Chapter 30

"For a second there, I thought you were going to shoot him."

"He's only spared until we get Isabella, then he's fair game."

The van starts and the ride to save Giovanni's sister is underway. I can feel that uneasy feeling that something bad is going to happen. We could be walking into a blood bath and none of us will make it out alive.

I've been in risky situations like this too many times to count and I know we all never walk out. Revenge is a dangerous drug to get hooked on.

"You're up Scarlett, and keep this on." Giovanni, reaches over and places a small camera in the collar of my jacket. "I can see and hear you with this. This is so you can talk to me." He says placing a small listening device into my ear.

Giovanni, strokes my cheek and his gaze is deep and heated. I watch his eyes as they roam my face. I feel as if he's burning my face into his memory. We both know it's possible I'm not coming back but it's better to pretend I am. Giovanni, leans in and I shudder as he whispers into my ear. He whispers the words that I can only say to have them come in to save us.

"Are you ready?"

"I'll see you on the other side." I say exiting the car, and wait for them to wake Antonio.

The guard keeps my bag as they will bring it in once they come in to rescue me and Isabella. I say a prayer that mi madre watches over me. Antonio, is standing next to me and I grab his forearm. His muscle mass has decreased, which I chalk up to them starving him. The van speeds off and we walk up the street to the warehouse.

We reach the door and the garage like door lifts open. Gabriel, the brother from the picture is standing with Isabella. Who is at his side on her knees. With nothing on other than her bra and panties. Her cries are muffled from the tape on her mouth. Gabriel, smiles and signals one of his men to close the door.

"I get to meet Scarlett, the whore my brother made the mistake of letting live. But I won't make that same mistake."

"The girl for your brother." I say in short tone.

The adrenaline is coursing through my veins but I have to play it smart otherwise I'd have another innocent death on my hands.

"My brother told me you like to get down to business."

I pull my gun out and place it into Antonio's back. "On your knees." I remove the black cloth and reveal Antonio's face. It's hardly recognizable, with all the cuts, and bruises. "The girl. Or you watch me kill him."

"You know how to play you little whore." He says in his thick Italian accent.

"Let her go now." I say through gritted teeth. He doesn't budge he just continues to stare. "Ok, well how about this." I say cocking my gun and immediately Antonio, begins to cry. "Gabriel, let her go." I say with my gun still at his brothers temple.

"Partire!" He says in his native tongue, and Isabella stands. He harshly rip the tape from her mouth causing her to yelp.

Isabella, walks to me with hope in her eyes. Her eyes are pleading for me to tell her it's all going to be ok. But I have no comfort to offer her. I can't fix my mouth to say she's safe because she's not. None of us are.

"Open the door and let her go."

"And what about you?"

"Let her go and guarantee her safety."

"You think this one life is equal to all the others you've taken? You say in the name of revenge but maybe you just like to kill."

"Open the door and let her go. This fight is between me you and your brother."

"Everyone out. Accept you." He says pointing at me.

"I will tell my brother that it was you who freed me." She says through tears.

"There's no time." I say. "Just go." I say placing my jacket on her.

The men begin to disperse and Isabella runs out of the open door. Moments later I hear.

"We have eyes on Isabella." Giovanni, speaks through the listening device. "Gatita, why is she wearing your jacket?"

I take in a deep breath and remove the ear plug.

"Congratulations, you saved one innocent life. Happy now? Do you feel the glow from the heavens?" He says making his way to me, and Antonio stands weakly.

I pull my second gun and point them both at them.

"No I only hear the screams of my mother, and see the light leaving from her eyes." I say before pulling the trigger and shooting Gabriel in the leg.

"Bitch!" He cries out as I run putting distance between us.

If I stayed there I'd be a sitting duck waiting for them to kill me. I'm no fool to think every man would leave his side, and I was right. After I fired my shot, shots ring out all over the place. I find shelter behind the empty cargo freight container.

"Kill her!" Gabriel says in agony.

I take in a deep breath and hear the stomping of feet, but there's no telling how many really. I run to the next container and I have a clear shot of one of his men. I know the moment I take it I'll need to run. I spot my next hiding spot and take the head shot.

I hear the man's lifeless body hit the ground and it's music to my ears. More shots ring out in my direction. I can hear them rickashaying all around me. I turn and shoot another one of his men down while falling onto my back behind the steel container.

"Give me a gun and I'll get the bitch. Once and for all." Antonio, says and I know he's not far away from me.

I look up and I can hear him and his brother whispering. They've made their way up the steps and if my memory serves me correctly there's a door. I hear footsteps near me but this time instead of shooting I grab him from behind. I stab the man in his chest and back. I lay his body down quietly and remove his gun. I look down at his bulletproof vest and quickly place it under my shirt.

Placing his sniper rifle on the ground I look around for more of his men. I take the shots and then soon bodies are piled up on the floor.

"How many more men will die in your place?" I yell out.

"You want me Scarlett, well come and get me." Antonio, says in the middle of the floor.

I walk out and it's like the alleyway all over again. Just me and him.

"You always did like the spotlight." I say pulling my ponytail tighter.

"No guns. No weapons. Just me and you."

I can see the hate and fury in his eyes for me.

"It's nice to see we're both on the same page."

"What page is that?"

"The one where you accept your fate." I say as I attack him.

Antonio, is still strong but I've fought men twice his size. High kicking him in his face takes him down. Then another kick to his face. Antonio is where he belongs for once, underneath me and bloody. He lands two fist to my right rib cage.

While on top of him I squeeze my hands down on his airway. He begins to pull at my wrist but I place my full body weight on his chest. Causing him to lose air faster by not allowing the slightest inflation.

When Antonio, takes his last breath I cry out. A loud scream escapes me, and the echo of it is heard throughout the warehouse. I pull myself off of his lifeless body and empty my chamber into his face. The silence doesn't last much longer when I'm surrounded by Gabriel, and more of his men.

"Bravo." He says applauding me. "You really outdid yourself he Scarlett. I mean damn. Look at what you've done." He says pointing to all the bodies around me. "Thank you for killing my ungrateful little brother. He really was becoming a pain my ass. I think me and you are a lot alike. Together, we could be invincible. What do you say?" He says stretching his hand out to me.

I spit into his hand.

"I like my women feisty."

I have one bullet and there's at least 12 men. He walks closer closing the gap between us.

"As I see it there's only one way to stay alive." He says cocking his gun and pointing it at my chest.

"What is that?"

"Be mine."

Before, I could even speak the door flies open shots ring out. Giovanni and his men are storming the warehouse. Gabriel, let's out a shot and immediately I'm thrown to the ground. I pull myself behind one of the empty crates to keep myself from being hit any further.

The pain in my chest is bearable but still hurts like a bitch. As I looked down there's a trail of blood following me. I've been hit.