Page 60 of Twisted Throne

“How could you?” Lucy spat. “Why? Fuckingwhy?”

“It shouldn’t have been like this…” She put one hand up to her pale face. “…I told them about a couple of little things, like that stuff at the docks. In exchange, they promised that Alec wouldn’t walk away from that job.”

“But it was a setup, so they didn’t get the chance.” The pieces were starting to come together now. “Since they weren’t able to get him then, you what, gave them the security codes to attack the house?But why did you give them the security codes for the gate?”

“They were supposed to just send a guy in to take care of Alec, not a full-fledged attack!” she said defensively.

“God! You’re an idiot!” Lucy looked like she was ready to pounce again, so I tried to position myself a little bit further between them. The know-it-all teen vanished for a moment and I caught a glimpse of the woman she would be, fierce and with a spine of steel.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it all to go like this.” Tears started to roll down Elena’s cheeks.

I wanted to feel sympathy for her, but the only things I could think of were Emilio’s rough hands and cold, hungry eyes. Even my worry for Paul faded under a rush of anger. How the hell could she do this to the family?

“I’m not about to hide in here with a rat!” Lucy snatched a pistol off of the wall and shoved past me to the door.

“You can’t go out there!” I tried to grab a hold of the back of her shirt, but she had unbolted the door and darted out like a jackrabbit.

“She’s going to get herself killed!” Elena looked panicked, her eyes wide as she wrung her hands.

“I’m going to get her, and find Paul. You don’t get a say anymore.”

“Gia, wait!” Elena called out after me as I pushed my way through the clothes and back out into the closet. “You can’t go out there, Emilio is livid that you slipped through his hands. And you’d be better off dead than for him to take you.”

“If you were so concerned about me, maybe you shouldn’t have mentioned me to him in the first damn place.”

When she called after me again, I didn’t stop.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Paul

Our men were set up and covering the windows. The shots from Sabitino’s goons were coming from all directions, and they had us pinned in place. They were staying just far enough away that it was hard to get a clear shot on any of them. It hindered them as well, they were aiming at the windows but only firing just enough to keep us in place. While most of the house's windows boasted bullet-proof glass, Sabitino’s goons were using high-powered assault rifles that still managed to shatter them after a few shots. The smell of cordite filled the air as the shots rang out from all directions. A shot made it through to the chandelier in the foyer and the crystals burst and fell onto the marble floor with a smash.

“They’re trying to force us out into the open.” Carlos looked out the window, cautiously. “They’re not really even trying to shoot at us, they’re trying to lure us out there.”

“But when we don’t take the bait, they’ll go ahead and push forward. They’ve got the house surrounded on all sides, and we’re outnumbered at least two to one.” I know how these guys work, and I would do the same if I were in their situation.

“The rest of the guys will be here soon, we just need to keep them out of the house till then.” Carlos’ hand was caressing the hilt of the large knife he always had at his belt. “But if they do make it in, we’ll take care of it.”

I needed to find Gia and make certain she was safe. As Angelo’s daughter, she was the number one priority, but I also needed to check in with Angelo first before I could do anything else.

“Where’s Angelo?”

“I think he’s in the dining room,” Frank spoke up. “That’s where he was headed when I saw him last.”

“Tell everyone to hold their positions for now, and shoot at anything that moves.”

Turning I headed toward the dining room, I would speak to Angelo first, then find Gia. It was possible she was with him already.

When I entered the dining room, Angelo was the only occupant. He was armed with a rifle in addition to the pistol I knew was always at his side.

“Do you believe this,sottocapo?” he asked me. “Sabitino has overplayed his hand this time.”

“We’ll make him go bust.” I hesitated, then met his eyes. “Alec couldn’t have given them the new security codes. He was locked up by then. Someone else has been feeding Sabitino our intel.”

Angelo sighed heavily.

“You’re certain?”

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