Page 132 of Dark Breaker

Moving quietly, I retreat as far back into the cupboard as I can, and then point my handgun toward the crack. I mentally prepare myself to fire.

The cupboard door starts to open, but then a muted scream comes from the direction of Fabio’s room.

The door shuts and I hear footsteps as the goon retreats rapidly.

I don’t know who just screamed. I hope it wasn’t Fabio or one of my brothers.

I open the cupboard and glance in both directions. The coast is clear.

I crawl back out and hurry to the kitchen doorway. I peer past the edge in time to watch the goon vanish into Fabio’s room. Then I hear three gunshots fire in rapid succession.

Did he just shoot Fabio, Nicolo, and my brothers? But why only three shots? Is it because the fourth person was already dead? Was he the one who screamed?

No.

No.

They can’t be all dead.

Dreading what I’ll find, I slowly approach the room. I’m well aware that more goons will be rushing this way shortly, but I can’t bring myself to move any faster. I could be walking into something I don’t want to see, or to my own death.

I can see into the room now as the door remains open. There’s a man collapsed at the entrance. He’s dressed in black. I don’t recognize him—one of the Jackal’s. I see another goon further inside, similarly resting in a pool of blood.

I can’t see my brothers or Fabio, which is odd, because they were tied up near the front of the room when I left. Have they fled already? If so, I better get a move on.

Keeping my handgun pointed down, I circumvent the dead man and hurry into the room.

Fabio is on the floor, tied to a chair that’s missing one of its legs. He’s aiming a gun directly at me. Massimo, also tied to a chair, is on the floor to my right. He’s similarly pointing a weapon at my face.

I raise my hands in surrender.

They both lower their weapons.

“Rosa!” Fabio exclaims. “We thought you were another goon!”

“Sorry, should have found a way to warn you somehow,” I say.

“See if you can untie us!” Massimo says. “Hurry!”

I go to Fabio, set down the handgun, and use the letter opener to work on his binds. It’s slow going.

“That was you out there?” Fabio asks in amazement. “Causing that ruckus?”

“It was all me,” I agree.

He glances over his shoulder at me in awe, and says proudly: “That’s my girl.”

I explain to him what I did while I unravel his binds, and as soon as I have him free he gives me a hug.

“Did he touch you?” Fabio asks, pulling away for a moment. “The Jackal?”

“No,” I reply. “He left me alone.”

“Are you sure?” Fabio presses. “He said he did… things…”

I smile reassuringly. “He didn’t touch me. Pinky-promise.”

The last words evoke a smile from him and he hugs me all over again. “I fucking missed you, Wife.”