Page 63 of Sacred Blood

“I don’t think you need me to tell you that I need to get there first,” I remarked, trying my hardest to show respect to Massimo’s seniority, although I couldn’t help the commanding inflection in my tone. “Do whatever it takes to get me to that hangar.”

Massimo, an expert driver, merely nodded. “You know Romeo won’t approve of you going in, guns blazing, right? We’ll have to wait for backup regardless.”

I ignored the question so I wouldn’t have to answer with a lie. Glancing at the sat nav in the console, I called Fausto. “We’re minutes away. What’s happening?”

“She’s still in the SUV, but they are getting ready to board. The leader, a huge motherfucker by the way, is talking to the pilot.”

“Listen to me, Fausto, do not let that jet hit the runway. Shoot out the tires, do what you have to, but that jet cannot be allowed to leave the ground. We’ll be there in two minutes, be ready.”

I gave Massimo a meaningful glare. “There, I’m not alone. When you pull up to the hangar, Vincent and I will go in from the side and take out the men near the back. Park right in front of the plane, Massimo. Crash into it if you have to, but don’t let it go.”

Seconds later, we were through the gates and racing for hangar nine. Shots were already being exchanged when we arrived. The plane was half out of the hangar with both wheels blown. Vincent and I jumped out of the car and sneaked around the back looking for a way in. My last image before disappearing was my brother parking in front of the plane with Dante tucked behind the bulletproof doors, shooting at the cockpit.

“Look, boss. This one is open.”

I nodded and he opened it while I held my gun aloft, ready to shoot whoever was on the other side. But no one was there. We snuck inside the back of the hangar and took cover behind a portable air conditioning system.

Up ahead and furthest from the main entrance was the SUV. I recognized the plate; it was the same car that took her from the club. I couldn’t see Gaby. Was she ducked down inside the car? Hiding somewhere in the hangar? God, don’t let her be on the plane already. Gunfire was all around as their men shot at our men and our men shot at them.

I’d worry about the war later. For now, I had only one job: to save my girl.

We dodged our way to the vehicle, staying low enough to not be noticed in the rearview mirror. Sweat dropped from my hairline, but not from the heat. Today was the most important day of my life; I could hear Papa’s words beating in my head like a second pulse: Don’t let them see your weakness, son, they’ll use it against you…

I looked at my fingers, poised for violence, but no tell in sight. I was ready to be the hero, to save her like I had Vincenzo so many times. I’d send Gaby out of here with Vincent, and with my weakness safe from harm, I’d kill every one of those motherfuckers.

I nodded to the car. “Take out the driver and the front passenger. I’ve got the back seat.”

We crouched down and made our way to the blacked-out vehicle, my heart pounding on my ribs as I approached the car. I lay low and reached up, flinging open the door, as Vincent did the same with the driver’s door. I shot the goon stupid enough to stick his head out, grabbed his sagging corpse, and yanked it out of the way.

Gaby screamed, drawing the attention of the Russians. Shit! But she was alive. Terrified, disheveled, and the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, but alive.

With no time to lose, I jumped to my feet and yanked Gabriella out of the car, shooting the guard on the other side in the face.

“Run!” Vincent was beside me as we raced towards the back. I kept my body in front of Gaby’s as we made our way towards the back wall and to safety. But I wasn’t fast enough to escape a stray bullet. I felt it tear through my chest as I fell forward to the ground. Gaby screamed, dropping to her knees beside me.

“Tano! Tano! Oh my God! Vincent, help!”

Vincent hauled me over his shoulder and grabbed Gaby’s arm, hustling her in front of him as he ran out with a rain of bullets at our backs. Miraculously, we made it out.

“Boss, we got the girl, but Tano took a bullet and is bleeding pretty bad…Yes, sir.”

That was the last thing I heard before the darkness claimed me.

“I wuv you, Tani.”

Yeah, if you loved me so much, you’d stay out of trouble.

Simba squealed as he tore out of my grasp and ran for the thicket of trees that surrounded our home. His peals of giggles made me smile. But the more I ran, the further and further his laughter became.

“Simba! Vincenzo! Stop running this minute!”

Silence.

“Where are you?” I called.

The woods expanded, becoming a long tunnel that I raced down searching for my youngest brother.

“Help me, Tano!”