Page 52 of Fragile Union

We breach the gym, and I don’t even hesitate, my gun is aimed and I shoot. One after one, the Russian men fall. I don’t stop until every bullet is emptied from my magazine.

“We had a truce,” Maksim roars as he steps into the chaos.

Dante once again raises his hand, stopping the onslaught. “We did, so want to tell me why your men ambushed my family? Why your men killed mine and took my sister-in-law?”

The blank expression on the bastard’s face makes me want to lunge at him. To take my knife and peel strips of skin from his face. I want the fucker to scream and beg for his life as I bleed his life from him.

“My men did no such thing,” he replies, his voice void of emotion. For a man that’s lost men here, he’s acting like it doesn’t faze him.

“Lies!” Dante sneers at him, “who else would be so fucking bold and do this?”

Maksim glances at me. “Word on the street is, someone isn’t happy you found a wife.”

I narrow my eyes at him, “Really? And what exactly have you heard?”

I’m ready to fucking throw my knife at him, wanting it to pierce his skin and stick into his heart.

“Now, Romero, surely you are not that stupid? I detest this game. I do not like to state the obvious. A woman scorned is a crazy woman. But add in who her family is, and you have a murderous crazy woman.”

I turn my gaze to Stefan. “Find Carter,” I demand. “I want to know where that fucking cunt is.”

He nods and turns on his heel, his cell to his ear as he moves past the throngs of men and outside.

“I find out you’re lying, Maksim, and you’ll have a lot more to worry about than your gym,” Dante informs him, “What happened here, this is only the beginning, you do not come after my family.”

Before Maksim can retort, the door behind him opens and out walks my fucking brother.

The sharp intakes of breaths from our men tells me there’s no way he can be dealt with by Dante and me. He’s shown that he’s betrayed the family, and there’s no escaping what’s coming his way.

“Boss,” Stefan says, “Danny’s wife has called, she and your wife have the bitch,” the smile on his face is reflected on every other man’s face.

“Let’s go,” Dante snaps. “Alessio, you too.” There’s no mistaking his tone.

Alessio has fucked up and he’ll be punished. But right now, our focus is on Holly.

Nineteen

HOLLY

I blink as I try to fight the darkness once again. My shoulder and leg are burning with pain, every move I make has me biting down on my lip to stop the whimpers or cries from escaping me. I’m not sure how long I’ve been here, probably a few hours.

I’ve no idea how we got here, or where here even is. I woke up tied to this chair. My arm pulled behind my back, making the wound at my shoulder hurt. I’m shrouded in darkness; the only light is dim and it’s coming from the two small windows on either side of this room.

No one has come since I woke up, I’m wondering if they’ll even bother coming back, or will they let me die here. The wound to my leg is worse than the one on my shoulder. The bleeding has slowed, I can feel that they’ve bandaged it up somewhat. But when I move my leg, I can feel the warmth of the blood running down my leg.

The door opens and the lights are flicked on, and suddenly I’m blinking harshly for a whole other reason. The blinding lights are too much for my eyes, too powerful for me and my head begins to pound. I try to focus on the bodies moving toward me, but I can’t. My vision swims as I try to keep my head up.

“Ms. Gallagher, so nice to see you awake,” the man says to me as he steps into my view. His accent is hard to place. I suck in a sharp breath as I refocus my gaze. I can finally see the man, he’s short, hell probably only a couple of inches taller than Lis, and she’s tiny. He’s got a jagged scar which goes from his right eyebrow to his nostril, as well as a scar on his upper lip.

“Do you know who I am?” he questions, his voice holds an air of authority about it.

I blink, I’ve never seen this man in my life. How the hell should I know who he is?

He steps forward with a smirk playing on his lips, his eyes filled with amusement. I don’t see it coming, so I’m unable to brace. He lifts his hand and savagely backhands me. Once again, my vision swims, the blackness creeping into my eyes.

“Now, Ms. Gallagher, I asked you a question…” his tone filled with anger and loathing.

“Bianchi,” I spit at him, tasting blood on my lips.

---