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Leo appears from behind Donato, but he doesn’t interrupt as Donato continues, “I told you at the beginning there would be no going back. Why didn’t you just marry her the way you’d pledged to?”
“Couldn’t do it.”
“And now here we are. A terrible waste all around,” Donato says.
Behind me, heavy footfalls slap against the wood.
“Hey, brother,” Aiden says.
Looking over my shoulder, I grimace at Aiden’s split lip and wild hair. Blood drips down his shirt like a leaky faucet. For fuck’s sake. Farther and farther off plan.
“Nice face,” I say, scowling.
There are a pair of two-pronged dark marks on his neck where it looks like someone used multiple stun guns to drop him. That’s the thing with Aiden. The kind of force it takes to bring him to his knees doesn’t come from one man or even two.
Aiden spits into the water. “Been a while since I tasted my own blood. It’s as sweet as ever. No wonder so many people want a taste.”
One of the Sullivan guys behind him chuckles.
“Get them in the boat,” Donato says.
Moment of truth.
I glance down to be sure the boat’s tethered tightly to the dock.
Donato’s foot soldier grabs my arm and leads me forward. My heartbeat kicks up a notch. Time to make my move.
Live or die, this is the moment. As I take a deep breath, I yank my hands apart. The weak link in the chain between the cuffs snaps.
The Sullivan lieutenant shoots the young Di Luccio soldier in the back of the head. He drops off the dock, and by the time I hear the splash, I’ve got my gun aimed at Donato.
There’s a scuffle behind me, but my job is in front of me. Without hesitation, I pull the trigger. Donato crumples onto the fiberglass. Leo backpedals as I jump onto the boat. He’s grabbing for his gun when I fire two shots into him, head and heart. He’s dead by the time he hits the deck.
When I turn, I see the purple face of the Di Luccio captain who Aiden has in a chokehold from behind. The man’s legs dangle and kick until he loses consciousness. Aiden’s right hand holds his left wrist, continuing to apply deadly pressure. The metal cuff must be cutting into Aiden’s skin, but you wouldn’t know it. He’s a brawler, so when the adrenaline’s pumping, I don’t think he even feels pain.
When he finally releases his wrist, he grabs the back of the man’s pants to lift him and then throws him onto the boat.
“Toss me the hook,” Aiden says. “Before this fish floats away.”
I take a fishing spear and toss it to him. He uses it to guide the Di Luccio soldier’s body to the boat, so I can haul it on board.
Aiden holds out the end of the spear and then unwraps the ropes that are anchoring the boat to the dock. “I’ll meet you out there.”
I nod, watching the Sullivan guys walk away. Aiden falls in step behind them until they all disappear into the darkness.
After firing up the boat, I back it away from the dock. Aiden will meet me over deep water. I’ll splash some bleach and sink this boat then catch a ride back to shore with my brother.
My mind needs to stay focused on the task at hand, but it’s hard to tamp down my anticipation. Once this boat goes down and I transfer a big payment of thanks to Joe Sullivan, the book will be closed on my battle with the Di Luccio family.
Which means that after seven weeks, I can bring my babies back home. Olivia, Brady, and the newest little Callahan who’s growing bigger every day inside his beautiful mama.
Every time I wanted to cut this short and drive to Maine to see Olivia, I watched the ultrasound clip of my unborn baby and reminded myself to play the long game, so they’ll be able to come home for good.
Now they can.
EPILOGUE
LIAM
