So much for Dad's pistol. Crap. “Dario, you're not going to—”
“Shut up. I want you, but if there's anything I want even more, it's to make sure that those savages don't get their filthy hands on you. Now get the fuck up!” He levels the pistol right at my head.
Jesus.
I scramble to my feet, and then he whips me around and pulls me in with my back right up against his chest and his arm around my throat. He puts the ice cold muzzle of his pistol against my temple.
As we wait, the only sound in my ears is his labored breathing.
37
HAWK
“I think I got him,” I say as the last echoes of machine gun fire dies down. One of Dario's helpers is down already, but that last shot threw him back from the gun, and he hasn't come back. If we're lucky, I just murdered a bitch.
“I don't know,” says Viking. “We advance, but carefully.”
Bear comes out from behind the pillar he hid behind. His shoulder is oozing red, but he's got his gun up, aiming it at the platform. “You okay?”
He nods. “I'll deal with it later.”
Fair enough. Someone appears on the platform. Not Dario, someone else. The guy that was behind him the time he shot me?
“Don't fucking move,” yells Viking. “I've got you in my sights.”
The guy doesn't say anything, but raises his hands and waits. While Viking keeps his gun trained, I get on the stairs and make my way up. Bear and Snark are right behind.
On top, he looks unarmed. Too proud to beg for his life, but he's not making any moves either. I motion my gun at the stairs. “Go down. You have one fucking chance before ventilate your skull and leave you for the Valkyries.”
He nods, then starts on his way down, keeping his hands visible the whole way. Smarter than he looks. “Luca’s shot. He’s upstairs with Alessa. Once I’m out of here, you’ve got maybe thirty minutes before the entire Family is mobilized.”
“Uh, thanks for the warning? Get the fuck out of here,” growls Viking and sends him on his way.
A few moments later we're all gathered on the platform. No sign of Dario, but there's only one way he can have gone, and it's in. Bear starts for the door, but I hold him back. “You'll be a fucking target.”
“What do you propose we do? Starve him out? You heard that asshole, Alessa's in there.” He looks ready to tear down the whole building, and I don't even doubt he can do it.
Viking holds up a hand for our attention, then yells, “Dario! We know you're in there. Send out Alessa safe and sound, and we'll let you fucking go.”
Bear hisses and grabs his shoulder while pinching his lips together.
“We can handle it,” says Snark quietly.
“Like fuck I'll let you guys have all the fun. I'm fine.”
“Dario!” yells Viking again.
No answer.
Leading with my pistol, I head for the door.
“Hawk,” hisses Snark.
“There could be a way out on the other side. I'm not letting him get away while we fuck around out here.”
“Just be careful.”
Using my foot, I push the door wide open. From here, I don't see anyone, but I haven't stuck my head in yet. A lot of the room is still blocked off from sight. I wait, making my entry unpredictable. He knows I'm coming, but I don't have to broadcast exactly when.
Then I go, throwing myself in and rolling far into the room until I get up on one knee and look around, as much with my gun as with my eyes. No need to bother. Dario's right in the middle of the room, clutching Alessa to him with his gun to her head. At their feet lies Giordano. I can't tell if he's breathing, but that's not my fucking concern right now.
“Let her go,” I hiss.
“Do you think I'm a moron?” His wild eyes are unfocused, but his gun hand’s steady. “If I can't have her, I'm sure as fuck not letting you guys have her. But if you guys let us walk, I won't blow her fucking brains out.”
That we’re talking, not shooting must be enough to convince the other guys they can come in. They do, all of them training their guns on Dario, just like I am.
Bear snarls. “I thought you fucking loved her. Now you're ready to execute her?”
“If I can't have her in this life, I'll have her in the fucking next. Better than releasing her into your filthy hands.” He starts to move towards the door, pulling Alessa with him. “And I'll take your little baby with me. If I die, so does the baby. I've already arranged for it.”
“Stand still.” I make sure to aim squarely at his head, as far from Alessa as I can while still ensuring a kill shot. “Beatrice doesn't work for you anymore. Who do you think told you we were going somewhere else? Our baby's safe.” The relief in Alessa's eyes breaks my fucking heart, and it's made of goddamn stone.