My phone buzzes again, and Lindy’s name flashes on the screen.
Relief floods my body, and I let out a deep breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding. I stab the Accept button.
“Lindy! Where the fuck—?”
“Hold that thought for just a second, Lucchese.”
My gut twists as the low voice on the other end of the line hisses into my ear. I know that voice. I’ve had nightmares about hearing it again.
But I always knew it would happen. I knew I’d never be able to hide forever.
“Where the hell is my sister?” I growl into the phone, my hand shaking.
“Don’t panic. Yet. She’s in good hands. Although, if you and Salesi don’t show up soon, I can’t promise that things won’t go in a very bad direction for her.”
An icy sensation weaves around my heart and squeezes tight, so tight the sensation makes me yelp. “Don’t you dare lay a fucking finger on her!”
“You’re in no position to make demands. We’ll be waiting.”
Click.
My skull throbs, and I clutch the sides of my head. “They took her. They took Lindy. Fuck, we need to get her back. We need to get them both back!” I whisper-shout.
“Calm the fuck down!” Nico puts his hands on my shoulders. “Pull your shit together before we go in there, Rocco. I need your head straight, you got it?”
I nod, rubbing the back of my neck. Tiny beads of sweat pebble om my skin even though it’s freezing outside. I swallow hard and look at Sammy and Gio. My stomach rolls, and I’m pretty sure whatever I shoveled into my mouth for breakfast is about to make a re-appearance.
A shudder runs through me as Nico grabs the handle and pulls open the door. He creeps inside, crouching low, gun drawn. A shadow crosses in front of me, and I don’t even have time to think before swinging my arm out and bludgeoning the bastard with my own piece. A loud thud rattles the floor as the faceless guy hits the floor. Nico nods at Gio and Sammy.
Okay. They’re here. And they’re clearly waiting.
Blood rushes between my ears as I follow Nico through a doorway. I’m covering his back, hoping that Gio and Sammy have mine. Another loud thud makes me jump and Sammy shrugs, standing over another beefy guy who is face-down on the floor. I give him the thumbs-up, turning back to Nico. He holds out his hand and a tearful voice makes my skin crawl.
At this point, I have no idea how many guys they have in there. I don’t know if Viktor is alive or dead. I don’t know anything.
“Fuck this shit,” I mutter, pointing my gun toward the ceiling and firing a shot.
Nico throws me backward into a wall. “Are you crazy?”
“We need them to bring the fight here. This place is a maze! They’ll take us out one by one if we try to get inside. You’ve been here! You know how many hidden rooms there are. This way, they know we’re here and we’ll be ready for them. I’m going in.”
Nico shakes his head and twists backward against the wall next to me. “Christ Almighty, are you seriously that fucked in the head?”
“Yep. I need to create a distraction, otherwise we’re all gonna get plugged. I have to find the girls. If they’re here, it’s because they’re waiting for us.” I look in every direction before tearing out of our hiding spot. “Cover me.”
“You’re insane.”
I shrug. “Not really. Just finally ready to face this shit and end it already.” I clap him on the shoulder and crouch around a wall before jogging down a short hallway leading into the underbelly of the Russian bratva.
I’m the reason why Lindy is here in the first place. And Kat? Her being here is on me, too. I let her go. I watched her leave.
I peek around a doorway and a shot ricochets off the wall next to me. “Fuck!” I yelp, creeping around a corner and firing off a few quick shots behind me until I make it to the next room. It’s dark, save for the bit of light coming from I guess what must be the bar area. I hear angry footsteps and some arguing in Russian. Deep, male voices.
A faint moan makes me jerk sideways, and I almost lose my footing. I feel my way up the wall, praying there’s a light switch. My fingers hit something small and hard, and I flip it upward before taking cover behind what feels like a table leg. “Viktor?” I whisper, taking a few steps toward him.
Behind me, all hell is breaking loose, but in here, it’s silent.
Deadly silent.