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My own memories of past encounters flashed through my mind, and I nodded. I could tell that this was more than the possibility of being recognized. I knew so little about Bella, but I could tell she couldn't bear to relive whatever had happened between these men and her. And frankly, I understood that fear and the need to get out of the situation.
I allowed her to guide me out the back door, leaving a twenty on the bar as we passed by to pay for our drinks. When the door opened and sealed behind us, I nearly barreled into Bella’s back as she froze. “Text Carlo with our location right now,” she demanded, taking a deep breath and straightening. “Play along until he gets here, and we’ll be fine.”
I glanced up and saw a small group of guys in the alleyway, taking shots from flasks and puffing on their cigarettes. They saw us, and the malicious smiles that crossed their lips told me precisely where their minds had gone. Fortunately, I didn’t see recognition flash in their eyes as they glanced at Bella. I grabbed my phone and shot a quick message to Carlo before putting my phone in my back pocket.
911. Bella and I are in the alleyway beside the 22ndStreet Tavern. Help.
“If it isn’t two pretty ladies,” one of the men said, swaggering toward us. Bella stepped in front of me and met him head-on, a smirk pulling at her lips as she stroked a manicured hand up his arm.
“I like your tattoos,” she remarked sensually. I saw it for what it was. A distraction and a way to plant herself between me and the men. If I hadn’t seen her fear seconds before, I would’ve sincerely believed she was interested in this man. She was certainly an expert manipulator, and this only confirmed that.
“I’ve got more,” he said, looking her up and down. Disgustingly, his eyes focused on her tits and held for a moment. “I can show you and your little friend all of them.”
“I don’t like to share,” she said, gnawing on her bottom lip and giving him bedroom eyes.
Three more men held back, staring at the encounter, but another came forward, passing by Bella and moving toward me with the same intimidating strides the first had used. I could do this. I could act like Bella until Carlo saw my message and came for us. I wasn’t going to get us killed by acting irrationally. I couldn’t make it a game for them, or I feared this would turn ugly far too quickly.
So I stepped forward and gave the man what I hoped was a sultry smile. He came so close that I could smell the whiskey on his breath, and it took everything in me not to gag. “What’s a pretty little thing like you doing here?” he asked.
“Guess I was just looking for trouble,” I said. My trembling voice gave away every ounce of the fear I felt, but he didn’t seem to notice. “Would you say that you fall into that category?”
“Baby, I can be whatever you want me to be,” he said, stepping forward and grabbing my hips.
I just had to put on an act. I could do this for a little bit longer. “That sounds like fun,” I said.
“Tell me,” he started, pushing me back a few steps until my back hit the cool wall. “What kind of trouble are you wanting? Because fucking you against this wall would sure make my night.”
I forced a chuckle. “I don’t know about that,” I teased, but as he moved his hand between my legs, I couldn’t help but swat it away and cower back into the wall. “Hold up, there, big boy. We don’t have to go so fast.”
“I know your type,” he said, pinning me with his body. “You say no, but you want it hard and rough. What else you want? Some hair-pulling? Choking? I’ve got a belt. I can put you on a leash and fuck you from behind if that’s what you want.”
His vulgar words had me involuntarily shaking my head, and his eyes lightened. I realized quickly that I’d done exactly what I’d been trying not to do. I just made this a game, and I could only hope Carlo made it in time.
19
CARLO
It was dumb luck that I’d been beside Frankie when I received the message from Sierra. I read over it and then read it again, wondering when she’d decided to go out tonight. The last we spoke, she’d been planning on staying in, but when I read the message for the third time, I sprung to my feet and charged toward the door, uttering only three words that had Frankie moving behind me. “They’re in trouble.”
In less than three minutes, we were in the car, strapped with enough weapons to arm an entire tactical team. I told Frankie where we were going and he took off, fast enough that if we passed by one cop, we’d be fucked.
“What exactly did she say?” Frankie asked, and I realized at once that he had no idea about Bella. He only knew that Sierra was in trouble, and he’d armed himself as if he planned on killing a dozen men.
“Sierra and Bella are in the alleyway beside the bar. She only said ‘911’ and ‘help.’ Sierra never asks for help, so I know they’re in trouble.”
Frankie gunned the engine harder, his fingers tightening on the wheel. “Why are they together?” he shouted, his anger increasing tenfold. I knew that he’d shoot first and ask questions later. If Bella had a scratch on her, he’d torture the bastards for a week before killing them. I’d seen my brother strip the skin from a man while he lived, and I knew these people’s fates would be worse.
“I don’t know,” I told him, allowing the cool calm to consume me. In that way, we were opposites. Frankie exploded, and I let the rage grow into a calm that made killing effortless and tactical.
“What the fuckdoyou know?” he shouted, swerving around a sleek SUV. It honked and skidded behind us, barely avoiding hitting us, but Frankie continued forward, fast enough that I knew we’d arrive within a minute. “What kind of threat are we dealing with?”
“I tried calling, and she didn’t answer,” I remarked. He grabbed his phone and dialed Bella before it went to voicemail and he cursed, slamming the phone onto the dash. “Nothing will happen,” I assured him, also trying to assure myself of the same. There was nothing we could do or know until we got there, and I hoped beyond anything that the Luccheses hadn’t decided to take their attack a step beyond us and target our women. If they did that—if one hair on Sierra’s head was out of place—I’d damn the consequences and kill them all.
Frankie skidded to a halt on the sidewalk beside the bar, and the bouncer stepped forward. When we stepped out of the car, his eyes widened, and he stepped back, not saying a word about the misplaced car. Nobody would challenge us as Frankie pulled his trusted gun from his hip and moved into the alleyway.
Three men stood at the opening, watching the scene within. When they saw us, they lifted their hands and stepped as far away as they could. “We don’t want no trouble, bro,” one said. Another mumbled “Bonanno” under his breath, recognizing us immediately.
We passed them without a second look, and my eyes went straight to where Sierra stood on the other side of the alleyway. She pressed into a wall, cringing away from a man who stood over her as another lingered nearby. Bella was against the opposite wall, three men surrounding her. “Get off me,” Sierra shouted, her tone feral as she tried bucking away.
