Chapter 22

I made my way to Griffin's safe house and with my gun drawn I entered the home to find Sophia, alone, crying on the couch. She didn't budge when I cleared my throat.

"Scarlett, I know what you're thinking."

"You can't possibly know what I'm thinking," I say as she raises off the couch with her hands up in surrender, my gun pointed directly at her. "I've lost everyone."

"Segura," Sophia says softly.

Instantly, I remove my finger off the trigger. Segura means safe in my native tongue. Griffin and I would use that all the time when we were undercover. I inhaled deeply before saying, "Are you alone?" She nods and I put my weapon back in my holster, as she eases back to her spot.

The room is quickly filled with silence and I watch her try to fight the tears. I've seen people shed many tears, even I have shed some, so I know at this moment there's nothing I can say or do to change how she feels.

"He was going to be a father."

"I didn't want him to die for me," I say as I hear my own voice crack. "First my parents, Santiago, Griffin and then Jess. I never asked for any of this and I never asked any of them to die for me, but I swear on my life Antonio will pay. His whole family will pay."

"You were his family, Scarlett, and he would do it again if that means keeping you safe." Sophia rubs her belly. "They all would."

"If I hadn't been blinded by hate, I would have seen through Antonio."

"No. You wouldn't have because not even your uncle knew of his betrayal."

"Sophia, listen-"

"He left this for you and said to show you this before I turn myself into Giovanni."

Sophia spoke his name in her smooth Italian voice and my heart fluttered as I thought of him. I reached over and it was a postcard postmarked from Mexico from four months ago. I kneeled down and placed the postcard on my now bent knee and pulled out my UV flashlight. Immediately there was a small glowing green light in the stamped area of the postcard.

"What is it?"

"I need to grab something out of my bag," I say as I hurriedly ran out to check my bag for my supplies.

I could feel Sophia as she hovered in the doorway, but I didn't let her presence stop me. After digging through my bag, I find my magnetic chip reader. I rush in and head to the dining room, quickly clearing everything off of the table.

"What is it?" Sophia repeats as I'm staring down at the chip.

Quickly scanning the small chip, I wait for the message to unfold, but nothing happens, only a system error message appears.

"Damn! I was sure it was an encrypted message, but now I'm not so sure." I say as I look at all my materials on the table. "What else could it be?"

"Could it be an undeveloped film?" Sophia says hesitantly as she can tell I'm becoming frustrated.

"Only one way to find out," I say as I turn off all of the lights in the house, grab my custom magnifying glasses, and then quickly turned on the light near my right eye. "I'll be damned."

Right there in front of me, I watch the pictures unfold. The images reflect on the wall like a video projector and we both see the images as clear as day. Antonio, Lorenzo, and the brother whom we have yet to identify in deep conversation. In several different locations.

"Is that Antonio and Lorenzo by the club?"

"The real question is who took these photos?" I say as I swipe to the next picture.

Was it Tio? If so, did Tio know what was going on? I think to myself. I nearly lose all the air in my lungs with the next stills that appeared on the wall. Sophia's eyes are quickly moving from me back to the photos.

Giovanni with a tall blonde woman. First, them apart and talking casually, then her lightly caressing his leg, his hand caressing her knee and then the kiss. With each picture, I could feel the jealousy seeping in.

"U, Scarlett, I think we have a problem," Sophia says with worry dripping from her words.

We both look at the sniper's infrared beam on the wall, now realizing we were no longer alone.

"Who knows we're here Sophia?" I say gripping my gun.

"No one, I swear!

"Ay mierda," I say under my breath. "Sophia, we need to get out of here, now," I say as I see the second beam penetrate through. Sophia quickly packs my bag as I begin backing away to get out the back door.

"Go, Sophia!"

"What about you?"

"Sophia, no one else is dying for me," I say as I set the timer. "We have five minutes before this place goes up in flames, but we can't leave together. We have to go separately."

Sophia hugs me and runs right and then run left. I hear her start the engine and speed off to safety. I know she'll run to Gio and then soon they both will be after me. The Russos won't allow me to live knowing what I know and Giovanni will want me dead for my betrayal.

My phone begins to ring, the caller ID is flashing Sophia.

"Where are you?"

"You just don't know what your voice does to me, Scarlett." Antonio's voice penetrates my ears.

"Let her go and face me." Instantly, I press trace on my phone and grab my gun as I turn to locate him.

"Now, why would I do that?"

"She's no longer your enemy, Antonio. I am."

"Tisk tisk, Scarlett. You should have stayed and waited for me to come back and finish what I started."

"Let her go!" I lock the location and it's coming up as 800ft away from me. I point my gun directly at him as he walked my way. We both hang up our phones as he flicks his cigarette.

"Take your shot, Scar. You'll never have this chance again." We circle each other with our guns pointed at one another. "Where's your back up?" He says looking around. "Oh, that's right, I killed them all." He smirks with his statement.

"Where are your brothers?"

"Lorenzo's taking Griffin's little whore to her owners and Francesco is doing what he does best."

"Is he back at the house?"

"We will find whatever Santiago left you."

"Don't you say his fucking name!"

"You lost, Scar."

"If I lose, so will you." As I breathe my words, the house explodes and the fire is catching all behind Antonio. "Number one." I pull the trigger and hit the gas tank of the white Subaru near him and we both feel the impact of the explosion.

Three hours later

"What do you want from me?" I say as tears escape my eyes. "I will give you anything."

He takes his index finger to his mouth and then uses it to trail down the valley of my breasts. Even now, after everything he's done, his wicked touch makes my body feel like an inferno. My chest heaves as I try to deny him my bodies' reaction. With his lips hovering over mine and our gazes locked, he says-

"Everything." He growls into my mouth before walking away, leaving me on the cold warehouse floor. I watch a pair of boots walk my way before I lose consciousness.