Page 44 of Knocked up by the Mafia

Russo shouts at the guard, “Bring her in then. We can kill her along with this fucker.”

The guard looks fearful. “Sir, we can’t go near her. She’s strapped to a bomb. She’s threatening to run in here and blow the place up.”

At this, my blood runs cold. What the fuck is she thinking!

I struggle against my binds, and Russo turns to me. “Seems I don’t have to find your little girlfriend. She’s here. Take him down,” he barks the orders to his guards. “Bring him so I can shoot him in front of her.”

They lower me to the ground, and I can’t stand. I feel pins and needles throughout my arms and hands. The guards lift me by my arms, but I try to stand. They don’t give me a chance to get to my feet.

They drag me out of the warehouse and into the open air. It revives me a little. I don’t know how long I’ve been gone or how long it took Nat to find me, but it seems to be just before dawn. Thankfully the sun isn’t up because bright light would kill my eyes right now.

I search for her, finding her standing under a street light as though she’s in the spotlight on a stage. There is a bomb strapped to her, and the detonator is in her hand. I feel panicked. I am scared she’s mad enough to do something drastic, but another part of me remembers what Ronan said about her. I need to trust her. I keep my eyes on her.

Nat meets my eyes, well, my good one, and frowns. Then she glares at Russo. “Let him go, Don Russo, or you’re going to regret it. I won’t live without him. I certainly don’t mind going to the afterlife with him and our baby.”

Don Russo laughs heartily and points a gun to my head. “I’m going to kill your fucking boyfriend, and then I’m going to kill you. All before you detonate that little bomb.”

Natalie smiles sadistically, and it dawns on me that she’s set on pressing that detonator regardless of what Don Russo decides. The guards drop me to my knees in front of Russo and step back.

Natalia presses the detonator, and there’s a moment of silence.

Then the warehouse behind us starts coming down as several bombs explode.

Chapter 26 - Natalia

As the building comes down, the guards and Don Russo whip around to see the damage I’ve caused. From the second they are distracted, I start running forward, ripping the fake bomb vest off and tossing it aside. I pull the two guns holstered under my arms and start shooting at them. Two guards go down, and another two, then they realize what’s going on and turn to open fire.

Don Russo turns tail and runs toward the dock around the other warehouse. He leaves Daniel on his knees, and I run toward him, shooting at the remaining guards. I’m almost to him when I hear shouts and more men come out to cover Russo.

If this is to be the end, then I’m going out with a bang. I reach Daniel and kiss him deeply.

“I love you.” I look into his right eye.

“I love you,” he says.

We brace ourselves, but there are squealing tires. I look over my shoulder as Russians, Italians, and Irish men jump out of numerous vehicles and start firing at Russo’s men.

I reach for my boot and pull out a dagger. “Perhaps we’ll meet our end another time,” I say dramatically with a big smile. I cut through the cable ties binding Daniel’s hands in front of him.

“Someone else must meet their end today, though.” His voice croaks from hours of torture, but he takes my hand and turns. Despite his condition, he races through the firefight with me by his side. I pass him a gun, and he helps clear the way.

I can hear the fighters behind us rushing forward to keep us covered.

I see where Daniel is headed. In front of us, Russo is running toward a speed boat that is clearly waiting for him. We find renewed energy and sprint forward.

Russo is old and slow and keeps glancing back. Never look back; it slows you down. It’s a rookie mistake.

We stop as we reach the dock, and Daniel looks at me. “Hide. Keep safe while I get him.”

I tug on his hand. “We’re together until the end.”

He nods, and we sprint down the dock, no longer holding hands. Daniel takes the lead, gets as close as he can, and when Russo is almost at the boat, he stops and fires a shot into Russo’s calf.

I watch as the old man collapses in pain, crying out. I look at Daniel, and he saunters forward. He should kill Russo for what he did to Ronan. I know that.

Daniel stands over the don and looks at him. “Crying out? Will your heir be so impressed to hear what a coward his father was in the end?”

“Please, Quinn, I’ll give you whatever you want. Please don’t kill me. I don’t want to die.” I watch as he cries, and then I smell the stench of urine.

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