be with me.”
I keep my hands steady as I carefully unlock the lock. With the combination of sounds from the sirens and Luca and Romeo talking, Romeo doesn’t hear the click of the lock being undone.
“I won’t let that happen,” Luca growls. “If you kill me, I’m taking you down with me.” Luca suddenly sprints forward and barrels into Romeo, knocking him to the ground.
I open the cage and jump out.
The two men grapple together, both trying to get the upper hand. In their scuffle, their guns are knocked away from them. Romeo manages to roll on top of Luca and starts raining punches down on my husband’s face.
I pick up the nearest gun and point it at Romeo’s head. I remember the time Luca took me to the gun range and taught me how to shoot. I remember the kickback. The loudness of it. I’m prepared.
I pull the trigger.
The bullet goes straight through Romeo’s head.
