Envy by Eve Marian

25

Giancarlo

Sweat dripped down my back and blood dripped from my knuckles.

My blood.

I had been beating on this punching bag for nearly two hours. The skin broke at least twenty minutes ago, but I ignored the pain and the stickiness.

I ignored everything. The thoughts racing through my head, my anger, and most of all, my solitude.

How did I get here all alone?

Damn it. Punch. I’ll not feel sorry for myself. Punch. I will forget about Vito, and most of all, I will forget about her. Punch, punch, punch. Crack.

“Shit!” I screamed and shook my left hand. Motherfucker!

I cradled my fist and stomped up the stairs and turned on the shower. The beating of the water on my back mimicked the pulse throbbing at my knuckles.

Damn it, I think I fractured a bone.

Drying off, I grabbed some gauze. I kept a well-stocked medicine cabinet. My line of work often required some small stitching and bandaging. I wrapped the gauze and white linen around my hand tightly. The pain in my knuckle receded, but my head still pounded.

Picking up my phone, I noticed three missed calls. The last one was from her.

Don’t call her back. Just ignore it.

Walking into my closet, I chose the first shirt I saw. It was black. It fit my mood.

The phone rang again. Don’t answer it. But my body led me straight to my phone. Her name flashed on my screen. My leg bounced and my hand shook. Don’t answer it!

“Hello?” my voice sounded raw.

“Hi, it’s me. I’m glad you answered.”

“Why are you calling? There’s nothing more to say.”

“You see? That’s where you’re wrong. There’s plenty more to say and now that I’ve straightened it out in my head, you’re going to listen.”

My traitorous lips smiled. “I will, huh?”

“Yes, you will.” I could picture her smile.

“Where are you?”

“Um… I’m on my way to your place… Damn.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just realized I’m almost out of gas. I need to stop before I come by. Wait for me, okay?”

I heard Luke’s voice in my head. Stay away from her.

“Listen, Natacha. I agree we have to talk, but—”

“Hold up. I just got to the gas station. Let me fill up real quick.”

She said nothing else, but the door chimed when she opened it. She hadn’t hung up. So, I waited.

She must have put the phone in her pocket because I could hear her press the buttons at the pump.

“Excuse me, do I know you?” Natacha said.

Was she talking to me? She sounded too far away to be speaking to me. She had to still be outside.

“No.” The man’s voice was deep and his response was too short for me to recognize it.

Then she screamed. A loud and shrill scream that made my blood run cold. I was more terrified at this moment than when I was shot and my fingers pressed against the blood oozing from my side.

“Natacha!” I shouted into the phone. “Natacha, are you okay?”

There was a muffling sound, and then it all went silent.

“Natacha!”

A fire burned in my vocal cords as the shout torched my throat.

My heart pounded against the clock while I waited for her to respond. Nothing. Then, I waited for a sound—anything that would tell me what the fuck just happened.

Deafening silence.

Shaking my head, I blocked the inevitable conclusion. I didn’t want to think it possible. But when the minutes passed and still there was nothing, I closed my eyes.

Someone had taken her.

Springing into action, I called Nicky. “Bring my Ferrari around. Now!” I hung up without waiting for a response.

Then I went into my closet and unlocked my gun case. Pulling out two handguns, I checked and loaded them. Spotting my favorite black leather knife, I grabbed that, too. I thought about stopping to buy grenades because, at this point, I wanted to blow the whole damn town up. But there was no time for that.

My feet pounded against the steps as I raced downstairs. Dominic held the door open for me, and Nicky was already outside.

“I’m driving,” I said, and he stepped out.

“Do you need me to come with you?”

I wasn’t sure if I could trust Nicky yet, especially with what I anticipated happening next. He could go straight to the police or get both of us killed if he freaked out. “No. I’m going in alone.”

I climbed inside the car and swiped open my screen. I had added Natacha’s phone to mine when we’d gone to New York. Fortunately, she had never noticed I was tracking her.

“Come on,” I murmured as the location signal searched for her phone. “Please still be on.”

There! I had a location pin. I plugged it into my map and peeled out of my driveway.

The GPS’s voice called out my next turns, and I moved on autopilot. The only thoughts in my head were filled with bloodlust. I imagined torturing whoever thought they could get away with harming someone under my employ and protection. If they knew she was more than that, then they were dumber than I thought.

Lanes merged, and cars honked as I swerved in front of drivers. I slammed my hand onto the steering wheel when the light turned red. The Ferrari revved as I waited impatiently at the intersection. Five more minutes and I would be there.

The blue pin on the map hadn’t moved, so wherever they were, they planned to stay.

When the light turned green, I floored the gas pedal, and my car flew through the intersection. But as I neared the location, I slowed down, not wanting to make my arrival obvious. I knew there would be someone on the lookout, so I parked my car on the street behind the building where they held her.

As I pulled up on the curb, a group of young boys slapped each other as they checked out the car. The bravest one walked up to me. “Hey, man, nice ride.” His buddies followed, circling me.

I pushed back the flaps of my jacket, revealing my heavily armed sides and chest. The boy held up his hands and stepped back. “Whoa, I was just asking.”

I pulled out my wallet and flashed a few bills. “I’ll give you a hundred if you make sure no one touches it while I’m gone.”

His eyes widened. “Deal. How long will you be gone?”

I stared at the abandoned building in front of us. “Not long. Do you know if there’s a back door into that building?” I nodded once toward it.

The kid followed my gaze. “The one on Jefferson?”

“Yeah.”

“Sure, man. The lock on the back door is broken. For a hundred bucks, I’ll show you.”

I pulled the bills out of my wallet and pressed them into his hands. “Let’s go.”

The kid ran in front, and I walked hesitantly behind him. I looked for snipers at the windows, or someone gazing outside. I couldn’t spot anyone, so I proceeded to the back door.

The boy pried open the aluminum door and held it open for me. “Thanks, kid.”

“Sure. Need anything else?” He held out his hand.

“Nah, I’m good for now.” I gave him another hundred, anyway.

Pulling out my weapon, I inhaled sharply before moving inside. I pointed my gun left, then right, but saw no one standing in front of me. The warehouse was empty, at least at first glance. A pigeon cooed from a windowsill and I nearly shot it.

Calm down. Announcing my presence without locating Natacha first would put me at a disadvantage. The warehouse had only a couple of windows and both seemed too high for anyone to look out of. If no one had seen me come in, then they didn’t know I was there.

I needed to find her and assess how many guards were watching her.

My head snapped up at the sound of footsteps upstairs. Hesitantly, I walked down the dark hallway and spotted a man at the front door. He was looking out a small window at the top of the door.

At first glance, I didn’t see a weapon, but I knew he had to be carrying one. I needed to get to him before he saw me.

Assessing the ten-foot foyer in front of me, I waited to see if the man would turn around.

He didn’t.

This was my chance. I put away my gun and reached behind my back to grab my knife.

Slowly, one step at a time, ensuring I didn’t make a sound, I walked toward him. When I was merely a foot away, he sensed something and turned.

I’d expected him to do that and covered his mouth with my hand. He struggled, but I quickly pressed the knife at one end of his neck and swiped it across. Blood spurted across the floor and I carefully laid him down. My heart hammered against my rib cage and I could barely hear anything past the adrenaline rushing through my ears. I cleaned the knife on the man’s jacket and slid it behind my back.

Pulling out my gun, I pointed it in front of me and searched for the stairs. I spotted them at the opposite end of the room.

As I neared the staircase, muffled voices reached me. There were at least two deeper sets.

Carefully, I placed one foot in front of the other while I pressed my back against the wall and climbed upstairs.

With my gun held out in front, I scanned the hallway. It was clear.

Then I heard her voice.

“How many times do I have to tell you? You’ve wasted your time. I’m not Giancarlo’s cook, anymore. He fired me.”

“I don’t care, lady. You’re the one Sal told us to grab and now you’re gonna sit here until he calls us back.”

The door was halfway open, but I couldn’t see Natacha. A tall man with a wide girth blocked most of my view. I didn’t recognize him. Sal had probably hired out for this job. But then a second man walked by and I pressed my back against the wall.

That one I recognized with his long, wavy soccer-player hair, and blood-dripping tattoo on his neck. It was Sal’s cousin, Cologero. This complicated the situation. I wouldn’t just be killing mercenaries; this would be family and would mean more retribution.

Vito must have told him that Natacha was more than just a cook to me. That’s why he went after her. But why now? Did he hear about Vito? Did he already know he’d lost his rat and needed to hurry?

If I killed Cologero, Sal wouldn’t let it go. So why send him? Did he not expect me to come? Was it a test to see how important she was to me? Well, he was about to find out.

I needed to locate Natacha before I barged in. Through the narrow space at the door hinges, I peeked inside the room.

There.

My heart jumped as soon as I saw her. Her long dark hair fell down her back and shoulders. She wore a white T-shirt, white sneakers, and jeans. Her white T-shirt had dirt stains on them. The assholes had touched her with their filthy hands.

I bit my lip, containing the growl emanating from my chest.

Natacha’s hands were tied behind her back, but she was rubbing them back and forth. The tie seemed too loose to have started that way. She must have loosened it herself.

Good girl.

“Hello?” Cologero answered his phone. “Yeah, we’re still here… No. There’s no sign of anyone yet… Maybe she’s not as important as you thought… Uh, huh… Yeah, okay, we’ll wait another hour and then we’ll bring her to you.”

He hung up the phone and the other guy smiled in Natacha’s direction. “Looks like you have one more hour, lady. Then you belong to Sal.”

“I don’t belong to anyone, asshole.” Natacha’s voice was strong. She hadn’t even hesitated.

The man’s smile widened. “I like’em feisty. You look like you’d be a lot of fun.” He stepped toward her and she kicked him in the shins before he could say or do anything else.

“You bitch!”

“Knock it off,” Cologero yelled.

“I’m going to knock her out,” the man sneered.

Natacha scoffed. “Yeah, you’re a tough guy knocking a woman out with her hands tied behind her back. What? Are you afraid of me?”

“Oh, I ain’t afraid, lady. I’m fucking turned on.”

For the first time, Natacha’s face fell and turned ashen. She scooted backward and didn’t even try to hide her rubbing her hands. She was panicking and with good reason. The man licked his lips and lumbered toward her.

Time’s up, motherfucker.

I kicked open the door and pointed my gun at the asshole. Natacha screamed and he turned his head toward me. From the corner of my eye, I saw Cologero reach inside his jacket. In a split second, my choices raced through my mind, but in my gut, I knew there was only one right one.

Without wasting another second, I pulled the trigger.

Natacha screamed as the man kneeling in front of her dropped and fell at her feet. She scurried back, her face horrified, and she panted with her back against the wall.

Her brown eyes widened as she looked between me and the dead man bleeding from the hole in his head.

“Put the gun down,” Cologero said, pointing his own at me.

I didn’t move a muscle, still staring at Natacha in front of me, but sensing Cologero to my left.

“Sal shouldn’t have sent you,” I said.

“Why? You don’t think I have the balls to take you out?”

“I don’t think you’re scared enough to do the right thing.”

He laughed. “Yeah, what’s that? Let you guys go? Run off into the sunset, or something.”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Sal said she means a lot to you. Guess he was right.”

“Put your gun down, and we can discuss this as businessmen.”

“Nah. I don’t take orders from you, Rossi. You think you’re gonna try and run us out of business and not get what’s coming to you? This is just the beginning.”

“Tough words, Caruso. Too bad you don’t know me very well. I’ll give you one more chance to put your gun down.”

Cologero laughed. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m the one with the gun pointing at you.”

Natacha watched us the entire time, not taking her eyes off me. They pleaded and begged. She wanted me to drop my gun. She thought I would be that guy.

It broke my heart that I would disappoint her.

I nodded slightly and she narrowed her eyes. She watched me closely as I mouthed Don’t move. She nodded back, subtly, but I saw it.

“I said—” Cologero started again, but I didn’t let him finish.

In one fluid motion, I dropped to my knees, turned, and fired my gun. Twice.

Cologero fell to the floor, screaming.

When he was down, I turned to Natacha. She covered her mouth with her hands, the rope dangling from her wrists.

I stood over Cologero and picked up his gun. Then I reached inside his pocket for his cell phone. He continued to scream, not even bothering to push me off.

Checking the last numbers, I found the one I wanted.

“Hello? Colo, is he there?”

“Yeah, I’m here, Sal. Now come get your boys. And bring a body bag.”

I hung up the phone and crouched down in front of Cologero. His mouth spewed spittle as he breathed in and out through the pain. I busted both of his kneecaps. The guy had to be going through hell. But I’d kept him alive.

“I’m going to fucking kill you, Rossi.” He spat.

I dialed 911 on his phone and dropped it beside him. “Yeah, well, take a number.”

Turning to Natacha, her eyes grew wary as I approached. Her whole body shook now. She was in shock.

I removed my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Can you get up?”

Her mouth trembled, but she didn’t move. I had to get her out of here and warm, fast. I scooped her into my arms and lifted her.

I expected her to protest, but she turned her face into my chest and wrapped her hands around my neck.

Her shivering continued as I walked down the steps. I pressed her body closer and she squeezed tighter. “I’ve got you. We’re almost there.”

I kicked open the back door and the kid spotted me right away. “Holy shit, man. I heard shots. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks,” I said. This kid showed more concern for me than some of my family members.

My car was exactly where I’d left it. A few of the kids were bad-mouthing some other boys trying to get close to the car. They pushed each other out of the way as I approached. “Is she hurt?” one of them asked.

“No. She’s gonna be fine,” I said, promising myself.

Someone opened the passenger side door, and I carefully laid Natacha inside. Strapping the seatbelt over her body, I adjusted my jacket to keep her covered. Then I held her face and looked her in the eye. “You’re going to be okay.”

She stared at me, her eyes large and round, but said nothing. My stomach fell and I wanted to puke from the fear I saw inside her eyes. She was scared. Of me.

I licked my lips and tore myself away. I needed to get her safe and warm more than I needed absolution.

“I’m taking you back to my place. I know that’s not where you want to be right now, but I promise I’ll call Sienna to look over you. I won’t touch you.”

“I don’t want anyone.”

“All right. I’ll set you up in her room where you can rest and warm up, and I can monitor you. If you show any other signs of distress, I’m taking you to the hospital.”

She didn’t respond, which I took as no argument. As soon as she was feeling better, I would take her home.

A few minutes into the drive, and the tension in my chest still had not subsided. It tore me up and made me want to rip my heart out. I never wanted Natacha to see me like that. I never wanted her to be a part of that. But now that she knew, it was better this way.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered through the silent car.

She turned her head and stared out the window. A tiny tear fell down her cheek and it felt as though that one tear could drown me.