Page 83 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

They both crash to the concrete, rolling violently as they grapple for control. With a feral growl, Caughn throws a jab at Adriano's temple, but before the bastard can land another blow, Adriano flips their position, headbutting him and punching his shoulder.

The raw brutality of their struggle makes my breath hitch as they tear into each other like savage animals, beating each other bloody in the dirt.

I watch in absolute terror, my heart slamming against my chest for Adriano, as I notice him double over in pain. And that’s when I see his bleeding side.

Shit. He must have been hurt before coming here.

I hold my breath as Caughn pushes with vicious strength, forcing Adriano to the ground. Then he’s back on him again, now landing punches to his face. I look toward the entrance, stupidly hoping the FBI might intervene, but we’re tucked deep enough between the container blocks that no one’s looking our way yet. Besides, an FBI intervention wouldn’t exactly end well for Adriano anyway.

“You underestimate me, Adriano.” With a twisted smile, Caughn moves his hands to Adriano’s neck and begins choking him. “Every fucking person underestimates me… even my own father.”

Adriano claws at his wrist, his face turning blue.

“I’ll kill you… her… him. Damn, even myself, if I have to.”

The rage in his voice is raw… like he’s gone crazy.

Suddenly, Adriano bucks his hip, wheezing desperately. But that makes Caughn stagger. And right at that moment, Adriano rolls over and lunges for the gun on the floor.

“Watch out!” I yell as Caughn picks up the metal piece and slams it into the back of Adriano’s head. Fuck.

My fingers itch by my side, and I contemplate jumping in. But that’ll put the baby at risk, seeing as I stand no chance.

Caughn slams the metal piece on his back before angling it vertically and diving straight for his chest. I bite my lips so hard that I feel the blood as the metal grazes Adriano’s chest, but before it can penetrate, Adriano grabs the gun and fires two rounds at Caughn.

Finally, Caughn freezes, his eyes going wide, as blood spills from his mouth.

The shots still echo in my ears as he staggers backward, giving Adriano time to stand up. But then, in one second, everything changes. Caughn raises his hand to reveal a gun.

My eyes widen. When the fuck did he pick that up? He aims at me, then fires. My breath catches in my throat and I shut my eyes, waiting for impact. It never comes; instead, when I open my eyes, Adriano is in front of me, clutching his shoulder with a loud groan.

Shit. He really took a bullet for me.

Karma finally catches up to Caughn as he falls to the ground, his hand clutching at his side in a weak attempt to stop the bleeding.

“While you were in the cell in Nevada, I-I realized the greatest betrayal of my life. Y-You and Enzo were nev-never the last pieces of evidence my father wanted to eradicate,” Caughn chokes out in an almost inaudible voice.

Adriano furrows his brow.

“M-Me… I-I w-was the final target. The ultimate loose end. I found out my o-own father wanted to kill me, too.” With that, his head lolls to the side, and his body grows limp.

Adriano turns his gaze to me, hand grazing his blood-stained shoulder before clutching his bleeding side. And the world, for just a second, falls away.

Chapter twenty-nine

Adriano

I should feel victory. Vindication. The usual feeling that always comes after satisfying my bloodlust. After all, I’d just served justice to the last man directly responsible for my family’s spilled blood.

Instead, all I feel is relief. Relief that my greatest fear didn’t happen. Elena’s safe.

She’s standing a few feet away, hands clasped nervously in front of her.

Her face is pale under the strobing light of the federal vehicles, bruises and streaks of blood dusting her forehead and limbs… but I find myself thanking God that it’s nothing serious.

She breaks into a smile and runs to hug me, her torn gown whipping in the wind. I wince slightly when she wraps her arms around my torso, and she quickly readjusts, wrapping them around my neck.

I don’t hesitate to shut my eyes, painfully settling my hands on her waist and reeling in the feeling of her warmth—the feeling I feared I’d never experience again.