Page 33 of Sicilian Savior

Bang! Bang!

Double-tap just to be sure. I glanced at him and the others making certain no one took a breath, then I rushed back down to where Lucia was curled up where I left her.

When I reached out my hand, she took it. “Come on. We need to get out of here before anyone else sees us.”

With a quick nod, she let me pull her to her feet. I slid my arm around her shoulders and rushed us out of the alley into the city center. People scurried around, confused and shouting, no doubt terrified from the gunfire they’d all heard. Their frantic actions helped us move quickly without looking conspicuous.

I glanced down at the sizeable bloodstain on my shirt from when I’d killed Mario and his friend. When I saw police racing our way, I turned to Lucia and wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight while I camouflaged the evidence that would have made me target number one.

The cops rushed past us, and once it was clear, I loosened my grip on Lucia. I slid a hand across her face.

“Are you hurt? Did you get hit?”

She shook her head, those terrified eyes making my heart clench in my chest. “No. I’m—I’m okay.”

I slid my other fingers along her face and held it between my hands. “I will never let anything happen to you. Do you understand me?”

She nodded.

“Good. Now, don’t be scared. No one from the mafia knows what we look like. We just need to blend into the crowd and find a ride from the city since our car is shot.”

“Okay.”

I looked around and saw an abandoned vendor’s booth, the salesman likely fleeing when he heard the gunshots. Touristy shirts dangled from the tent above. Perfect. A six-foot-four giant with a Viking beard didn’t blend in, so walking around covered in blood wasn’t an option. I pulled Lucia over and yanked a shirt from the rack. Quickly, I ripped off my blood-stained t-shirt and shoved it in my back pocket so I wouldn’t leave it behind as evidence. I regretted not paying attention to the size when I grabbed the new shirt because it fit me like a second skin. I glanced down at the ridiculous t-shirt practically painted onto my body that said, “Have no fear, the Sicilian is here.”.

A smile quirked my lip as I turned to Lucia. I jutted a finger at the slogan. “It’s funny cuz it’s true.”

My grin caused a small smile to start up on her ashen face.

Knowing this wasn’t the best time for jokes, I looked up and searched our surroundings. “Okay. Let’s find an exit, and I need to call Wes to have him cover our tracks.”

As I led her toward the outskirts of the market, I pulled out my phone and called Wes.

His face popped up on my screen wearing the big grin he always sported. “What up, Beefcake? Oh, hey, Lucia!” He waved at her.

“Pretty Boy, I need help.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Lucia

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I lifted my hand awkwardly to wave at Wes on the phone screen, but I couldn’t manage to form any words of greeting. His face dropped when he saw the look on mine.

“Everything okay? What’s happening?” Wes asked.

My gaze darted between Knox and the direction of the sirens and shouting.

Knox followed my glance back toward the parking lot. “I need you to ping my location and find the parking lot just outside the market due south of me.”

“Okay,” Wes answered without hesitation. A moment later he said, “Got it.”

“Sweep for any security cameras. I need all footage erased if you find any. Check dashcams too.”

“On it,” Wes spit out, and I heard clicking on the keyboard, then he pushed a piece of hair from his face. “Found one.”

“Get rid of it.”