Ray
Even though Ray was a little sore, he was ready for action. His wounds had completely healed, and he wanted to get out there immediately.
There was only one way to keep Augusta safe.
Kill every single motherfucker in the De Lucas family.
They left Augusta’s friend’s house in a hurry, Ray fueled by an incredible inner fury. Augusta appeared worried about him but tried to keep it in.
“I’m okay, really,” he said as they jumped into the car.
She shook her head, her eyes slanting toward the back seat. “There are a few gallons of blood back there that say otherwise. I was really scared, Ray.”
He nodded as he fired up the car and pulled out onto the street.
“I know. I get that. I’m a little weak right now as I replace the blood I’ve lost, and I could use a good meal … like a whole cow … but even in this state, I’m ten times stronger than most humans.”
“What about other shifters?”
He grinned, but his confidence wavered. “Hopefully, we don’t run into any.”
Augusta went quiet, watching him with her dark blue eyes. Her concern for him emanated across the space between them. He still didn’t know exactly how to deal with the storm of emotions charging through his body, mind, and soul. He was being rewritten, and he couldn’t even read the new pages.
His stomach growled. He faltered as a moment of weakness swept through him, momentarily making him lose his grip on the steering wheel. He hadn’t been kidding about the cow. He could still take out ten men if he had to, but other shifters might be another story.
Especially if they are big like bears or something.
He decided not to worry about it. The only thing he needed to focus on was getting to the condo and finding the negative before anyone else could.
Ray was well beyond angry with this situation. He wanted to end it by any means necessary. The fact that the De Lucas were trying to start a mob war infuriated him, but the danger to Augusta he could not tolerate. Even in his current state, he wanted to tear them all to shreds.
He had no idea what the other Morettis would think about all of this. He was literally leaving a trail of blood and bodies all over the city.
Oh, well. It wouldn’t be the first time.
When they reached his condo, he drove slowly along a side street, checking the place out. He could sense danger immediately, even smell a hint of the same guys he’d encountered at the club. He couldn’t tell if Little Stevie and Malone were here, but the place was definitely being watched.
“We’ve got bad guys everywhere,” he muttered. “I can’t see them, but I know they’re here. They must have gone through my condo, failed to find the photo, and now they are waiting for me to come back so I can show them where it is.”
“What are we going to do?” Augusta asked.
Ray sighed.
“I’m going to get them to follow me. What I’ll do is pull up here to the side of the building. I want you to take the emergency exit up the stairs to my place, just in case there’s a guy in the lobby. As you run for the stairs, I’m going to cross the front of the building at a dead run, making a loop, so I end up back at the car. They’ll follow me, and you should be safe to get the negative and run.”
“Run where?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“I should be back in a few minutes. If I’m not, head to the underground parking garage. Wait twenty minutes. If I’m still not there, cross the street and take the bus to the mall down the road. There are shops and cafes open all night, and it’s a safe, well-lit place where they won’t dare attack.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding with determination. “Let’s do this.”
Ray parked the car and explained where the negative was as they headed toward the building, splitting into different directions. He rounded the back area and looped around, so he was in front. He knew Augusta should be through the side entrance and on the stairs by now.
Ray walked into full view in front of the doors. He stood there for a few seconds, anxiously looking at the inside of his jacket as if he was hiding something in the lapel.
When he looked up, there were guys moving purposefully toward him from the lobby and the street. He didn’t wait … he put his head down and bolted.
Ray made it to the car in record time, finding that he had to slow down a little to keep drawing the goons after him. If he lost them and they returned to the building, his whole plan was pointless.