Post by silent.lullaby on Jul 25, 2010 9:54:11 GMT -5
//We Run This Town//Chapter 027// Stays In Italy (Part One)
I ran a red light, it was still yellow when I approached but turned as I went into the intersection. I heard honks and squealing tires but kept on driving. My heart was slamming against my ribs threatening to break through. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my skin turned white over my knuckles. If Jack did anything to Gavin... I took a left turn too sharp and skipped over the curb. I promised myself if I survived this I would insist on driving lessons.
The address (I had plugged into the GPS of the stolen car) was for an abandoned warehouse. “Not very creative,” I muttered trying to calm my nerves. I tried to imagine Preston, he’d worked for my father for as long as I could remember. He was always so lively, fun loving, and happy. I didn’t know anything of what he’d done for my father, or for Uncle Enzo, for the Mafia. I knew it was bad, he’d probably killed men before. I took a deep breath, but he was fine, he survived, he lived. He didn’t even seem to worry that a bullet could be coming for him one day. Ceasar, Adam, neither of them let on that anything was out of wack. They were both themselves, but maybe they too got the jitters while on a job. No one ever spoke of it.
I parked in the large lot behind one of the giant shipping containers. I grabbed my gun from the seat and checked the clip, it was full, I shoved it back into place and let out a shaky breath. “I’m going to be fine,” I said out loud, “and Gavin... he’ll probably hate me after this, but he’ll be okay too. You can live with that.” I rubbed my temples, my pep talk wasn’t helping any.
“Why didn’t you just shoot him,” I nearly shouted in frustration slamming my hand against the wheel. Why hadn’t Gavin just shot Jack instead of letting himself get taken? Maybe the gun jammed, maybe Jack snuck up on him? Unlikely, the lock had been shot off. I shook my head, Gavin probably just couldn’t pull the trigger, he was a law kid, he probably tried talking him down. I opened the door and slammed it.
Walking around the shipping container I looked to the rooftops, but didn’t see anyone. Then again, if he wanted to snipe me he wouldn’t have gone thought all the trouble of getting me here. I took a step forward and froze.
All I could think of was Sergio. This must have been how he felt when he was stabbed, the fear coated me, the back of my neck was moist with sweat. My jaw clenched and my mind went to Mom, Dad and Maximo. What would they do if I died? What would Mr Burke do when he found his son and the Lombardi daughter dead in a warehouse? What would Gemma do? How would Lucia and Blaire feel? How would October and Kaper talk about it? Kaper’s boyfriend with one of her friends?
I turned around and hidden by the shipping container let the tears fall. My hands palms down on the hood of the car. I’d never known such fear. Sure, I’d been scared when Dad and Uncle Enzo went to prison, but it had been slight fear, more sadness. This... I shook my head my brown choppy hair swaying in the movement. This was true fear. I was looking death in the face, and I was scared shitless.
“Fuck!” My curse came out shaky, God, I couldn’t even sware proper anymore.
I was nearly hyperventilating as I pressed my back against the cool metal container and slid down I hugged my knees and cried. I knew I was wasting precious time, but my entire body shook! Shook with sobs I couldn’t contain. How could I break like this? I was a Lombardi! I should be fearless, proficient, this was what I was born for. I looked at the gun in my hand. “Fucking shit,” I whispered to myself, “I’m so fucking screwed.”
I took my phone from my pocket. I wouldn’t call anyone, I couldn’t risk Gavin’s life like that. It was my fault he was in there with that manic Jack Valentino, and I would get him out and if that meant I had to die, so be it. My hands shook, but I’d leave a message. My phone had a recorder on it. I’d used it before for a grocery list and other silly reminders. I pressed the record button and spoke, “if you’re listening to this, I’m already dead.” Oh how so cliche! “I’m sorry. It was Jack Valentino. I had to do this, and I had to do it alone. Please understand. I love you all.” I hit end and hid my phone under the car. If I ended up dying, people would be searching the area for clues, I had confidence they would find it.
Fear clenched my heart but I stood and ran out from between shipping containers before I could think about it anymore. I pushed myself running faster and I went to a side door, and opened it, I wasn’t surprised when it screeched open. I was sure that was the advance warning Jack wanted.
“Lilianna, so nice of you to join us.” The florescent lighting was dull and swung lightly, it made the shadows seem to dance. “We are so happy you arrived, aren’t we Mr Burke.”
I got a look at Gavin, he’d been hooked up to one of the shipping lifters and precariously swinging, only his toes able to touch ground, his body held up by his wrists tied together in barbed wire blood oozed down his arms in a way that made my stomach clench and made it feel nauseous. It also brought forth the gut instinct to run forward, fear was good at holding you back, but anger was a really fucking good motivator.
Taking the stairs down two at a time my gun in the back of my pants, his pointed toward Gavin. I stopped in front of Gavin, his hair was devilish, pieces matted by his own blood dripping from above. His sea green eyes foggy and weak. His breathing was laboured, tortured. I turned my anger toward Jack, “let him go!”
Jack laughed, laughter that shook my foundation and taunted me. “And what if I don’t? What are you going to do Lilianna?” He laughed again. “He has served his purpose, you’re here now. I should kill him right now, but...” He smiled, “I think I have better ideas of what to do with him.”
“Fuck you.”
“Take out your weapons Lilianna.” When I made no effort to move he moved closer to Gavin and pressed the barrel of the gun to Gavin’s temple, “now!” I took out my gun and threw it to the ground. He laughed, “for the mafia princess, you are a fool. With the gun,” he crouched down staring at me while his gun still pointed at Gavin, “you had a chance, but now, you’re weaponless and I have bait that says you can’t run away.”
He moved closer to me grabbed my jaw and pulled me close, I felt his breath against my ear as he spoke, “why would you come here for him? Give up your weapon for him? Don’t tell me the mafia princess has gone and fallen for the laws son?” He pulled away and stared at me, maybe he seen something in my eyes as they flashed panicked to Gavin and back. “Aw shit Lili, you did, you did go and fall for him haven’t you?”
“Leave him out of this,” I insisted, “you wanted me! Here I am!”
“Do you have a death wish?” Jack asked amused, “you call for death, like I’ll leave a witness behind when I’m through with you.”
“He won’t say anything,” I insisted.
“Bullshit!” He called. “We both know that is bullshit.” He walked over to Gavin and patted his shoulder hard the barbed wire scraping and ripping new flesh from his wrists, Gavin screamed against the gag.
“Leave him alone!” I grabbed Jack’s arm and pulled it.
And heard the gun go off.