Page 20 of Claimed By The Devil

That’s good. They’re still inside. I start up the stairs with John on my heels. We stop on the second floor and look up at the door to 310 to make sure it’s still clear then start our ascent to the top floor. Halfway up, I stop and turn to John.

“You knock on the door. Tell him you wanted to make sure you didn’t misunderstand his instructions. Watch yourself. He may not buy it, and if that’s the case, he’s coming out shooting.”

John nods and takes the lead for the rest of the climb.

When we reach the room, John stands in front of the door. I hug the wall between the door and the window. I nod to him and he knocks on the door. We wait but Jimmy doesn’t answer. “Talk to him,” I whisper.

John takes a deep breath and knocks again, “Jimmy, it’s John. I came out to see if you need backup. You in there, man?”

The deadbolt turns and light streams out through the crack in the door. John leans over so his face is in view. “It’s me, man. You need some help out here?” The door opens further and John raises both of his hands. “Whoa, man. What’s the problem? Don’t shoot me,” he says.

“Drop your pistol and kick it into the room,” I hear Jimmy say. My heartbeat pounds in my ears when I hear his voice.

“Why are you holding the Boss’ girl like that man? What are you doing?” John asks the question to let me know that Jimmy is using Deirdre as a shield.

“Get your fat ass in here and face the back wall,” Jimmy instructs him and I smile. That’s my opening. I prepare to move as I watch John enter the room. I give him a few seconds to get in position then inch my way to the open door. Jimmy has his back to me now. He’s got his arm around Deirdre’s throat pushing her back into the room.

He reaches back to push the door closed, and I slide in, allowing it to close behind me. Jimmy is forcing John to the back wall with his gun pointed at his head. I raise my weapon and aim. At this range, a body shot could go through him and hit Deirdre, and I don’t want to aim for his head. It’s too soon for him to die. I need to have a word with him first.

He cocks his weapon, ready to end John, so I start shooting. I hit him twice in the left leg and three times in the right. He loses his grip on Deirdre and falls to the floor. John rushes him and secures his weapon. Deirdre’s face is red and stained with tears, but she looks unharmed. She crawls onto the bed and holds her knees to her chest as she watches the scene that’s about to unfold before her.

Jimmy lies on the floor, groaning in pain from the torn flesh and splintered bones in his legs. I kick him in the gut to get his attention then crouch down beside him. I want to hear every word that comes out of his traitorous mouth.

“Why, Jimmy? I was good to you.”

“It wasn’t yours. It was supposed to be mine,” he mutters. “I was groomed to run things, not you. You didn’t deserve it.”

“I didn’t deserve it? You ungrateful piece of shit, I earned it,” I growl.

“Let me live and I’ll bring you my crew. We can join together and end Bobby Vito for good,” he heaves.

“That might have been something to consider before but your last decision, Jimmy. That was your last decision. You never should have come after my girl,” I clench my fists.

“I wasn’t gonna hurt her. I was just gonna use her to get you out in the open. I swear.”

“You’ll either be a valuable bargaining chip or a pretty revenge corpse,” Deirdre says and I smack Jimmy across the face.

“I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to scare her. I won’t do that to you, Boss. I swear,” Jimmy begs.

“Deirdre, get your things and go outside,” I tell her.

“You’re not gonna kill him, are you?” she gasps.

“Do as I say, baby.”

She tosses a few items in her suitcase and slings her overnight bag over her shoulder. She rushes past me, opens the door, and steps outside.

“John, you got this?” I ask him.

“With pleasure, Boss. Then I’ll take our old friend Jimmy here for a ride in the country. Take care of your girl, Boss.”

I nod at him and say, “Goodbye, Jimmy.”

“Danny, no. Come back. We can talk this out. We can make a deal. Come back,” Jimmy bawls.

I close the door behind me and take Deirdre in my arms.

“Did he hurt you, baby?” I inspect her from head to toe.

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