Page 74 of Broken Pawn

Despite the fact that I was facing away from the mansion, I could tell Vanessa was watching me. Her gaze was fixed on the back of my head. The desire to look at her overcame me, but I resisted. I knew that looking at her again would break my resolve. I'd be reminded of how wonderful and peaceful life was with her, which would make me doubt myself.

"I hope you're safe," I prayedas I climbed into the car.

Neither Tristan nor Ryan turned around. We were all focused on what was ahead of us: a gunfight.

I unbuttoned my shirt and picked up the bulletproof vest on the seat. I wore itunder my shirt and re-tied my coat. I had a tommy gun next to me in the backseat, but I was hesitant to use it, preferring to rely on my pistols instead. It was extremely loud.

Despite knowing the exact location and time of the attack, I was just as wary as the men around me.

"Play some music," I said abruptly, and Ryan smiled. I suppose we all needed some respite before facing our potential deaths. The volume was low enough for our ears to pick up on the road as it passed by.

We were afraid. Even if we couldn't admit it, there was fear boiling inside of us, making us acutely aware of our mortality.

Music was a subtle way of calming the men down. And I needed it more than ever with Vanessa on my mind.

I tried calling Uncle Luke and Dylan again, but there was still no answer.

"Have you heard anything from the guy you sent up to my uncle's?" I asked Tristan.

"He hasn't arrived yet. He'll call me as soon as he gets to the house."

"I don't believe there is a man in Chicago who can reach your Uncle Luke. The man is terrifying and ruthless. I mean, I've heard so many of his stories that I wouldn't want to get on his bad side," Ryan stated.

Despite the fanfare, I pondered his words. I realized he was right.

"I worry for nothing," I said.

Even though Ryan ripped through the streets of Chicago like the wind, the drive was longer than I expected. The cemetery was deserted when we arrived. We'd had an agreement with the managers for as long as I could remember. They provided us with private access on the days we needed to pay our respects, and they received a bonus every year.

The vehicles came to a halt.

"Are they out there?" I askedTristan to confirmthat my men were in position.

"Yes, boss."

Though I couldn't see the Robinsons at the time, knowing that my army was on the ground and ready was reassuring.

"I'm going out now," I said.

Tristan got out of the car and came over to me to get the door. I adjusted my coat to conceal my weapons and vest.

I walked as casually as I could, knowing I was being watched from every angle. Before I arrived, my men were told to sweep the area. A sniper would have had no chance. That meant that an attack could only come from the road behind me.

It was strange to be alone in the cemetery. My brother Paul and father were supposed to accompany me, but they were the ones I came to see. They were buried together, as they would have preferred.

"I am sorry about what has to happen here." I spoke to myself as I placed the bottle of scotch between the tombstones. They are ghosts. They should know everything there is to know.

"I have to protect her.I need to keep Vanessa and everyone else safe."

Vanessa. I recalled her and her lovely smile. It felt like a bright light clearing the air and my senses.

"Pardon me, father.Please forgive me, brother," I muttered before drawing my pistols and fleeing for cover.

In the distance, five black SUVs were heading down the road towards my family's land. The windows shrank as they got closer, and they opened fire on me, spraying the tombstone behind which I was hidden.

Shit! I have been spotted.

---