Page 15 of Raphael

“I’m going to remove my hand but you won’t scream,” he demanded in a hushed tone. “Understood?”

I swallowed hard then nodded. And all the while, my breathing and heartbeat thundered erratically. I was scared. I’d always been the one scared of my own shadow. Anya went through hell and she was always braver than me.

Slowly he removed his hand off my lips, his eyes never wavering from me. As if he anticipated I’d do something stupid.

“Good,” he praised. “Now, let’s save these women and kill those men.”

“No.” The word left my lips before I thought better of it. Bossing around the head of the Maryland mafia wasn’t smart.

He cocked his eyebrow. “No?”

I took a deep breath in. I couldn’t believe I was standing up to the freaking head of the mafia. I’d be stupid not to know who or what Nico Morrelli was.

“We get the women out,” I said with the confidence I didn’t exactly feel. “I get the evidence so we can put the Tijuana Cartel behind bars. They’re working with someone in D.C., and I need them to reveal that connection.”

“Interesting,” he murmured. He actually considered my words. “You know who?”

I have a good idea. “Not sure,” I ended up answering.

He didn’t believe me, but he nodded regardless. “Take pictures. Then my men and I will get the women out.”

So I did. I snapped pictures of all the Tijuana Cartel faces. Right along with Santiago Tijuana, the head of their cartel.

“Okay, now let me have this camera,” Nico Morrelli demanded. I eyed him suspiciously. “Don’t worry, you’ll get it back and all the photos will be there. I don’t want you to snap evidence against me and my men.”

I cleared my throat. It had crossed my mind, although I wouldn’t admit it. I valued my life too much. I hoped he couldn’t see the truth in my eyes. The nerves ratcheted up my pulse, the hunger for revenge eating at me. Sometimes you gotta make a deal with the devil to make things happen.

So be it.

I handed him my camera. “Stay here. Once we get all the men secured, I could use your help with the women. I have a shelter where they’ll be safe.”

“Okay,” I breathed, unfamiliar around ruthless men like this. But I didn’t really have a choice. I came alone.

I wouldn’t miss out on a chance to set those women free so I opted to trust this man. If only for the night. Tonight’s war wasn’t with Nico Morrelli. It was with Santiago Tijuana and my father.

The next twenty minutes were a whirlwind. Nico and his men moved with an efficiency and familiarity I’d never have in situations like this. It made me realize how stupid I was to think coming here alone was smart.

I watched Nico and his men shift through the darkness, I tried to read their body language, worried whether they’d betray me and the women. Some were dressed for combat while others wore three-piece-suits. And still they fought efficiently.

As the fighting and gunfire ended, I stood up from my spot and rushed through the dark parking lot. The moment I got close to Nico Morrelli, my footsteps immediately halted. A bulky man in a suit blocked my path.

“Excuse me.” I attempted to sidestep him only to have him counter my move. He obstructed my access to Nico. “Move out of my way.”

Hard blue eyes met mine and the man’s lips thinned in displeasure. “I don’t think so.”

“Fucking Tijuana got away.” I heard one of the men shout.

“No matter,” Nico told him. “I have the place surrounded. Someone will pick him up, and then we’ll drop him right at the police station, along with some hard evidence.”

I grinned. Nico Morrelli showing up was definitely a good thing. Annoyed that the hulk of a man was still obstructing my path, I glared at him.

“I said, excuse me,” I hissed.

“Let her through,” Nico ordered. “After all, she’ll be the one to put Santiago Tijuana behind bars. It was her that triggered the alarm and brought us here to set these women free.”

Well, damn. Maybe one or two mobsters in this world might be decent men after all.

ChapterNine