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“Get in the cupboard” He opens the small cupboard doors where my clothes are folded. It is tiny, but there is a small space where I will fit. I don’t question him and get in before he closes the doors, and I hear his footsteps retreat back out the door.
“Be safe,” I whisper to myself in the darkness of the cupboard as the house is now quiet, and I try to slow my breathing to calm myself. We didn’t really talk about what to do if anyone comes here. It is a safe house. Nico told me no one knows we are here. But if the gunfire I heard earlier is anything to go by, I know we are in trouble. With only Nico here to protect me, I am not sure how we are going to get out alive.
Tears begin to fall, my body shaking uncontrollably as I fold myself into my knees, curling up as tightly as I can, wishing upon everything that I don’t die today. It is funny how only weeks ago, I was willing to die, thinking that my end was near anyway, happy to go out while protecting my little boy.
My body jolts as I hear more gunshots, and they appear louder this time. With each pop, I squeeze my eyes shut tighter to try and block out the fear that is building inside of me. As I wriggle my feet a little to get more comfortable, my toes hit my duffle bag. The small bag that contains my life. It is ironic that me and my life fit inside the small wooden robe, and that this may actually be my last resting place.
I begin to pray as that crosses my mind. I don’t want to die. I want to be with Dante. I want to have a life with him, a life I am only now ready to fully live. My life is just beginning, and this time, I don’t want it ripped away.
For the first time in many years, I want to live.
37
Dante
After making my unwilling body leave Little Red’s room this morning, I picked up Sebastian and Carter from the compound. We are now in the car on the way to see one of the families on the Upper East Side, one who we think may know where Dominic is hiding.
“If they know where he is and have kept it from us all this time...” I start to grit out to Sebastian as he looks out of the car window, rubbing his chin.
“We will find him, Dante. I feel that we are close,” Sebastian says, trying to calm me, knowing that I am on the edge and have been for weeks.
“I can’t find anything in their files that says they know. Maybe they are completely innocent in all this. Who gave us the tip off, again?” Carter asks from the backseat, his tone not filling me with confidence.
“A note was passed to one of our men. We need to check it out,” I reply, my hands gripping the steering wheel. My body tenses under the stress and anger that are now permanently vibrating through my body. I don’t trust the note, not one bit, but with no other leads, I can’t ignore it.
“Look, man, we will find them. Little Red will be back with you in no time,” Carter says, obviously feeling my frustration. “She is a little pocket rocket that can survive anything… including your wrath.” As he continues, I shoot him daggers in the rearview mirror.
“You know, Dante, when all this is over, it will be time for you to move forward, with or without her,” Sebastian adds, not looking me in the eye, and I grind my teeth in reply. “I’m serious, you need to make a decision; either be with her, or let her go.” He turns to look at me. “I think we all know what you want to do, so just fucking claim her already and bring her fucking home. She is not Angelina, so get rid of this fucking chip on your shoulder that has been there for the past few years and fucking get your girl.”
I know he is right. Little Red was made for me. I knew it the moment I saw her, and I have been a stupid, stubborn asshole these past few weeks. Before I can reply to Sebastian, my cell phone rings, and Nico’s name flashes on the screen. Since I only left him less than an hour ago, I am surprised he is calling, so I pick up the call quickly.
“Nico,” I say, but that is all I get out.
“Fucking get here! Now!” Nico screams down the phone line, and I hear loud pops in the background. Then I hear her. Little Red screams, and I slam on the brakes, turning the car around so fast, I am surprised that we are not rear-ended.
My foot is planted to the floor as Sebastian, Carter, and I speed through the streets, listening to Nico on the other end of the phone. I hear him yell at her to get in the cupboard, and I know she is being placed in her wardrobe. Thank God, she is so small and able to fit.
My eyes look straight ahead, deep in concentration, as I weave the car in and out of traffic, running red lights and trying to miss the pedestrians that have begun to move around the streets in search of their morning coffees.
I have never moved this fast in my life.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I yell as I continue to speed. “How the fuck did he find her!” I cannot believe the safe house has been discovered. But as soon as I think that, it clicks. Of course Angelina would have told Dominic about it. I am surprised she remembered it since she was withdrawing and completely out of sorts when she was there, but it all makes sense now. I was too clouded by my anger at Little Red lying to me to think properly, and now because I didn’t keep her with me, I put her right into his arms. I delivered her to him on a fucking silver platter.
“Why didn’t I keep her with me? If anything fucking happens to her…” I grit out, my heart pounding, my temper rising, so enraged by my own actions that my body is vibrating.
“We will get there, Dante. Concentrate on the road,” Sebastian says, attempting to bring me back down, but even I see him clenching his jaw. This fucker has given us the run-around for so long, made us look like fools, stolen our money, and now he is planning on taking Little Red right out from under me. One of our own. My woman. My everything.
“I have prepared your guns, Dante. You are good to go,” Carter says, stoic from the backseat, where he is now going through his guns, ensuring they are fully loaded as well.
“Nico, what the fuck is happening?” Sebastian barks out, so we can try to get a feel of what we’re walking into.
“Rapid gunfire at the front windows,” he pants out, and I can hear him gathering his guns too. “I can’t see how many, four, maybe five of them,” He must stand then to get a better view, because I hear more popping and a loud crash. Understanding washes over me that they are now through the front door. My heart drops as I will this car to go faster. We are now only a few blocks away, but it feels like it's taking a lifetime.
She better be alive, because if not, I am going to kill every last motherfucker within a 20-mile radius.
I speed down the street and see the house, our car tires screeching as I pull up out the front. And, immediately, gunfire is aimed at us. Good. Because if guns are trained on us, they are not on Little Red. The three of us jump out of the car and spread out, beginning to shoot back, each of our aims direct as we see three men fall and another run back inside the house. Still no sign of Nico or Dominic, though.
I stand then and head straight in. I am going in to get Little Red, and no one is going to stop me.
