Page 15 of Bound to the Mafia Guard (Mated in the Mafia #5)

14

ROWAN

For all the bluster and confidence I had when convincing Trev to let me do this, when the time came to actually follow through, I was terrified. I had been coached and briefed on the plan until I had it completely memorized, and until the moment Connor had parked the car, I had total confidence that I would be fine.

Then the fears began rolling through my mind. A constant barrage of what if, what if, what if. I couldn’t shake the memory of waking up in a dark room, bound and helpless, the same way Brutus might leave his next victim. Each time I closed my eyes, it was like I was back in that room with the only sound being the tap of his cane.

“Just relax,” Connor said as the two of us strolled down the street.

We had parked our car in the back lot and began our trek down the sidewalk as if we were simply out for a regular stroll down Main Street. In reality, we were out there as bait.

A few days prior, Andro, Cord, and Trev had worked whatever mafia magic they had and put out information that I was planning to talk to the police about what I knew regarding my abduction. The rumor was that I had finally figured out who was behind it all, and I’d be blabbing to the police unless I was stopped. Whether that information had reached the right ears, I didn’t know.

Orsino had informed Andro that Brutus had taken the bait, based on something he’d observed at the casinos. Now it was show time.

Connor and I were making our way to the café where Brutus had been seen a few different times.

Apparently, he had made it clear he wasn’t going to be put into jail and would do whatever it took to keep me quiet.

Despite the fact that we had several people at the café ready to intercept any attack, my anxiety refused to be appeased.

“I’m fine,” I told Connor.

He chuckled as if I had said something hilarious and looped his arm into mine. “Just relax. We’re just two omegas out shopping.”

He pointed at a store window, and I followed his lead, stopping for a moment to look at the storefront and chat. To anyone else, it looked like we were window shopping. In reality, I was trying to keep it together. My hands shook and my stomach rolled.

“Shall we get a coffee?” Connor said.

“Yes, please,” I said. “Maybe with a shot of something strong in it.” I wished. If ever there was a time I needed alcohol, now was it. I couldn’t even have much coffee, since it wasn’t recommended, and alcohol was an absolute no.

Inside the coffee shop, there were four people I sort of recognized—not because I actually knew them, but because Trev had shown me their pictures. They were on our side. All of them were guards that he or Andro had handpicked for this operation. They were the best of the best, and if today went as planned, I’d owe them my life.

We ordered our coffee, and I kept looking around, but nothing struck me as a threat. It felt like just another day.

When we sat down at our little table, Connor sipped his coffee.

“I didn’t find what I was looking for,” I said, hoping I was being covert enough.

“Maybe it’s at the next shop,” Connor replied, giving me a reassuring smile that barely masked the tension in the air. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice as he glanced around the café. “Just remember what we practiced. If you see someone who looks remotely suspicious, act natural. We’ll play our part until they show up.”

“It’s not like he can hide. His limp is pretty pronounced.”

Just as I said the words, each of the guards suddenly stood. The chime on the door dinged, indicating a person had come into the cafe. The hair on the back of my neck rose and anxiety prickled up my spine. My neck craned as I looked around for what the guards were reacting to.

His figure loomed in the doorway, broad shoulders blocking the light, his shadow stretching toward us like a predator’s paw. Then I heard it. The tap of the cane, the shuffle step, then the tap of the cane again. My vision blurred. My breath came in heavy pants. All at once I was thrown back into the room where I was held for so long. No sunlight streaming through the window. No light, nothing.

Someone grabbed my hand and squeezed.

I’d seen pictures of Brutal Brutus, but I wasn’t prepared for what he looked like in reality. From across the room, I could make out the sharp lines of his tailored suit and the glint of something metallic tucked into the waistband of his trousers. A sickening realization washed over me. I didn’t know what he was capable of or what he had planned. Even though I knew that I was surrounded by people intent on protecting me, including my own mate, my pulse throbbed in my ears, drowning everything but the sense of impending doom.

Trev stepped in front of me, blocking my view. I leaned against his back. He shifted, and I heard the click of his weapon as he undid the safety. “Stay there, Brutus.”

“Put your weapon away. We can settle this amicably. That omega has information I need kept quiet. Surely we can strike a bargain. Name your price.”

“That omega isn’t going anywhere. He’s my mate, and if I had it my way, I’d blow you away right now. As it is, the only reason you’re not lying dead on the floor is because my omega wants to make sure you don’t have others kidnapped and hidden somewhere. Give us the information we want, and you can live.”

I pinched my eyes shut as the guards began to move. There were gasps and shouts from the patrons of the cafe who weren’t in on this whole set-up. Brutus grunted as he hit the floor. His cane clanged against the tile.

“Get him out of here,” Trev commanded.

I kept close to Trev’s back and didn’t move. There was a scuffle and some cursing. The door chimed again, and it was quiet. A few people murmured, questioning what it was they had witnessed. Andro would figure out how to clean up that mess.

Then Trev was turning around and pulling me into his arms.

“It’s over,” he said. He kissed my cheeks and whipped away the tears that fell. I hadn't even realized I was crying.

“So much for being brave.” I sniffed.

He cupped my face in his hands and forced me to look at him. “You were incredibly brave, Rowan. I was the cowardly one, the one who wanted to lock you in the house and keep you safe by not letting you experience life. You were the one who faced your fears head on. And now he’s taken care of. You’re safe.”

“What will you do with him?”

Trev shrugged. “Put him in the torture room. Andro will want to find out what sort of secrets he might share. We can find out if he had anyone else kidnapped and figure out where they might be. Then, once he has given us enough information, we’ll rid the world of scum like him.”

“Promise?”

Trev leaned down and kissed my lips, then kissed my cheeks. He buried his nose into my neck and inhaled. “I promise, omega mine. He can’t hurt anyone anymore.”