I nearly fell over when I leaned down to grab my duffel and slung it over my shoulder. The hall before me was swaying. I put one foot in front of the other as I continued forward. I fumbled with the zipper of the bag, sliding my gun inside.
“Fuck,” I muttered when I reached the stairs.
My gloved hands left blood smeared on the railing as I held onto it and made my way down the stairs as fast as I could. My throat started to tickle when I reached the last step.The tear gas.
I couldn’t go out the back door and risk being exposed to the full effects of the gas. So, I headed for the front, hoping the final guard was long gone by now. It felt like it took me forever to make it to the door.
I unlocked it and pulled the door open, stepping out into the night air. Heat rolled over me the second I stepped outside. The scent of gasoline burned my nostrils, making me cough as smoke drifted across the front of the estate.
Fire danced all around the house, illuminating the darkness. Flames climbed the exterior walls while burning debris crashed to the ground around the estate. Wood cracked and popped as the fire spread.
I would have to run through fire to escape.Fuck that!If I wanted to make it out of this alive, I needed to go back inside to search for a fire extinguisher. That was probably the one thing I didn’t have in my duffel. I started to turn around when I saw headlights racing up the driveway.
Damn it.
My hand immediately went to my duffel bag. I fumbled with the zipper, trying to get it open. If the Corradinis had sent men afterme, I would need my gun so I could take out as many of those motherfuckers as I could.
Fuck!
I couldn’t get the bag open. My bloody gloves kept slipping on the zipper. I leaned against the wall for support, a wave of dizziness almost bringing me to my knees. I refused to fall.
The cars had stopped in front of the house, and people were getting out. The figures were hazy as I stared at them through the fire. This couldn’t be the way I went out. I had to get my weapon out, even as my body screamed for me to lie down.
Finally, the zipper slid back. I fished around inside until I gripped my gun. It was a struggle to lift my arm and aim. But I did, just as a figure rushed toward me. I started to squeeze the trigger, but the gun was knocked from my hand.
Shit.
I’d failed. This was it. I’d come here to end my cousin. Yet, this estate may end up being my final resting place, also.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ROME
––––––––
I blinked, hoping to clear my vision while I shoved at the person grabbing me. I was trying to get away, but my body felt heavy, like I had cement bricks strapped to my ankles. Before me, people were using fire extinguishers to sweep across the front steps, clearing a path.
The bastards had cleared a way for this motherfucker to get to me. I would kill them all. First, I had to break free of this person’s hold. An arm wrapped around me just as my legs threatened to give out.
"I've got you, buddy."
I frowned.
That voice...
“Hold on. I’ll get you out of here.”
"Terzo?" I whispered, trying to look his way.
"Yeah. It’s me."
What? How? I blinked, staring at him. I couldn’t see him clearly. My vision refused to cooperate.
"Just relax," he said. "I'll get you to the hospital."
"How... are you here?"
“This way is clear,” someone shouted, voice sounding far away.
