Page 6

6

ARCHER

T he water flows softly in the fountain beside me and I look down at the two glasses of champagne I’m holding and frown. God, I’m a sucker. Setting them down on a nearby side table a little too hard, the glass clinks.

I’m annoyed as I turn around and look back toward the party. Is she still in there? Maybe out on the dance floor with a new partner? Clearly, making it out here to meet me wasn’t a priority for her. I certainly arrived in a timely fashion and more eager than a fucking schoolboy.

So pathetic.

Is she with someone else?

A strange wave of possessiveness washes over me and I’m not used to feeling like this. In fact, I don’t like it at all. The urge to storm back inside and hunt her down fills me and I take a step toward the door when a sound snags my attention. Almost like a scuffling sound.

“No! Please!” a woman cries out.

Spinning around, I squint through the trees and see a flash of red and white. Without a doubt, I know it’s my Queen of Hearts…and I have a sinking feeling she’s in trouble. I take off running, yanking my mask off and tossing it as I race toward the back of the property. After pushing through the rear gate, I wind up in the alley just in time to see the object of my desire get roughly shoved into a black SUV.

Shocked, I take a moment to assess the situation as the car takes off, fleeing into the night. In a split second, I make the decision to go after them. Even though I don’t know who she is or what kind of trouble she might be in, I’m going to find out.

I didn’t leave my car with the valet because I don’t trust anyone and I don’t like waiting around, especially if I need to make a quick getaway. Like now. Therefore, my black Dodge Challenger is parked very close by and I race across the street, hop inside and turn it on. The engine roars to life and I shove it into gear. Smoke pours from the tires as I yank the wheel hard and slam on the gas.

Here we go.

There’s no way I’m letting them get away from me and I peel around the corner at the end of the alley. Traffic is busy enough that it’ll slow the other car down, but not too much that we’ll be sitting in it and crawling along. After a minute of driving like a maniac, way too fast, weaving in and out of other cars, I see the SUV.

I fall in behind another car, staying close, but not obviously close. The neighborhoods seem to be getting worse and worse as we drive further into the city. At some point, something gets thrown out the SUV’s window and I think it might be the little purse my girl was carrying.

It doesn’t take a genius to realize the bastards tossed her phone and identification. And that doesn’t bode well.

My blood starts pumping harder and anger courses through me. I know she’s in trouble, but why? Everything in me shifts into protector mode and I refuse to let anything bad happen to her.

Dammit, I wish I knew her name, knew her story.

The idea that she’d already been outside waiting for me makes my heart soar. She didn’t stand me up, after all. No, my little brunette was already out there by the fountain waiting, eager to see me again. But then a couple of assholes dragged her away and ruined all of my plans.

The question is why? What’s going on?

Determined to get to the bottom of the situation, I accelerate, making sure I don’t lose my quarry. After a little more driving, the SUV pulls up alongside the curb in a shitty neighborhood. I drive past and turn the corner at the end of the block. Once I’m out of sight, I park the car and reach over and open the glove box. Reaching inside, I pull out my Glock 19. Never leave home without it—and it’s a good thing, too. I get out, lock my car and jog back to the end of the block, using houses and shrubs for cover.

My attention zeroes in on my girl being forcefully escorted up a walkway and straight into a dilapidated house. Her mask is off and she’s even more beautiful than I imagined. I don’t miss it when she drops her red mask on the sidewalk. Smart little thing. She’s leaving a clue, a breadcrumb, a cry for help.

I don’t know who she is, but I know she’s in trouble and I’m about to knock some thugs out and rescue her. Because, hey, it’s what I’m good at—taking down the bad guys.

Once they’re out of sight, I hurry across the neighboring lawns then head for the backyard. I’m going to break in through the back door. But first, I sneak up to a grimy-looking window and peer through the dirty glass.

I see the trio move through the living room and disappear into another room on the opposite side of the house. A plan starts forming in my head as I make my way in a low crouch toward the rear of the property. Even though I only saw two thugs, it doesn’t mean there isn’t another tango in there who I’ll need to take down.

Guard up, gun in hand, I step onto the rickety back porch and stealthily make my way to the back door. I try turning the knob and it surprisingly opens. Hmmm. Not sure if that’s good or bad, but I push it open and slip inside.

Voices waft out from the room on the left and I creep forward, listening to the conversation, catching bits and pieces. When I’m right outside the door, I can hear more clearly and, for a stunned moment, I freeze.

“You better shake, Carlotta, because I have plans for you. Plans you will not like, but things that must be done to teach your family a lesson.”

Carlotta? As in Carlotta Rossi ?

Oh, fuck…fuck me for so many different reasons.

“My family didn’t do anything to you,” she says, doing her best to sound brave.

I dare to look into the room, through the cracked door, and I see Carlotta sitting in a chair, wrists zip tied to its armrests. Carmine fucking Gallo stands in front of her, spouting off his threats, and the two thugs stand off to the side, both armed.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Gallo states coldly. “They’re the reason I haven’t been invited to join the other mafia families, they’re the reason I was put on the Kill List and hunted down by crazed bounty hunters and they’re the reason my mansion burned to the ground. I will have my revenge.”

God, what a fucking crybaby. I’m looking forward to hurting him.

“I’m going to destroy your family…starting with you,” Gallo seethes.

That’s it. I’ve had enough. Moving faster than those two slightly-overweight thugs can handle, I sweep into the room, staying low and fast, and fire off a round into each goon. They drop before they even know what the hell hit them.

Meanwhile, Gallo dives for cover and crawls away fast, disappearing into an adjoining room. I have the briefest opportunity to shoot him in the ass, but I turn to Carlotta instead.

“Are you okay?” I ask, looking her over quickly. She doesn’t seem hurt and relief fills me.

She stares at me, mouth dropping open, and blinks. “You’re…from the party,” she finishes lamely because she still has no idea who I am.

I nod then decide I should get Gallo. “Hang on, sweetheart.”

Storming into the attached room, expecting a bathroom, I realize it’s exactly that. Except, it connects to an adjoining room and Gallo must’ve fled through it and escaped. I make sure, though, and follow through. The back door now stands wide open, confirming my suspicion.

It doesn’t matter. I’ll let Miceli know and someone will take care of Gallo very soon. That asshole just signed his own death warrant by crossing the Rossi family yet again.

Once I do a more thorough sweep and make sure he really is gone, I return to Carlotta. I slip my pistol in my back waistband then pull out the Ka-Bar tucked into a sheath in my boot.

“Hold still,” I murmur and slice through the zip ties, freeing her dainty wrists. She’s looking up at me like I’m some kind of famous actor and she’s starstruck. I can see the little hearts floating in her eyes as I offer her my hand.

“We need to go,” I say, and she immediately tucks her small hand in mine. The fact that she trusts me makes me puff my chest out a little.

“Who are you?” she whispers.

But I don’t answer, just pull her through the house and out the front door.

“C’mon, I’m parked down here,” I tell her. Once we reach my Challenger, I unlock it and open the passenger door for her. “Get in and let’s call your brother.”

After she slips inside, I close the door and circle around. Once I’m in the driver’s seat, I pull my phone out. She reaches over and lays a hand on my arm.

“Who are you?” she asks again.

“Archer,” I tell her. Recognition flares in her eyes even though we only just met tonight. She must’ve heard my name before, probably from Miceli.

“Oh,” she breathes.

While she lets my revelation sink in, I pull up Miceli’s number and hit send, making sure he’s on speaker so Carlotta can hear the discussion, too.

“Rossi,” he immediately answers.

“I just rescued your sister from Gallo,” I say then launch into the story of what happened. Well, the part about her abduction from the masquerade party, not about how I made her orgasm with my fingers.

Miceli is pissed as hell, just like I knew he would be, and Carlotta assures him that she’s okay.

“Gallo said he’s going to destroy our family, Miceli,” Carlotta tells him, leaning forward, hands twisting in her skirts. “I’m not sure what he would’ve actually done to me?—”

“He was going to kill you,” I interrupt, being blunt, and needing them both to understand the seriousness of the situation. “Don’t delude yourself into thinking otherwise or doubt him. I heard the anger in his voice. He’s not fucking around and both of his men were armed. I think Carlotta needs to be taken somewhere safe.”

I glance over at her and the look on her face is completely unreadable.

“Do you have a place?” Miceli asks.

“Yeah. Somewhere off the grid that no one knows about.”

“Okay, take her there and I’m going to talk to Gallo.”

Talk or take care of him? I wonder. But I don’t ask. I’m not sure how much Carlotta knows about what her older brother has done—the lengths to which he’s gone to protect the people he loves. I have a feeling, though, the time is coming soon where she’s going to have her rose-tinted glasses ripped off. Whether she likes it or not.

Because we aren’t a good group of men. Miceli and his brothers will do whatever it takes to protect the people they care about and it doesn’t matter how many dead bodies turn up in order to do that. And I’m the guy who will help them take care of business.

In fact, I’ll kill whoever I need to if the payment or the motivation is right. I lost my conscience a long time ago.

After so many years on a ghost ops teams doing secret, deadly missions, pulling a trigger and neutralizing tangoes doesn’t affect me anymore. I figure I’m doing the world a favor by eliminating scum, dirt bags and bad guys.

“Do I get a say in any of this?” Carlotta asks.

“No,” Miceli and I respond at the same time.

She lets out a frustrated huff then coolly reminds us she has no clothes and is wearing a ballgown.

“I have stuff,” I say, my voice gruff. Although, my dirty mind is already picturing what perky assets might be hidden under that dress and wishing she could just be naked.

“Yeah, but I want my stuff,” she insists.

“Lottie, please go with Archer. He’ll keep you safe and under the radar while I deal with Gallo. It’ll only be for a couple of days. Three tops. Can you do that for me?”

Carlotta sighs. “Yes,” she finally agrees, and I frown.

What’s the big deal? A few days off the beaten path with me isn’t going to kill her. Besides, I thought she liked me. Well, I guess she did before she knew my identity.

After assuring Miceli I’ll keep her safe and secure in a remote location, I disconnect the call and start the car. I have a cabin in upstate New York that will be perfect to hunker down at for a bit. It’s nothing fancy, just an old hunting cabin surrounded by woods, but she doesn’t need the Ritz-Carlton. Just a quiet place to hang out, far away from the dangers of New York City and Carmine Gallo.

Tightening my hands on the steering wheel, I turn toward the highway, trying not to breathe in her sweet candy smell. Because now that I know who she is—Carlotta Rossi—I know that she’s off-limits.

I just hope my dick understands that he will be staying in my pants.