My eyes widen as the cave disappears, giving way to a very basic stone staircase that leads up. Santino twists about with a smug grin.
“Looks like it’s game time, Caruso.” Bending at the waist, he flourishes his arm out toward the stairs. “Ladies first.”
I walk past him, shaking my head before I pivot to face the men at my back when I cross the threshold.
My voice is deep and filled with authority when I speak.
“The goal here is simple. We rescue both women atanyprice.”
My eyes rove over the gathered men. All of my uninjured and loyalSoldatimingled with DeMarco’s men. Every face among them is hard-set and determined. Jaws clenched, fists balled tight at their sides, every one of them vibrating with that intense calm before the storm.
“We move like wraiths once we hit the castle floor. Like a wave of death silently washing this place clean. Take out everyone you meet using hand-to-hand combatonly. We need the element of surprise, or the bastard will run.”
I give them a minute to let that sink in before I lower my voice to a growl, speaking my next words through tightly clenched teeth. “Now…we kill themall.”
“So much fora silent wave of death.”
Santino huffs as he yanks his blade from the chest of one of Conti’sSoldati, before pivoting to swipe it neatly across the jugular of another. Blood spurts from the deep gash as the secondSoldatidrops to his knees.
I drive my fist into the face of the huge bastard I’m facing off against, momentarily stunning him enough that I can cast my eyes about for a weapon, coming up with nothing. I usually prefer my hands, but this motherfucker just won’t hit the deck.
A knife whizzes past me, lodging itself in the skull of my opponent, and I whip my head up to find a grinning Santino.
He tosses me a wink. “You’re welcome.” Then he disappears through the frenzy surrounding us.
Enzo appears at my side, blood dripping from a gash in his cheek as he pants heavily. “The main rooms are on the next floor,Fratello. Will I go ahead and search?—”
I cut him off, dark determination filling my voice. “We’ll take a handful, and leave the rest to dispatch the majority down here,si?”
He nods quickly, snapping his fingers at two nearbySoldati. “You’re with us. Let’s move.”
As rapidly as he disappeared, Santino pops up at my side, pushing his messy hair back from his brow before regarding me with devilish green eyes.
“You’re not allowed to have all the fun without me.”
Enzo jerks his head, indicating a door at the other side of the melee. “Through there, and up the staircase. If they’re not there, then they’ve already gotten out.”
The idea that Conti might have escaped with Elodie and Aurelia fills me with horror, and I plow ahead through, using my hands as battering rams to clear the space for the motley crew at my back.
Once I’m through the door, I race up the stairs, my feet freezing when I hear a woman scream out in terror. The sound of a fist meeting flesh, followed by the unmistakable voice of my sister fills my ears.
“Don’t.Per favore, stop.”
My feet move toward her automatically with the others bringing up the rear, until Elodie’s voice comes from farther away, through a long, narrow corridor.
Santino glances back and forth. “Divide and conquer?”
I extend a hand, and he clasps it in his with a nod. “Si, DeMarco.” I tip my head in the direction of Aurelia’s voice. “Your bride awaits.”
A wide smile slashes his face before he drops my hand and jogs ahead.
“Enzo, stay with him.” He nods before rushing after Santino, while the rest of us go in the opposite direction.
A group of ContiSoldaticrests the top of the staircase as we pass it. “Hold them off.”
As my men jump into action, I slip past easily, finding myself running down the stone-walled hallway at full tilt, stopping only when I come upon a single door.
My heart is racing as I swing open the door, only to slam to an immediate halt when my eyes find the sight that greets me.
