Page 38 of By Blade, I Love
I snuck behind a group of adversaries that were all engaged in combat, so I used my knife to take them down one at a time while I cupped my hand over their mouths, their comrades oblivious to the stealth killing. I did it to each one until a single guy was left, and by the time he realized he was alone, it was too late. I stabbed my tanto knife into his neck, sliced it right open, and watched him drop to his knees and then collapse.
So Warren wouldn’t be able to flee, we had two cars block the gate. The only way out was to drive the opposite way down the dirt road to get off the property, but my SUV was also in the way.
Warren must be in the house, hiding like the pussy that he was.
The shootout continued, hundreds of men in the enclosed space, but we were prepared for the attack, while they hadn’t seen it coming, so we gained the upper hand quickly. They didn’t have the protection of vests, and they also didn’t have enough ammo on their persons. Once they couldn’t reload, the real fun started.
I whistled then clicked my tongue like I was calling for a dog. “Who’s a good boy?” I whistled again until I found a couple guys trying to run into the field. It was too much effort to chase them down, so I quickly sprayed them with my automatic rifle. The rest of my men hunted down the others who tried to run.
Elio was the first one to make it to me, and it was the only time he’d ever looked at me with respect. All that suspicion was long gone. “Frankie?—”
“She’ll be here in a minute,” I said. “And you better drop to your knees and thank her when she gets here.” I walked off and left him standing there. “Pietro, move the vehicles.” I grabbed my phone and made the call to the driver as I continued to scan the property, seeing my men shoot and cut down the rest of the stragglers. “We’re ready for you,” I said when Santino answered. I hung up and returned the phone to my pocket before I approached the outside of the villa, seeing a new wave of bullet holes that we’d have to repair. I stared up at one of the windows, knowing that whoever was inside would be able to hear. “Get ready, Warren. Daddy’s home.”
I waited to go inside until Francesca arrived so she could be part of the crucifixion. Leo hadn’t been spotted on the premises, so he’d probably hidden somewhere in the house because he knew what was coming.
Santino, Damiano, Andre, Salvatore, and Elio came to my side.
“What are we waiting for?” Andre asked. “Let’s get this motherfucker.”
At that moment, a cloud of dust from the road became visible, and then the SUV came into view. “Francesca is doing the honors.”
The car came to a stop, and then Francesca opened the door.
I held up my hand and told her to stay put.
She didn’t disobey me and shut the door again.
I jogged to her then opened the door, blocking her from a shooter from the window. Now would be the perfect moment to pick her off if they were waiting for the right opportunity. I pulled her with me and kept my body in front of hers. That way, if someone took a shot, it would hit me instead of her.
We made it to the stairs that led to the entrance to the villa.
Santino loaded a shotgun and handed it to her along with rounds of ammo.
She pulled the strap over her shoulder and gripped that gun like she was ready for this. With eyes full of determination, she showed no hint of fear. She would blow that house to bits until the rats crawled out through the cracks.
“Stay behind me, alright?”
Her eyes shifted to me.
“Stay behind me,” I repeated, staring her down until she agreed with my orders.
She finally gave a nod.
I stepped inside the house first with my rifle ready to shoot anyone waiting for us. But the hallway was empty, and the kitchen off to the left was vacant except for the cooks huddled together in the corners with their hands up.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Francesca said, recognizing them as the same staff that had worked for her father.
“Fan out,” I said. “Baby, you stay with me.”
We broke apart and swept the rooms on the first floor one by one.
She did as I asked and stayed behind me. Gripped her gun and had it ready at all times. Scanned the room and did her own checks behind desks and inside closets. When we cleared the first floor, we went to the second. I expected another ambush at the top of the stairs, but there was none.
I repeated the orders. “Fan out.” I stayed at the bottom of the stairs and looked up to the landing that connected to the third floor, knowing Warren and whoever else was with him were waiting for us.
Francesca stood beside me and stared at the same stairs. “When Warren’s men came up the stairs, my father shot down at them like fish in a barrel.”
“Is there another way up?”
