Quickly covering my ears, I watched as Dwayne launched the missile right at the front of the house. A smoke trail followed as the front of the main house exploded in a blinding light. The boom was deafening, and when I was able to look up, I saw several of Sal’s men enter the house, shooting at anyone who was left standing or breathing. God, I hoped they didn’t kill any members of the Golden Skulls. Moving towards the house, I could hear people shouting.
“Ravage!”
“I’m here, Dylan.
“Max!”
“Who the fuck launched that mother fucker!”
“Damn, bossman is pissed,” Reggie laughed.
“When I get my hands on the fucker who launched that missile, I am going to kill him.”
“You hear that Mass, you are a dead man walking,” Reggie chuckled.
“Shut up, Reginald,”
“I don’t care who did it,” someone on the inside said, then added. “They helped.”
Before walking into the house, I pulled a cigar from inside my suit and lit it. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I was about to meet the President of the Golden Skulls. Following my cousins, I stopped when both men lowered their weapons and smiled.
“Hi, boss.”
“Sorry about that. My shot went wide.”
Taking the lead, I wasted no time issuing orders, “Salvatore, make sure everyone is dead. Lorenzo, help the wounded. Only the Skulls. Dwayne, help Sal. Reginald, introduce me.”
“Boss, this is Giovanni Valentinetti.”
“Player?” Reaper coughed, getting to his feet. He moved so fast, and before I could blink, he had Reginald by his cut. Usually, I would let this play out, but not if it endangered Reginald’s life. Moving closer to my cousin, I extended my hand and said, “I would appreciate it if you would step back, Mr. Doherty. I know you have questions, and I will answer all of them. But I will not tolerate you harming my cousin.”
“Cousin?” Reaper questioned, looking at Reggie. “That’s why neither of you went on runs to Chicago. You are related to Valentinetti.”
“Yes, boss,” Reggie said.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Reaper seethed.
“It’s a long story, boss.”
“And you took Layla directly to him!”
“Yes, boss. It was the only place I could think of. You said to take her where no one would look for her. So, I did.”
“You put her in more danger!”
“I know.”
I had no idea what they were talking about, but it wasn't good from the way they were acting. How was I a danger to her? I didn’t even know about her until I saw her in Reggie’s arms that day on the plane. Who was she? And why was the President of the Golden Skulls so worried about her being in my care.
“Please rest assured, Mr. Doherty, that no harm will come to the young lady. I give you my word.”
“And I don’t know you,” the man seethed just as a shot rang out. “Bullseye!”
Reaper ran from the room, the rest of us hot on his tail as we all came to a stop, seeing a man slowly turn towards us.
“The bitch is dead,” the young man said, coughing up blood as Reaper rushed towards him, wrapping his arms around him. “Hang on, Dylan. Help is coming.”
“Lorenzo! Get in here now!” I shouted for my brother. Lorenzo may be a playboy in the media, but he was also a trained paramedic who regularly volunteered for many of the firehouses and hospitals. He was also in the process of getting his medical degree, which no one knew about. Lorenzo lived his life in the public eye, like our sister Illyria, but when it came to his private life, he was adamant that no one needed to know anything, sometimes not even me.