Page 53 of War Within
Stopping in front of my son’s door, I bowed my head. He was cornered. There was no other way for him to escape. There was no turning back. He had betrayed the family.
My body tensed as I lifted my leg, kicking his door. It almost broke on the first try but required a second, harder kick. That caused it to swing open with a loud bang. Pointing my gun in the foyer, I glanced around. He was nowhere to be seen.
Keeping my back to the walls and my senses alert, I entered the home. Weapon leading at all times, I inspected every room before spotting the corner of a billiard table through an archway. Creeping slowly, I peeked in the room to see his back turned.
“Ciao, Papà.” He chuckled.
“Turn around and face me, Marco! Why did you do this?!”
He remained unmoved, staring out the large window, his hands in his pockets.
“Why did you drag her into this?! She didn't deserve this!”
That triggered a reaction. His body stiffened before he spun on his heels, sullen. “If anything,youdragged her into this!”
“She was just my assistant!” Lowering my gun, I placed it my back waistband.
“Wasyour assistant.” He shook his head, rolling his eyes.
Crossing my arms, I titled my head. “Have you been the one stealing money from the Serbian investments account? What do you want Marco? Money? Power?” I held my arms out to the side, taking slow, cautious steps toward him. “Is all this worth it? I don’t understand what happened to you.” As livid as I was, I still treaded carefully as not to cause him to react unpredictably.
“You don't deserve Jane!”
“At least I'm protecting her!” Anger erupted, I clenched my fists. “You had her kidnapped you sick fuck!”
“That's not all I did to her, or should I say,withher and she loved it.” His shit-eating grin returned. “She's a screamer but you wouldn't kn—”
Without further warning, I drew my fist back, connecting it to his jaw. He stumbled backward, cupping his chin in his palm. A dark laugh erupted from his throat as he lunged forward, punching my right eye. I ducked, but it was too late. The ache from his fist hitting the corner set in, however my adrenaline soon helped me tune out the pain.
Grabbing him by the shirt, I yanked him toward me, punching him once again, this time breaking his lip. Blood spattered as he stumbled, balancing himself before striking me once again. His fist attacked the bridge of my nose. By now, I was too focused on the fight to care which of us was bleeding from where.
Marco tried reaching for my weapon. I grabbed his hand, bending his wrist backwards as I pushed him away. In the scuffle we both tumbled to the floor, him falling on top of me.
My gun fell, making a thud as it hit the hardwood floor. He leaned over trying to grab it, but I swiped it out of the way, sending it sliding a few feet out of reach. Pressing his fingers into my throat he cocked his head smiling as he tried to convince my body to succumb to his power.
Lifting my legs, I managed to roll myself, catching him off guard. He fell over, cracking his head on the leg of the pool table. Yanking him by his collar, I straddled his stomach, pinning his hands under my knees.
Fists pummeled his face, one after the other as I tried to catch the breath he tried to suffocate from me. I did not keep count of the number of blows he endured. At some point, he fell lifeless. After realizing how battered he was, I backed off his unconscious body.
I laid next to him, seeing his chest was still gently rising and falling. He was still alive. Reaching in my pocket, I pulled my phone out, calling Leo.
Yeah, boss?
What's the report?I panted.
All dead. Checked vitals.
Come to Marco's apartment. He's alive but he's unconscious. I want him delivered to the address I’m texting you. They will know what to do with him.
“I got here as soon as I could.”
I rushed into Jane’s bedroom. Doctor Maric hovered over her as Valentina buried her face in Emir’s chest nearby. The moment she saw me she gasped.
“Dad!” She sprung into my arms wailing into my chest. “What happened?!”
Wrapping my arms around her, I placed a small kiss on top of her head forgetting I was covered in blood. I glanced over to see Jane for the first time since she was taken from me. My heart sank, seeing her battered face. Valentina squeezed me a bit harder, sniffling as I turned to Doctor Maric, nodding for him to speak.
“Well, Mr. Rovati, Jane seems to have been attacked badly.”
