AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Irina’s words left me disquieted and my head ached—all I wanted was to be home. However, I had to dodge the likes of Heavy and Pasquale trying to get me to stay, along with other dudes, and even a few of theCathousegirls.
Finally, I made it out and started the long walk to my house. I could’ve taken a Range Rover, but I hadn’t been alone in hours, hadn’t had a minute to think about what all this meant. It still felt surreal—Hendrix dead at Lia’s hand, the Volksov Bratva in our debt, and theSons of Celtpaid off by Ty, but also owing us for preventing a gang war. And Ty retiring.
I stopped short as I was about to cross a street, suddenly feeling eyes on me, and I pulled out a cigarette, acting casual as I glanced around. I heard running footsteps and I got into a ready position, reaching for my gun when suddenly someone leapedonto my back. I grunted as I almost went down and threw them off of me.
But not fast enough to stop another asshole, masked and snarling, slug me across the face. I managed to get a punch back and rip out my gun, but the dude on the ground lunged and the gun went skidding across the street.
Shit.I waited for one of them to pull out a gun and drop me. Images of Sicily flashed through my head, the garden outside of my great-grandfather’s house, the soft blue of the sea, and the dusty wilderness of the mountains. Ty and Luca laughing as Flora made us dinner. The twisted rage of my father’s face as he pummeled me into oblivion.
The sweetness of Sara’s lips as she kissed me, her laughter in my ear, her sharp words, her keen mind—the way she begged for and took the pleasure I gave her, the way I wanted to always be around her, the way my heart seemed to roar at the thought of never seeing her again—
I began to throw fists, refusing to go down without a fight. Neither pulled out a gun, but a blade flashed, and I readied myself, snarling—when a gunshot went off.
The two assailants turned and fled, throwing the knife, and forcing me down. Another gunshot went off and I jumped, whirling around, then starting when I saw Slinky standing there with my gun.
“You okay?” He asked and winced, handing me my gun handle first. “Sorry. I’m a shit shot. I just fired in the air.”
“You—you just saved my life,” I said.
“Good thing I was around,” Slinky said. “There’s aSons of Celtbar around the corner that I was heading to when I heard fighting. Didn’t know if it was because of Hendrix.” He looked me over. “Guess it was.”
“Shit,” I said. “We’ll have to look into those dudes later.” I clicked the safety on my gun and grabbed Slinky’s shoulder. “Thanks, man.”
“You need anything else?” He asked and hunched his shoulders. “We should probably go before the cops roll up.”
“Nah, thanks,” I said and Slinky nodded, before shuffling off. I went and picked up the knife, stowing it away and shaking my head. The day was starting to catch up with me and getting jumped wasn’t helping. I was almost stumbling when I got back to my car and had to shake myself to drive back to the Seaport.
As I went in, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirrored walls. I was filthy, with a nasty bruise rising on my cheek, blood on my torn clothes, and covered in dirt. All I could think about was a hot shower and climbing into bed.
But at the same time, I probably needed to let Ty know about getting jumped. Had some of Hendrix’s rats suspected I was next in line? Or did they just want to take out a Michaelson?
Upstairs, my head was swirling with thoughts, and I was not able to let out a sigh of relief until I was inside my apartment. Taking my jacket off was painful, but once I did that, I kicked off my boots, and pulled out my phone to call Ty.
At that moment, I heard a sound from inside my bedroom. My entire body went on alert, adrenaline pouring through me, and I shoved the phone away as I pulled out my gun. Wrapping my hands around the handle, I slowly clicked off the safety and moved along the wall, my eyes on the door. When I heard nothing more, I wondered if I was imagining things, maybe I was paranoid. Then something moved, and I whipped the gun up as someone came out of the room and gasped, their hands lifting in front of them in fear.
Elegant hands belonging to a beautiful brunette. Certain I was hallucinating the woman in my apartment, I stared at her for several moments and she stared back.
“Danny, do you think you could put the gun down?” Sara finally whispered.
“Fuck,” I said and jumped, causing her to flinch. My gut twisted as I lowered it, my arms shaking, never mind my hands as I clicked on the safety. I shoved the gun into a drawer of the front hall dresser and whirled around to her, now leaning against thewall as though she needed it to help her stand up. “Are you out of your fucking mind? Why—how are you here?”
“You told me to come here,” Sara said and put a hand to her heart. “Why—what happened?” She straightened and we slowly approached each other. “Danny, oh my God.” She lifted her hand as though to touch me, then seemed to think better of it. “What happened to you? Are you okay? Do you need to go to a hospital?”
“Long story, I’m fine, and no. But you need to go home.” My jaw gritted. Shit, any Michaelson I would’ve trusted to take her home was currently getting hammered atThe Cathouse.“Actually, wait. Let me take a shower and I’ll take you home.”
“You’re in no shape to do that—or be left alone.” Sara moved closer and I brushed past her. “Danny. You’re limping. Does Ty know—are they okay?”
“Everyone is okay,” I said. “I am exhausted, Sara. Please. Enough.”I can’t take you being concerned about me right now. I cannot handle it. I can’t get used to it.
“You should go to a hospital,” Sara said softly. Her eyes were wary, and she almost looked like she was fighting tears. “You’re scaring me.”
“Now you’re catching on,” I said softly.
Sara’s eyes flashed. “Not like that, and you know it.”
“No?” I took a step toward her, then another, and Sara yielded a step, the another until she was against the wall. I leaned an arm on the wall and then dragged dirty knuckles down her face. “Tell me.”
“You could be seriously injured—I don’t want you to be in pain,” Sara stammered out. She was seriously off her game or maybe she sensed that she shouldn’t push my buttons. “Let’s at least clean up your wounds.”
