His Hostage: Valetti Crime Family (A Bad Boy Mafia Romance) (17 page)

I
tap the small
, black velvet box in my pocket as I get out of the car and shut the door. I can’t wait to ask her. Well, I’m not going to ask. I’m going to tell her she’s marrying me. It’s been enough time that Ma will approve. She calls me after their lunch dates. I’m glad the two of them get along. Nothing at all like the relationship Elle has with her mother.

I cringe remembering how she reacted when I told her Sandra went to rehab. Maybe once she’s out and stays sober Elle will believe she’s changed. It seems like the more time she spends with the
familia
, the more resistant she is to forgiving Sandra. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just hurts me thinking she won’t have a relationship with her own mother.

My phone’s going off again. I know it’s Dom. He’s been calling to get my ass down to the docks, but I told him yesterday, today, they would have to wait a while. Right now it’s all for her.

I gotta pull the trigger on this. She deserves this for putting up with me. For fitting so perfectly into my life. That, and Ma will kill me if I don’t put a ring on her finger before knocking her up. Part of me still thinks the
familia
’s waiting for her to run. But putting my baby inside her is gonna change all that for them. And this ring on her finger.

As soon as I see the door, I know something’s off. Adrenaline pumps through my blood and my heart races. The door’s cracked. It’s been kicked in. The wood is splintered from where the door was locked. I always lock it behind me. Fuck. Fuck! I take the steps up slowly and pull out my gun. I want to call out for her. I need to know she’s safe. But, I have to be smart.

I already fucking know who did this. I know it was Shadows MC. They’re a bunch of fucking liars. They’ve been working with the Locos Diablos. They set them up to take the fall. But Tony got all their transfers and finances. I grind my teeth as I walk silently through the house. Rigs barks and paws at the back door. I walk to the dining room first. Two chairs are turned over and her canvas is on the ground. Broken. The paint is smeared on the tabletop. Her phone’s on the floor.

Mine goes off in my pocket again and I answer it. I know they’re gone. Looking around the room, it's obvious they took her and ran. They want war.

I answer it and hold the phone to my ear.

“Vince! 'Bout fucking time! Becca’s been--” Dom yells through the phone. I keep my eyes on the entrance to the dining room, just in case someone’s here, hiding and waiting to jump me. But I know they’re gone.

I cut him off. “They took her.” I swallow the lump in my throat.

“Elle?” Dom asks after a quiet moment.

“Yeah.” I bite back my emotions and let the anger come through. “Tony has their info?” I swallow the lump suffocating me and clear my throat. I put the phone back to my ear to hear him rattling off something in my ear.

“I don’t want to risk going to the wrong place. We need to split it up.”

“You sure that’s smart, Vince? We could be outnumbered easily. They’ve got at least 10 of 'em at any given time at either the clubhouse or the warehouse.”

“Well we’ll have the advantage of coming up on 'em. They don’t know that we’re on to them. They have no fucking clue. But if we all show up to the wrong place, we’re fucked. They’ll know. They’ll…” I don’t say it. They’ll kill her. I know they will. My chest pains and I struggle to take a breath. I can’t even imagine what they’re doing to her now. I don’t want to think about it. But I can’t help it. “I swear to God, Dom. I swear I’m gonna kill them.”

“I know. I know,” he says solemnly.

“I gotta go now. Text me the address.”

“You need back up! Don’t be stupid, Vince!” he yells back.

“Tell them to meet me there,” I tell him. I can’t wait. I won’t.

“You won’t do her any good if they kill you first.” Fuck. I hate how right he is.

“I can’t wait.” I can’t just stand here. She’s most likely at one of those two places. And if she’s not, someone there will know where she is. And I’ll make them talk. I’ll find her.

“I’m on my way. I’ll call the guys now. I’ll split 'em.”

I nod my head. I can’t talk. I try to, but my throat dries out and closes. If they killed her... If they put their hands on my sweetheart... I shake my head and focus on getting her back. I have to believe it’s possible.

“Hurry up, Dom. And text me that address.”

“
W
e need
to get her out of here.” I wake up groggy, to a voice I don’t recognize. My back is to them. I know they’re behind me. I’m lying on my side, and I can feel a cool breeze on my face. I remain still and silent, and I’m sure to keep my breathing even. My face is killing me. My temples pound with pain. But I ignore the painful throbbing. I do a mental check. It’s only my face and my side that hurt.

They didn’t bind my wrists. I try to keep the smile off my face. Thank fuck they’re behind me so they can’t see my relief. Vince was wise to tie me up. These fuckers have underestimated me. My heart pounds in my chest, but I keep forcing myself to breathe evenly. I listen to them. I’ll wait until I can strike. I couldn’t do anything back at the house, with all of them on me at once. I just need to wait until I have a chance.

I’m sure Vince will come. But right now, I can’t rely on him. I don’t know if he’ll get to me in time. I also don’t know how much time I have. I listen and wait.

“You really think this is going to work?” someone behind me asks. His voice is deep and throaty, like someone who’s smoked his whole life.

“It’s their signature move. They’ll definitely believe it’s a message from the cartel.” Another man, one who’s closer to me.

“They’re a bunch of pussies.” I can hear three men in total laugh. So I’m up against three of them. Those aren’t good odds. I don’t think I could take out three. My heart sinks. I won’t give up hope though. I just need to try to take them on one at a time. I can manage that. I
will
manage that.

“Thought they’d have already gone after them. They move slow.” My eyes slowly creep open as I continue to take stock of my situation. I’m facing a cinder block wall, lying atop cardboard boxes. My arm is above my head and it fucking hurts. I want to move it but I don’t. I lie still and wait. Smoke fills my lungs with the smell of cigarettes and I hear a drag being taken.

“I want at her first.” My eyes open wide, but I keep my breathing steady.

“You’ll wait your turn.”

“You sure they won’t be able to get anything from the video?”

“Yeah, we’ll edit it to cover our voices. It’ll look just like the cartel’s threats. Vince is a fucking stupid hothead. I know they’ll go in for the kill as soon as it’s sent.”

The men laugh again, and I try to keep the sickness I'm feeling from creeping up my throat. But I can’t. I nearly vomit at the image they’ve put in my head.

I’m fucked. I know it, too. A hand grips my hair and yanks my head back. I scream out with tears creeping out of the corners of my eyes.

“Our little bitch is up.” I want to close my eyes, but I can’t. A bald short man with yellow-stained teeth stares back at me with a menacing look. He's got a sick grin plastered on his face. From his voice, I recognize him as the one saying their plan will work. I decide to think of him as the planner in the group.

His nose is nearly an inch from mine and I take the opportunity to spit in his face. He wipes his face off with the back of his arm and then backhands me so hard I hit the cement ground with enough force that I nearly go unconscious.

“Get her ass up here.” I hear him move around as I hear more heavy steps come from behind me. “We can all have a practice round.” A sick, disgusting chuckle fills the hot air as I’m pulled up onto my feet. I turn around and kick the fucker as hard as I can right in his balls. The second hurls himself at me from my left side, and I ball my hands into fists, and draw back to punch him, but the first man's arms wrap around my front and hold me back. Fuck! No!

“No wonder he kept this cunt. I hope she fights us every time.” A tall, thin man with oily black hair smiles and walks closer to me with his hands out to reach for me.

I don’t care that I’m being held back. I’m not going to stop fighting. Vince would want me to fight. As soon as this bastard’s close enough, I push my weight back and throw my legs up to kick him. The bald man holding me tilts backwards as he's knocked off balance, and my foot gets high enough to knock the guy square in the face. His head flies back as I fall to the ground and when I look up, blood’s pouring from his nose. I don’t waste a second, but the man behind me is faster. He wraps his arms around me and pins my arms in place. He holds me close and I’m trapped. I struggle against him, but I’m trapped in his hold.

The door to the room flies open.

“They’re here!” A man barges into the room, completely out of breath.

“Who’s here?” the bald fucker asks, his vile breath filling my nose and I try to push away from him again.

“Valettis!” the man yells, and the men all exchange quick glances.

“I’ll tie her up. You three go now!”

They run out of the door and the bald man reaches into his jacket and I know what he’s getting. I lunge at him. I’ll pry it from his hands if I have to. I’ll scratch, bite and claw. I latch onto his wrist while it’s tucked at his side, gripping the gun, and sink my teeth into his arm as he fires a shot that hits the wall behind him.

He screams from the pain and pushes me away, but I bite harder, until his flesh rips from his arm and I spit it out, digging my nails and fingers into his arm and back.

The man looks down at me with a twisted snarl on his face and tries to shove me away. It gives me enough room to elbow him in his ribs and as he hunches over, the gun falls to the ground and goes off.

This is my chance. My only chance.

T
he tires screech
and I jump out before we even come to a stop. I know they have cameras here. If there’s anyone looking, they’ll see us coming. I don’t want to give them time to hide her. Or worse.

I hear Tommy and Anthony call out from my right as they each pull out their guns and run up to my side. Uncle Enzo and Pops are coming, too. Dom has Tony and Joey going with him. A few of the soldiers should be there waiting for them, too. Every last motherfucker is going to die.

I stand in front of the large doors and Anthony opens them up, staying behind the doors as a barrier. Not me. I’m planted right in front with my guns raised, one in each hand. As soon as I see those fuckers I fire.

They don’t even see it coming. Immediately I take out three MC assholes. Got one in the chest. Bang! Another in the head. Bang! Bang! Another tries to run, and I shoot that fucker in the back. Bang! Bang! Bang! I walk into the larger room. Stacks of coke and pot are on my left. Bricks of each of them, wrapped in plastic. A bagging station is on my right. Their operation is shit. And now, it’s fucking over. As I walk in a gunshot goes off to my left and I fire. Bang! Bang! Bullets fly by me from my right. They whiz past me in what seems like slow motion. Anthony gets a kill. Another MC fucker in leather drops behind a counter. He was counting the cash. With the doors open the wind blows the money off the table.

I walk over to the fucker who got a shot off. Looks like a gunshot caught him in the neck. It must've hit an artery, judging by the way blood gushes out from the wound as his heart pumps. He’s clutching the wound with both hands as blood pools around his head and soaks his hair. His eyes focus on me. He tries to speak, but blood coughs up his mouth. I point the gun at his head and pull the trigger.

I keep walking at a fast pace with my guns raised. My heart beats frantically, trying to jump out of my throat and the only sound I can hear is the blood rushing in my ears. But on the surface, I’m a cold-blooded killer, walking with purpose, moving with a deadly calmness that would frighten sociopaths. I have one goal in mind. Only one thing that matters.

My girl. My sweetheart.

Three men run out with guns firing, and a bullet hits me right in the chest. I fire off both guns. One man’s downed immediately but the other two move off to the side to take cover behind an old rusted car. Tommy and Anthony go up the right side and duck as the guns come up and fire aimlessly. I take a step forward and aim. I hit the hood right where the hand was and hear the bastard swear. That’s not good enough. If he’s talking; he’s breathing. I walk forward and watch my guys go up the right side, sneaking behind. I’ll distract them. I run up close and fire continuously. Four more shells each. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! They sound off one after another, after another, until I’m firing blanks. I keep pulling the trigger, letting the empty clicks fill the air. I want them to know I'm empty. I'm counting on them to stand up and fire at me. And they do. As soon as they’re visible, shots fire from behind them and both men only get a single shot off. One just misses me. But the other lands on my chest, close to the first shot that hit me.

It hurts like hell.

I look down and make sure the Kevlar held up and there’s no blood. I’ll fucking live. But not without my girl. I take the pain and keep moving as I reload my guns. I need to find her.

I know there are rooms in the back. She’s got to be in one of them. My phone’s in my pocket. It’s silent. I don’t know how they’re doing at the clubhouse. But until it goes off, I've got to assume she’s here. My eyes raise and my guns point at a door as I hear bullets firing in the distance, somewhere in the back, and a terrifying scream.

Elle!

All at once we run down the hall, my only focus on the door. I need to get to her. She’s here. I heard her.

Gunshots fire over and over. Three shots, four shots, five shots. No!

I kick the door and it flies open. I run through ready to fire, and instead I stand in shock.

Anthony and Tommy stop behind me. I hear Uncle Enzo yell something from the back, but I don’t know what. All my focus is on my girl.

She’s got blood on her face. A nasty bruise on her chin. And she standing, breathing heavy, with her arms straight, holding a small gun. It’s pointed down at a short, bald man lying face down on the floor. His leather jacket is speckled with bullet holes and blood. So much blood, pooling around his body.

“Elle,” I call out to her, and lower my guns. I see Anthony and Tommy searching the room. I hear a yell clear outside the room, it sounds like Pops. But I’m not paying attention like I should. I walk to my girl. She hasn’t moved, except for her chest rising and falling with each heavy breath as she keeps the gun still pointed at the dead man.

“Sweetheart?” I try to get her attention, and it works. Her startled eyes find mine, and her body relaxes finally. She drops the gun to the ground. It falls to the cement floor with a loud clank and she runs to my arms.

Her small body wraps around me and she holds onto me tight. I hold her to me, loving how she’s clinging to me. But hating that she had to do this. Hating that she went through this.

“Are you alright, sweetheart?” I finally ask her. She doesn’t pull away and doesn’t answer.

“We gotta go, Vince,” Tommy says to my left. I turn, still holding her to me and see all the guys looking at us. I nod my head and kiss her hair.

“Sweetheart, are you alright?” I ask again. My heart won’t beat right until I hear her talk. I know it won’t. I just need to hear her say it. I need to hear her voice to really believe I’m holding her in my arms.

She nods her head in my chest and pulls back. Tears run down her face. “I’m okay,” she answers me, and then wipes her face. My lips crush hers in a passionate kiss. Her hand wraps around my neck and she kisses me back with the same ferocity.

“I was so scared, Vince,” she whispers with her eyes closed as she pulls away.

I kiss the tip of her nose. “I got you now, sweetheart.”

She hugs me close, molded to my side, as we walk over the dead body and leave the room. “I won’t let that happen again. I promise you,” I murmur into her ear. I see my men nod and walk around us. They’ve got us covered so I can just hold her and give her the comfort she needs.

She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “You'd better not.” She gives me a small laugh, but it’s accompanied with tears.

“I promise you, baby. No one’s ever going to hurt you again.” She buries her head in my chest and wipes her face on my shirt before looking back up at me. I wait until her eyes are firmly on me. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Vince.” She reaches up to kiss me again as we exit the warehouse and I have to stop to wrap my arms around her and kiss her back. “I love you so fucking much.”