I’m going to need to cause a scene, force Matteo Castro to see me face to face. Driving a ways down the road, I pull off on a side road and stash the car in the trees. If they haven’t spotted me on the security cameras yet, I’ll be shocked as hell. Hobbling down the road, I force myself into a steady jog. The air outside is cold, and when it clashes with my heated skin, I shiver. I feel weak, so fucking weak, but I have to do this.
I need someone in my corner, and since Christian wants to go to war, I guess I’ll be the one to bring it to his door. But first, I need to get Matteo on my side.
Reaching the edge of the fence on the property line, I gaze up at the mountain I’m going to have to climb. Exhaustion coats my insides, and I have to force myself to continue forward. Think of Dove. Off in the distance, something catches my eye. Not something, someone. Two men are headed right toward me. Beefy, muscled, and with guns strapped across their chests.
I’m in no position to fight. Hopefully, they don’t kill me, because fuck, would that be a shit way for this to end.
“Either you have a death wish, or you have a fucking death wish.” One of the men sneers when he gets closer. The fence is still between us, but I know that won’t save me. If they wanted to kill me right now, they could.
“I need to speak to Matteo,” I grit out.
The same guy who spoke moments ago lets out a bemused chuckle. “You need to speak to Matteo? Sorry, buddy, but that’s not how this works. If the boss wants to see you, you’ll know. Now get the fuck out of here.” He makes a shoo motion with his hands, and if I wasn’t in so much fucking pain, I’d grin.
My gun sits heavily in the waistband of my jeans, and I know as soon as I reach for it, they’re going to shoot me. It’s a risk I have to take though. Shooting one of them will definitely get me to Matteo. Dead or alive? Not sure.
Moving with agility I didn’t even know was possible, I grab my gun and aim it at the guy that laughed at me.
“No hard feelings,” I grunt as I pull the trigger. At the same time, his friend pulls a gun and shoots. The bullet rips through my shoulder and into the tender tissue. How much more blood can I lose before I die? My skin stings where the bullet lodges itself inside, and I stagger backward, my knees shaking. I can feel the ground coming into view. Who knew that the mighty would fall so hard? After all I’ve done, everything is crumbling to the ground. The man always killing and ending lives has finally been caught by karma.
Landing on the ground with a hard thud, all I can do is look up at the sky.
“Idiot,” The guy who shot me growls as he walks over, his face coming into view. The toe of his boot collides with my ribcage and pain ricochets through my body. Fuck. “You got your wish. Looks like you’ll be leaving via a body bag, after all.”
Pain encompasses me, and I watch through heavy lids as he lifts his gun and pulls the trigger again. Another bullet sinking into my flesh, burning through muscle. Another bullet that I’d gladly take if it brings Dove back to me. Blackness and pain are all I feel as my eyes close for what I feel is going to be the very last time.
The first thing I notice when I come to is that I’m alive. Scratch that. I’m not alive. I’ve died and gone to hell. Actually, hell would be a vacation compared to what I’m dealing with right now. My entire body is like a flame, burning and pulsing, gushing gasoline on a never-ending spark of fire. Every muscle tightens as I struggle to make sense of what’s going on.
“Welcome back, Zane,” an unfamiliar voice says, and I twist in the direction of it. Finding nothing but darkness. It’s then that I realize my wrists are handcuffed to the sides of the bed. The metal dinging with my sharp movement. Tugging on them to the point of pain, I grit my teeth as the metal digs into my skin. Slowly, everything starts to come into perspective. Looking down at my bare chest, I find I’m no longer bleeding. Each of the bullet holes that littered my chest are now clean, and the wound covered with gauze.
What the hell happened?
“You can say thank you at any time.” There’s that voice again, and it grates on every last fucking nerve ending. I didn’t go through all this for nothing and every second that ticks by is another second that Dove could be somewhere hurting or worse…
“I need to talk to Matteo!” I growl.
“Well, it’s your lucky fucking day, boy.” Out of the shadows appears Matteo, the man I need to speak with. His honey-colored hair is slicked back, and his dark eyes are menacing, well, about as menacing as a small dog chewing on your ankle. “I don’t really appreciate you shooting one of my men, but I suppose we’re even since he took one shot, and you took three.”
“Not that it matters, but I was shot when I got here. Your guy only shot me twice.”
Matteo narrows his gaze, a smirk twisting his lips. “I see. Still, you deserved to be shot, showing up here and shooting one of my men. Hell, he should’ve killed you. I will say that I’m surprised that I finally get to meet the infamous Zane though. Hitman for the Sergio family. Did you know there is a bounty on your head?”
All I do is shrug. “I’m not here about the bounty, and if you want to hand me over to Christian, then do it. He has something of mine, and I want it back. You’d be doing me a favor anyway.”
Matteo stares at me, just stares. “You know that’s not how this works. Your balls must be the size of Texas if you think you can come in here and ask for my help.”
At this point, I don’t care about anything. All that matters is saving Dove, making sure she is safe, alive, and protected. “I’ll tell you all of his secrets. Kill whoever you want. Do anything that you need. I just need some guns and manpower. That’s all I’m asking for. It’s not a marriage or relationship. It ain’t shit. You help me. I will help you.” I try not to sound as fucking weak and desperate as I feel, but I don’t think there is much I can do about it at this point.
Matteo gets up from the spot he’s perched on. “And why the fuck would I help you? I don’t know anything about you, and the last thing I need is your help. I know the odds are stacked against you. As the hitman for the Sergio family, a family that is a rival of mine, that continues to fuck with my business, I should kill you. In fact, give me one good reason not to shoot you straight in the fucking head right now.”
“I don’t have one. All I have is the knowledge that Christian wanted you dead. You were next on my list. Now, if you aren’t going to help me, then let me fucking go.” I tug against the handcuffs again, my muscles burning with exhaustion. Matteo looks indifferent, and I wonder what the hell is going to happen next.
“What is it that he has that would tempt you to make a deal with the devil?” I swallow thickly, hating that I’m going to have to explain to him who Dove is to me. It’s obvious I’ll burn the entire world down for her, so there isn’t any point in hiding that she is my biggest weakness. I’ve already exposed that myself.
“Dove. He has her. She is mine, and I want her back.” I growl.
Matteo chuckles. “You want to start a war over a girl? Over some pussy, which you could get from any woman?”
“She isn’t just anyone, and he’s going to hurt her. I…” It kills me, rips me to fucking shreds to say my next set of words. All my life, I’ve vowed to be strong, to look death straight in the eyes and smile, but this isn’t just about me anymore. Dove wasn’t cut from the same cloth as me, and she can’t handle this world. “Please, she is my entire world, and I…right now, I have nothing. I am a walking target, if I go in there to save her on my own, we’re not getting out. You’re my last chance…”