Page 50 of Forbidden War (Forbidden 2)
Suddenly, a gunshot goes off from the other end of the house. Armani. Shit.
Dante appears from the living room off to my left, gripping a stumbling man by the collar of his denim jacket and forcing him down the hall in front of me.
My stomach drops. “Where’s Arman—”
“Come on,” Dante says to me over his shoulder.
Keeping my gun raised, I walk behind my brother and his human shield as we enter the sunken den. Another man jumps up from a sagging sofa, spilling an entire sub sandwich all over himself and the floor. He curses and grapples for his gun.
That’s when I catch sight of a small, towheaded figure curled up in an armchair near a cold fireplace. Livvie. Her head lifts up, pale hair falling away from her face. She’s bound and gagged. My heart skips, but I can’t lose focus. I keep my gun trained on the man on the couch.
His gun is aimed at Dante, but the man Dante grabbed is shielding him.
“Don’t shoot,” the human shield begs his friend.
From behind me, there’s another deafening shot.
Livvie screams through her gag. The man on the couch flies backwards and topples over the back cushions as Armani advances into the room like some action movie hero with a gun in each hand. He looks at Livvie, and then back at the man in front of Dante.
Armani approaches him with a gun aimed at the center of his chest.
“How many more here?” he asks coldly.
“Just us three,” the man responds, breathless and panicked.
Exactly as Armani thought, and he’s already dispatched two of them. I wait until my brother nods that the coast is clear and then I race to Livvie. Her tear-streaked face is pale. I untie her gag first, and then her hands. She sobs the entire time, finally reaching for me once her wrists are free. I let her loop her arms around my neck and then stand, her slight body in my arms.
She can’t even form words through her tears. Dante joins us and slips an arm around her shoulders, so the three of us are in a group hug. I’ve never felt such intense relief and anger at the same time, and my nerves are still pinging with adrenaline. It takes me a second to realize that Armani and the human shield have left the room.
“Livvie, are you injured? Do we need to take you to a hospital?” Dante asks, moving back and then brushing some of the hair out of her face.
She shakes her head no.
“There’s a man we’re looking for with tattoos, specifically a big one on his neck,” he goes on. “I understand you know this man, that he was your bodyguard. Where is he?”
She goes completely still and drops her gaze. “He’s not here. I haven’t seen him…he didn’t come for me.”
Those last five words drum up fresh sobs, and she presses her head against my shoulder.
“Shh, it’s okay now. You’re okay,” I tell her. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
Dante takes his phone from his pocket and moves away. I’m sure he’s calling Frankie to let her know the news. I adjust my grip on Livvie and make way to the front door. Armani is standing out there on the porch. Alone.
“You want to tell me again how Karina is working against us?” I mutter.
I brush past my brother and down the stairs.
“Now isn’t the time,” he says.
“Oh no? God knows if we would have found Livvie without the help. I’d say we’re pretty damn lucky to have my wife on our side.”
“Marco—”
“Pretty. Damn. Lucky.”
Dante comes up behind me and we all make our way to the car.
Livvie’s ragged voice sounds in my ear. “I don’t know who Karina is, but if she helped you guys find me, I’d say we’re all lucky to have her.”
I smile and it feels like the most genuine one I’ve had on my face in a long time. I am lucky to have Karina—and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Now and always.
No matter what.
