Even I know what a mistake that is.
“Our business isn’t with you, it’s with your buddy here.”
“Three,” Nixon growls.
“I wouldn’t underestimate him.” Enzo laughs. “He’s certifiable.”
“Two.”
“He isn’t going to do shit.” The man who approached us in the bar squares his shoulders and takes a step in Nixon’s direction.
A gunshot rings out and a piercing cry echoes along with it. Dropping to the ground, the man clutches the side of his thigh as blood seeps from his new bullet wound.
“Told you,” Enzo says with boredom as he shakes his head slowly, rolling his eyes.
“Get out of here before I make the next shot life-threatening. So much as look in our direction again and I won't hesitate to give you a matching one.” Nixon’s jaw clenches as his eyes sweep from the first man to the second, then finally over to me. “You good to walk, pretty boy?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Where’s Raina?” I can’t help but clutch my ribs as I ask.
“Inside with the girls. Sly stayed back to make sure she and Vinnie didn’t try to escape the building.”
The image of my brother-in-law holding back both my sister and Raina as they try to get past him flashes through my mind.
Rounding the corner, Sully pants as he comes into view, then bends, resting his hands on his knees. “I heard—I thought—what the hell is happening?” He looks at me, then over at Javier’s guys, then his eyes widen on Nixon's gun. “You’re packing?”
“Always,” Nixon replies simply, never taking his eyes off the man his weapon is pointed at.
“Why are you so out of breath?” Enzo scrutinizes Sully with a wrinkle of his nose, looking him up and down.
“I.”Huff. “Avoid.”Huff. “Cardio days.” Sully dramatically breathes out.
“Right,” Enzo drawls, then turns to me again. “Are we getting you out of here or what, Paladino? Clock’s ticking.”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Pulling his phone from his pocket, he taps the screen a few times, then presses it to his ear before barking at whoever is on the other end of it. “Bring the car around.”
“Raina,” I grit, looking up at Enzo as I grab my side. I don’t think I broke a rib, but there’s no doubt I’ll be bruised.
He rolls his eyes, then repeats the tapping on his phone before pulling his phone to his ear again. “Bring them down. We’re leaving.”
Five minutes later, we’re split into two blacked-out SUVs, one belonging to Enzo, the other belonging to Sly.
“You need to go to the hospital,” Raina argues once we’re settled in the back seat. She’s wrapped around me like a koala clinging to a tree, her face pressed against my chest.
“My brother-in-law is a doctor.” I wince as I adjust my body slightly. “He’ll check me over when we get to my place.”
“It’s not the same.”
“I’m not going to the hospital, Raina.” My tone comes much harsher than I mean it to, and I tighten my hold around her in apology, dropping my voice. “The only thing I want to do right now is get to my apartment and climb into my bed with you by my side. From there, Sly can do whatever evaluations he wants, and you can be my nurse. Whatever makes you both happy. But I’m not going to the hospital just to wait amongst the rest of Manhattan in the emergency room, only to be given ibuprofen and sent home hours later to rest.”
“What do you want to do about those guys?” Nixon asks gruffly, rubbing his hand against his chin. The passing streetlights only brighten part of his face, making his question feel ominous.
“Nothing. They won’t be back.”
“You sure?” His brow lifts in question.
I nod. “He said Javier had two messages for me. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know he’s now delivered both.”
