AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I try to turn from him. To find something else to keep my hands and mind busy. I need to focus on him. Getting him on the road to recovery. If I keep busy, I can’t think of the blood. Blood that isn’t his or mine. That I spilled.
I’m meant to heal. It’s my life's work. My parent’s work.
“Doc.” He says again. Louder this time.
“Almost done.” I reply. I’m not. I’m not working on anything. I’m staring at my hands. His fingers come into my field of view, and cover my own. “Grady’s got this. He was stitching me up long before you came around. You need to sit. You need to process.”
“What is there to process?” I can’t look at him. Will he see me different? Am I different? “I did what I had to.”
“And you saved my life by doing it. That’s three times you’ve saved me. I’m supposed to be the one protecting you.” I can hear the pain in his voice. He isn’t one for getting emotional, unless its playful or angry.
I spin towards him. Grady is finishing wrapping the bandage on the wound. Confident I won’t hurt him further, I stop closer to him and bring my hands to his face. There is a bruise darkening on his jaw that I avoid. “You did protect me.” He starts to shake his head. I try to keep it stiff. “Yes. You have and you are.” I take a deep breath to gather my thoughts. “I don’t regret killing that man. I feel a lot of things, but not regret.”
Killian remains silent for a moment before saying, “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” I say quickly.
“I am. You asked me to protect you. I should have done better. If I had you wouldn’t have had to take a life.”
I shake my head. Unwilling to let him feel blame for tonight. If it’s anyones fault, it’s his cousin’s. “I told you. I don’t regret it.” I take a step back from him and fold my arms across my chest. Trying to mimic the stance Grady and him always take when they are trying to get me to back down on a fight. “I would do it again."
He raises an eyebrow at me. Obviously not expecting that answer, so I continue. “I've seen the evil in this world. The darkness and destruction they cause. Those men are evil. Were evil.” I pause for a moment. “The things your cousin is planning…We can't let him succeed.”
“I won't.” Declares Killian. The steel in his voice returning.
“We won't.” I correct. “I'm in this with you. One hundred percent. Even if it means I need to kill again.” As I speak the words, I realize how true they are.
“You fuckers better not leave me out. I'm in this too.” Chimes Grady as he steps closer again, forming a circle with our bodies. Together we laugh.
“I need to check on your father.” I say as I look over to the makeshift hospital bed behind me. He took a shot to the chest too, only his was lower and did internal damage to his organs. He's alive, but unconscious. I needed to induce a coma. As long as he doesn't succumb to infection, he will live. He was smart to move to the rail, so he could fall over it. Whether intentional or not, it probably saved his life. A second shot to the chest would have killed him. At least now he has a chance.
“I need to call a meeting.” Killian says as Grady helps him to pull on a clean shirt.
I give a nod. “I'll stay and watch over him.” I say as I motion to his dad. Killian kisses my temple before leaving with Grady, who gives me a hug before he follows.
CHAPTER SIX
Val
CLUB VIVID IScrowded, as usual. I hate it here. It’s too loud, and there are too many drunk people grinding on each other. There was a time I had tried to be like them. To join them in their debauchery.
For months I spent every weekend trying to loose myself in alcohol. The women never appealed to me. Not like they did to Luca and Massimo. Those two had a new woman in bed every week.
I had tried. I thought it would get my mind off of Keira. Help me to move on. It didn’t. Every woman who came onto me, I danced with, or gave me their number, I compared to Keira. I wasn’t fortunate enough to find someone who came close, so I stopped looking. I figured the first woman I’d have would end up being whoever Don Bosco arranged for me to marry. If I fell in love with her, great. If I didn’t, I’d find a way to satisfy her and have an heir or two. I had lived this long without sex. I could go a little longer.
Except now that Bosco had Violet again, Luca captured Elena, and Massimo turned our innocent prisoner from the basement, Livianna, into an obsession, I was surrounded by love and happiness. I was thrilled for them. But it led to me spending more time thinking about Keira. I don’t want to believe she’s dead. Instead I wonder where she is, or what she is doing.
I have a lead. Just the one. It’s not a strong one, and I’m itching to return home to chase it further. I found a name, a doctor who’s history before six years ago is sketchy at best. It seems someone created her identity around the same time Keira’s cuts off. Soon, I hope to have more time to pursue the lead.
Elena and I have been busy combing over camera footage from all over the city. Our last rat in the family, Joseph, is still out there. He hasn’t been seen, but we know he hasn’t left the city. I’ve got alerts set up at every plane, train, and bus station. Every cop on our payroll has his picture, and Elena set up a program to scan every face that passes by a traffic camera either on foot or in a vehicle to scan facial rec for a match. We’ve flagged his credit cards and bank accounts as well, so if he tries to access them, we’ll know.
Because we’ve been working so hard, the girls convinced Luca and Massimo to take them out tonight. I’m here to help keep an eye on the girls, as well as play lookout for Joseph or anyone from the Cartel. We took out one of their local leaders Julio, and captured the other, Ramirez, but that fucker escaped. It’s only a matter of time before he screws up and we catch him again. This time, he won’t be able to escape. If Luca or Massimo don’t kill him, I will.
I spot Massimo and Livianna descending the stairs from his office moments before my phone goes off. Strange. It’s a text from Massimo. “Cartel’s here. They’re hunting. Livianna’s taking lead. Don’t move in until I say.”
Well damn. I turn to find Luca and Elena. They have stopped dancing and are making their way over to me. Not a minute later and we’ve got the signal from Massimo. They’re on the move. Now, so are we. Our SUVs are out back. We quickly divide ourselves among them and start chasing. It’s not an exciting car chase. We play a shell game to keep them from catching on to being followed. We only have one car following a few cars behind at a time, and every few blocks we switch out with a new car following while the others trail a block away. We are in constant communication with each other, so we don’t lose them.
They lead us to the shipyard. The women are told to stay in the car. Elena only does so after Luca threatens her. I’m doubtful she’ll stay behind for long. Livianna agrees to stay in the car only after Massimo practically begs her. She’s a sucker for his begging and he knows it.
