Looking around, I saw the death and destruction that came from my hands. Five men were dead. I just killed five men. Me. The fuck up of the family, just killed five men without a single ounce of remorse. I could still hear the music from the party above and that’s when I realized where I was and what I had done.
“It’s gonna be okay, sweetheart. I promise,” I muttered, kissing the top of her head. “I will get us out of here. I promise.”
And I would. I knew right then and there that I would move heaven and earth to make sure she was safe. I couldn’t really explain the primeval need to protect her but it was there deep within me, simmering, gathering strength.
Carefully laying her back on the bed, the first thing I needed to do was get her covered. There was no way in hell I would allow anyone to see her like this. The word mine came rushing forward shocking me, stopping me short. Standing near the bed, I looked down at her perfect body and I just knew. She was mine in every sense of the word. I don’t know how it happened or when but she was mine.
Mine to protect.
Taking off my suit jacket, I quickly removed my shirt and put it on her, making sure I did every button, covering her the best I could. Putting my suit jacket back on, I reached for my phone and called the only person I could think of to help me get out of this situation.
“What?”
“Antonio, I need help.”
I must have sounded serious because Tony didn’t bother laughing at me. Instead, he calmly asked, “What happened?”
“I killed them. I didn’t have a choice. He had her and he was going to…he drugged her.”
“Okay...okay, take a deep breath and tell me what exactly happened.”
After a brief rundown, my brother Antonio sighed. “Alright, give me a sec. There we go. Okay. I have the schematics of the Costa yacht pulled up. You are in the master suite, correct?”
“Yes. I believe so.”
“Good. To the right of the suite should be a hallway. Follow it. It will lead you down to the galley. Once there, you need to find the storage room. There is an access door that suppliers use to bring in supplies. But Lorenzo, that galley will be packed with cooks and servers who work for the Costa family. You will need a distraction to get them out of there.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Find a fire alarm and pull it.”
“I can do that.”
“Lorenzo. How is Donnie?”
“I don’t know Tony. She is out cold. Whatever that fucker gave her is still in her system. He tried to…oh God, Tony. I’m such a fuck up. Gio will never forgive me for this.”
“Don’t worry about big brother. Donatella is your main concern and you need to get her off that yacht and back to the hotel.”
“She needs a doctor, Tony!”
“I will have one at the hotel by the time you get there. Just get her out of there before the Costa Family realizes what you did.”
“Okay. Thanks, Tony,” I muttered, before disconnecting the call.
Gathering Donatella in my arms, I grabbed the bat and left the suite. “Don’t worry baby girl. I will get us out of this. I promise.”
It took longer than I anticipated getting off the yacht. When I pulled the fire alarm, I just assumed that everyone in the galley would just leave like the party-goers but they didn’t until the fire department showed up, forcing them to leave. While that happened, I held Donatella as we both hid in a closet until the coast was clear.
By the time I made it to the pier, it was inundated with first responders and party-goers. It was total chaos. Making my way around the crowd, I was about to hail a cab when a man in an expensive three-piece suit leaning against a brand-new black Lincoln said, “You look like someone who could use a friend.”
“No thank you. I just need to get my girl home.”
“Does she know she’s your girl?”
A simple question, yet the way he asked had my guard instantly up. I didn’t know this man from Adam and I sure as hell didn’t like the way he was looking at her. She was mine. She may not know it yet and I was sure to fuck up many times but I wasn’t giving her up. Staring at the stranger, I clearly stated, “She’s mine. I am responsible for her.”
“I see,” the man grinned. I didn’t know what to make of him but I could tell he was from money from the way he was dressed. The car alone he was leaning against was worth a quarter of a million. His clothes were tailored to perfection and the watch he was wearing was enough to feed a family of five for a year. Yet, there was something about the man that warranted caution.