Page 12 of The Empress

Mattia and Raffaele, two of my men, take the lead with Massimo and me right behind them. I’m aware of Luciano and Klodian following us, and not trusting Nicolo’s offspring, every muscle in my body is wound tight.

Raffaele kicks in the metal door, and it shudders open. We all pour into the warehouse that’s filled with tables and people packing bags of cocaine into cereal boxes.

“Cazzo!” one of Santoro’s men shouts, and as he aims at us, my men spread out and begin to open fire.

I stick near Massimo while I shoot at anyone who’s holding a weapon, and for a moment, the gunfire is loud, white powder filling the air around the tables.

Pandemonium breaks loose, and I’m angry as fuck because it’s now clear that my scout fucked up. There are more than four armed men.

When Raffaele is shot to my right, and he drops to the floor, intense rage pours through my veins.

I’m going to kill Sebastiano with my bare hands for giving us the wrong information. Santoro must’ve paid him off.

The tiny hairs on the back of my neck raise, and after killing another fucker, I glance to my right, only to see Luciano running for the door while covering his head.

As a result of the coward running away, Klodian takes a bullet to the neck. Luciano disappears down the hallway, and with the attack ongoing, I can’t go after him.

It takes us way too fucking long to kill the last of Santoro’s men before I’m able to get to Klodian’s side.

I drop my weapon as I kneel beside one of my most loyal men. Klodian coughs, blood spraying from his mouth and hitting my neck. His eyes are filled with fear as he stares at me.

Knowing Klodian won’t make it, I promise, “I’ll take care of Carlotta.”

He coughs again, more droplets of blood hitting me. Pushing my arm beneath his head, I hug him to my chest and say, “I’ve got you. Shh. I’ll make sure Carlotta’s always taken care of.”

His body jerks once before he stills, and his gurgling breaths stop.

I’m hit with so much fucking anger as I lay Klodian down, a tremor shudders through my body.

With Klodian’s blood coating my skin, I rise to my feet. I take a moment to check on all my men. Raffaele and Andrea have been shot, but they’ll be okay once they get treated.

I look at Maurilio and order, “Get them to the hospital and take care of Klodian.”

“Yes, boss.”

I glance over the destruction and bodies, my frustration and anger spiraling out of control because Santoro isn’t here.

Turning around, I stalk out of the warehouse and make my way down the hallway.

“Where are we going?” Massimo asks.

“To kill Luciano and Nicolo,” I growl.

While Massimo gathers the remainder of our men, I climb into my Porsche, my blood practically boiling in my veins.

Because Luciano ran like a fucking coward, Klodian is dead.

Today, I’ll rain down hell on the Romano household.

Chapter 3

HAVEN

There’s a lot of yelling coming from the first floor, and it has me opening my bedroom door just in time to see Mom rushing up the stairs.

“We’re leaving now!” she exclaims, panic thick in her words.

“What’s happening?”