I get to my feet and rush through the busted front door. I fire my semi-auto, taking Oscar’s men out with precision as I bulldoze through the pile of bodies just inside.
“Gross!” Claudio yells, but he follows, and I can tell he’s firing too.
A shooter falls from the second-floor balcony, his body crunching on the terrazzo floor as my men rush into the house like a violent wave on the ocean. We sweep everyone away, death and destruction in our wake as we clear the front rooms and spill more and more blood.
I don’t waver, not when Maddie’s life is on the line. When I peek down the hall, a torrent of bullets whizz past, sending wood and plaster shattering.
“Oscar’s barricaded inside his office. Got men on the outside. She’s in there. I know it.”
“Not for long.” Antony reaches around the corner and lets loose with his submachine gun. He’s chewing them up, and I can hear the bodies hit the floor when he eases off the trigger and pulls back.
“Whoa!” Claudio fires, and one of Oscar’s soldiers falls forward onto the floor. Already half dead, he’d gotten to his knees, but Claudio took care of him. “Yep, I’m going to vomit.” He turns and empties his stomach on the bloody floor.
Antony claps Claudio on the back as my men swell around us. “Boss, if Oscar is in there, he’s got at least a half a dozen guns pointed at that door.”
“I know.” I pull my shotgun from my shoulder. “But I can’t stop until I have her in my arms. No matter what happens, I’m going to get her to safety.”
“Wait.” Claudio wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “We need a distraction.”
I itch to get to Maddie. Stalling isn’t doing her any favors. What if he’s hurting her? I grit my teeth. Someone coughs down the hall. It’s coming from the office. A masculine cough, one that seems painful. What the fuck?
“Like what?” Antony asks.
“I got this. You two wait here. When you hear the music, that’s when you go.” Claudio turns and gestures toward my soldiers. “Ten of you with me. Come on.” He trots through the crowd and steps over the bodies around the ruined door.
Some of my men follow him. I exchange a curious look with Antony, both of us equally perplexed.
“What’s he doing?” Antony checks his magazine, then readies his favorite pistol.
“No clue. I just hope he isn’t getting himself killed.” I’ve always known Claudio was a lover, not a fighter. Maybe it was a mistake to let him come along, but then again, if he’s going to fight, it might as well be for love. For mine and his.
“What’s that?” Antony turns his head. That’s when I hear it too.
“Is that Celine Dion?” I’ve heard this song. Something about ‘can’t live without you’—but this time I can definitely hear Claudio’s voice on top of Celine’s.
He’s outside playing the song in one of the cars and belting at the side of the house where Oscar’s office is.
“He’s nuts.” Antony starts to smile. “But also kind of brilliant.”
“Don’t encourage him.” I take a deep breath. “Take care not to hit Maddie or Clara, if she’s in there.” I grip his shoulder. “But I want everyone else in that room lying in a pool of their own blood. Got me?”
“No problem.” He nods.
I turn down the hallway, peek one more time, then take off at a run. The way is clear until I get to the door.
Rearing back, I kick it down. We start firing, taking down man after man. I swing my barrel to the left, then stop. Maddie is there.
“Renato!” Her scream tears my insides apart. I never want to hear fear in her voice.
“Drop them!” Oscar barks, his gun to Maddie’s head. He coughs, then coughs more violently.
Clara steps over one of the bodies and moves toward Maddie.
“Stop!” I keep my gun on Oscar, who’s coughing even more.
“I made your drink, darling. Remember, before you hit me? I made it for you, you hit me, and then you drank it?”
Oscar is sputtering, his face going purple, but he still has his gun to Maddie’s head. “You bitch! You fucking bitch!”
“I should’ve made you that drink a long time ago.” Clara reaches out and takes Maddie’s hand. “I’m sorry he brought you here.” With a hard yank, she pulls Maddie to her, and I take the shot.
24
Maddie
I muffle a scream when blood splatter sprays everywhere. I’m nowhere near badass enough to not be grossed out by it.
I knew the second Renato burst through the doors that everyone in the room would be dying. My only thought was to make sure Clara wouldn’t be on that list. Little did I know she’d already made her move against Oscar and saved herself. Clearly, she’s already a badass.