Life of a Fool (London Brothers Book 2) Read online

  “Ready for this?” Craig asked, his gun still in his hand.

  “Yeah.” I pulled my weapon, held it tight in my right hand, and held Lori Ann’s in my left. I looked at her. “Ready? Don’t let go, and move quickly.”

  “I’m ready.” she said, but I could feel her whole body shaking.

  “Aim to maim, right?” I laughed at Craig’s reference. We’d heard that a million times. It referred to shooting someone to render them helpless rather than killing them. Most of the time, it was a good strategy, but sometimes not. In this case, it was appropriate. Dead bodies wouldn’t help our cause of getting Lori Ann out of the country.

  “Right.” I nodded and Craig carefully pushed the door open, trying to get a peek out into the lobby. We could hear men speaking to each other in Italian, but couldn’t tell if they were a threat since we didn’t speak the language. I felt Lori Ann squeeze my hand, so I looked over to her.

  “I speak Italian, you know.” Her nervous smile and barely spoken declaration sent a rush of relief through me.

  “We’re morons. We forgot.” I poked Craig in the shoulder, and he rolled his eyes at our ridiculousness.

  Lori Ann stepped up closer to the crack in the door and listened, closing her eyes to concentrate. After a few seconds, her eyes popped back open and her mouth fell. “Shit.”

  “What?” Craig and I asked at the same time.

  “There’s at least three of them talking about us. Apparently, they don’t know about the guy upstairs yet. One asked if there had been any movement or sign of the three Americans this morning. I’m assuming it was the manager that answered, saying ‘no, not yet.’ I recognize one voice. It’s Johnny. He’s always been good to me, but his loyalty lies with Antonio.” Her words were barely audible as we stood there as silent as possible while she continued to listen. “Jace, I think they have weapons. Johnny is saying I’m not to be harmed, that Antonio didn’t want me getting caught in the crossfire. He said Antonio would kill any man that dare let a bullet get near me, but that he didn’t care what happened to the two of you.”

  I saw fear and panic paralyze Lori Ann’s body, so I moved closer to her and whispered, “Stop worrying about us. We know what we’re doing. Remember? We’re highly trained for shit like this and assholes like him.”

  “I know, but I’m scared.”

  “Don’t. Put it all aside for now. We need you to be strong and help us get out of here.” I turned to Craig, “We gotta go before the car service gives up on us and leaves. That would be a major disaster.”

  “I agree. Everyone just stay close. We’ll step out, guns raised, and see what happens.” Craig pushed Lori Ann back from the door. She gripped my hand, and the three of us stepped out into the hotel lobby.

  Chapter 8

  Lori Ann

  I was scared shitless.

  I didn’t tell Craig and Jason everything the men were talking about. It wasn’t important information as far as our escape was concerned. No, it was all about keeping me in one piece until they got me back to our house. My husband wanted to be the one to do all the bodily harm. I could hear the humor…the evilness in Johnny’s voice as he talked about it. I felt sick. There was no way I was going back there. I’d be dead by tomorrow if they caught me. No matter how our escape played out, I’d find a way for Antonio to never get his hands on me again.

  We pushed through the door leading from the stairwell and caught the three men by surprise. None of them had their weapons drawn until they saw Craig and Jason’s.

  “STOP!” Craig yelled. “Keep your weapons where they are.”

  We slowly backed toward the entrance. I watched as my two saviors held their guns steady on the three Italians, Johnny included. The man behind the front desk kept his eyes darting between us and the men. He made me the most nervous. No one made any sudden moves as we kept backing out of the lobby. But then Johnny spoke in his broken English saying, “You will come with us, Miss.”

  I squeezed Jace’s hand and held on tight. “No, she won’t.” he gritted out.

  “She is not yours,” one of the other men said.

  None of us responded as we continued our movement. I was fixed on the men staring at me with smug grins on their faces. It confused me, and I wondered what were they up to.

  I didn’t have to wait to find out.

  In a flash, a gun sounded from somewhere behind us. I screamed, not knowing which way to go. Jace jerked my arm so hard I thought he’d tear it out of the socket. “MOVE. NOW.” I ran, ripping with pain, but running nonetheless. I heard more pops of weapons as I was pulled through the entrance and shoved into a black car with such force that I was sure I’d either broken more ribs or re-injured the ones already damaged. Jace and Craig were still out of the car, exchanging gunfire.

  “CRAIG!” Jason screamed with such a feral yell that I stopped breathing. Then, I saw Jason step away from the door of the car and fire his weapon a few more times before he stumbled back and fell into the car with Craig leaning on him, bleeding.

  “Oh my God!”

  “GO, GO, GO!” Jace screamed to the driver, and miracles of miracles, the little Italian man took off even with the back passenger door still open. “Legs, help!”

  I reached with my good arm and helped Jason pull Craig the rest of the way into the car before Jason reached to shut the door. I could see one of Antonio’s men through the car’s back window firing his weapon from the middle of the street as we drove away. I didn’t want to know where the other men were.

  “Goddammit!” Craig was yelling as he tried getting his backpack off his back.

  “Let me see. Where are you hit?” Jason asked as he shrugged off his own pack, unzipped it, and dug a tee shirt out. I just sat there staring, not knowing what the hell to do.

  “Just my arm. I think I’m just grazed.” Craig groaned as Jace maneuvered the injured arm to take a look before applying pressure with the tee shirt to stop the bleeding. “Shit, man. They just fucking went nuts.”

  I sat frozen in the seat as we sped away from all the chaos. My ribs were screaming with pain, but I wasn’t about to say anything. I didn’t know what to ask, wasn’t even sure I wanted to know what had just happened. I could feel the adrenaline making both men’s bodies shake. Trying not to show any signs of pain, I leaned over Jason, who was more or less in the middle of the backseat with Craig half on him, half on the seat by the door, turned backwards facing us. I placed my right hand in Craig’s and held it tightly, letting him know I was so grateful…for him, for his help, for all of us still being alive. His head jerked to look at me. “You okay?”

  “I will be. Are you?”

  “I think so. Jace? How does it look?”

  “Looks like it took a pretty good chunk of skin, but no holes, no bullets lodged,” Jason answered as he tried to point to the top of Craig’s left shoulder. “We need to get you checked out just as soon as we get to the airport. They’re not going to let us board if you’re bleeding everywhere. Looks too suspicious.”

  “We have to at least get through security, Jason. We can deal with my arm after that. I have a jacket I can put on to cover it. Let’s just get her to the gate first.”

  I carefully picked up Craig’s hand that I was still holding and kissed his knuckles. It was all I could do to say “thank you.” My voice was clogged with tears even as they dripped down my face. I was a mess.

  Jason watched the exchange, and his body stiffened. I wanted to hold his hand too, help bring some calm to both of them, but he was using both of his hands to hold pressure to Craig’s wound as he attempted to affix the tee shirt as a tourniquet. So, I leaned my head on his shoulder and cried while I held onto my best friends, my saviors who’d come to rescue me.

  “Hey.” Jason turned to kiss the top of my head. “Look at me.” I felt him look at Craig, then lean and kiss my head again. I knew they were worried about me, and I didn’t want them to be. But I was completely and utterly broken—sick about the danger I’d put them in, so I
couldn’t look either of them in the eye. As soon as we were back in the States and I was healed, I’d make it up to them. But first, I needed to be sure they were safe.

  “Lori Ann.” Jason’s voice was stern. I closed my eyes and scooted closer to him. “Stop. This is not your fault.” He knew me so well, but he was wrong. This was all my fault. Everything, including Craig’s now gunshot, bleeding arm was all my fault. “I can’t take my hands off Craig to force you to look at me, so just please…stop. Look at me, Legs. I need to see your eyes. It’s the only way for me to see what’s going on in that head of yours.”

  I didn’t move, and I didn’t open my eyes. He lifted his shoulder a bit, moving my head in an attempt to get me to look up at him.

  “Legs.” Craig’s strained voice did the trick. I opened my eyes to see him staring straight at me. “Please stop.”

  “I can’t.” Tears streamed down my face.

  “Can’t what, baby?” Jason was holding in as much restraint as he could, his frustration with me clear.

  “I can’t stop the sadness, the guilt of all of this. It’s too much. I’m not going to fall apart or hinder our escape, but I’m overwhelmed with everything. Stop worrying about me. I’ll do whatever we have to do to get us home. Okay?”

  “We have every right to worry about you. Shit, we’re here for you!” Jason yelled, causing me to flinch and jerk away from both of them. The sudden move shot such pain through my broken body that all I could do was whisper my response.

  “I know that, Jason.”

  “That’s not what I meant. Fuck!”

  “Jace. Not what we need right now, man,” Craig said.

  No one said anything for several minutes as Jason finished securing the bandages before asking, “How long until the airport?” The driver held up five fingers, which I took as five minutes. “Thanks.” I watched as Jason took his gun and put it into a hard, black case before locking it and zipping it inside his backpack.

  “Let’s stick to the plan,” Craig said as he carefully sat up in the seat, the pain obvious on his face. “I can manage to get the bags checked in while you two get through security. Wait.” Craig looked at me. “I just realized you don’t have your bag. You just left it behind?”

  “Yes. I didn’t think we needed it slowing us down.”

  “Shit. Never crossed my mind that you didn’t have it with you. Thank you for thinking of that. Could have been a disaster if you’d insisted on bringing it.” Jason smiled a tight smile at me, but I didn’t respond.

  “Lori Ann, dig in my pack and get my jacket, would you?”

  “Sure.” I unzipped Craig’s backpack that was sitting at my feet and pulled out a black Under Armour jacket. “Here.”

  “Thank you.” He reached for his jacket but stopped as soon as his hand lifted. “Damn, this hurts. Jace, can I get a little help?”

  Jason took the jacket from me and carefully helped Craig slip it on just as our car was pulling up to the drop-off area. “Airport,” the driver announced as if we didn’t know. Just before Craig opened his door, he handed his gun to Jason who quickly secured it in a case matching his own and stuffed it into Craig’s pack. The guys climbed out, keeping watch for anyone or anything suspicious. As Jason leaned into the front window, thanked our driver, and paid him, I slowly and carefully eased myself out of the backseat. No one noticed my pain because all eyes were focused on the little Italian driver who kept saying, “molte grazie, molte grazie” meaning “thank you very much” over and over after counting the wad of cash Jason had handed him. Must have been a big tip. Jason just nodded, then moved to my side and placed his hand in mine, holding it tightly. “Let’s go,” he growled into my ear.

  I started to pull out of his grip but felt his fingers tighten. “No,” he whispered into my ear. His breath caused chills all over my body. I relaxed my fingers and didn’t fight him. I couldn’t. I was hurting. “Better.”

  “I’ll see you two at the gate. Go get your boarding passes and get through security.”

  “Are you sure you’re gonna be okay? You look a little pale. I think it’s best we all stay together.” I agreed with Jason. We needed to stay together.

  “I’m okay. Just go.”

  “No.” I didn’t want to leave him. “We stay together. No one is stupid enough to do something in the middle of the airport. I’m sure Antonio is busy trying to clean up the mess at the hotel. We have time.” I hoped.

  “I agree with Legs. You getting shot changed the plan. We don’t need to separate.”

  “Fine. Let’s hurry the hell up, then. I have an uneasy feeling.” Craig must have been hurting and in need of a little help. Otherwise, he would’ve never given up that fight so easily. And I hated to admit it, but I had that same feeling.

  We made our way to the ticket counter and got the backpacks checked in. I felt like every eye in the airport was on me—on us and I felt panic settle in as we made our way to the security area. “You’re okay. Take a deep breath,” Jason whispered.

  “Something has my skin crawling. I feel like we’re being watched.”

  “I know. I feel it too. Let’s just keep moving.” Jason glanced to Craig who nodded in understanding.

  The line for getting though security and to our gate wasn’t too long, but long enough to make me even more paranoid. I had no idea how far Antonio’s reach was. Hell, he could have people working for him in the airport. I closed my eyes and prayed as Jason led me inch by inch through the line. Every little sound had me jumping. I looked like a lunatic. But ever so slowly, we made it through to the other side and out of reach of anyone without a plane ticket. As soon as Craig was standing next to us, Jason sighed and said, “Well, that was intense. Shit!” I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped and the relief I felt when Jason kissed my forehead. “Come on, Legs. Let’s find our gate.”

  I turned to Craig, but he was frozen, looking out past the crowd of people still standing in the long line. Jason’s whole body tensed as he followed Craig’s gaze. “There,” was all he said. Both Jason and I looked to see Antonio stride up next to two casually dressed men that had been standing not far from us in the security line. I’d noticed them earlier, but because they didn’t fit the type of men I’d seen work for Antonio, I ignored my instincts.

  Jason maneuvered his body in front of mine, his hand reaching back to hold around my waist as I pressed my chest to his back. Craig stood next to Jason, hiding me too. A “stare down” of sorts took place between the men, and I watched as Antonio nodded his challenge to the two men protecting me. “Fuck,” Craig mumbled.

  “What?” I was freaking out. “Tell me.”

  “Looks like this may not be so simple. Your husband just basically let us know…game on,” Jason said, not taking his eyes off of Antonio.

  “Oh no.” I choked back tears.

  “Yeah, but don’t worry, baby.” Jason turned in place and wrapped me in his arms before leaning close and whispering, “Once we’re safely in the States, things will get better. It will be easier for us to protect you.”

  “I agree,” Craig said. “Now let’s get away from here and to our gate.”

  Once we were finally boarded and taxiing away from the terminal, I felt like I could breathe for the first time in months. I knew Antonio wouldn’t give up so easily, but being back home, Jason by my side to protect me, I felt assured that I would be okay.

  I leaned my head on Jason’s shoulder and felt him kiss my forehead just before I drifted off to sleep, surrounded by the sound of the airplane and the feel of a strong arm around my shoulder and another one holding my hand. My boys came to get me and were taking me home.

  Chapter 9

  Antonio

  Lori Ann, mia moglie, my wife, she had pushed too far.

  I recognized one of the men who stood at my door. The nerve of the fucking American to stand there, on my property in my own country, and lure my wife away.

  “Deve pagare, figlio di puttana.” He has to pay, son of a bitch. “Dev
e devi essere punito.” She has to be punished.

  I paced the house, wondering what to do. I needed to get her back—at any cost. She couldn’t be allowed to speak about her stupid suspicions. It would ruin me and get both of us killed, along with any family I had left. She was wrong, and I had to convince her. “CAZZO!” FUCK!

  As I passed by the foyer, the huge antique vase that she had persuaded me to buy her a few years ago caught my eye. I hated it. Always had. So, I walked over, picked it up, and threw it across the room, watching the fucking thing shatter into pieces. The satisfaction of watching it crumble fed the devil in my soul. It was what I wanted to do to Lori Ann. I wanted to watch her beg for me, for my forgiveness. Who did she think she was to just walk away from me? And her American friends? No! Vaffanculo! Fuck you!

  “Johnny!” My number one man walked slowly into the room, looking down at the shattered vase, then lifted an eyebrow, smirking at me. The fucker actually smirked.

  “Sepevo che quella donna avrebbe portato il demonio nella tua casa.” I knew that woman would bring a demon into your house. “La prima volta che l’hai picchiata, sapevi che questo giorno sarebbe arrivato.” The first time you hit her, you knew this day would come.

  I stepped forward, gripped his shirt, and screamed, “Vaffanculo!” Fuck you!

  Johnny didn’t even flinch. Shit, we’d known each other our whole lives, and his calm, cool, menacing persona still scared even me. “Mi colpisca se aiuta. Mi dici per tavore cosa devo tare.” Hit me if it helps. Just tell me what you want me to do.

  “Ti odio,” I hate you, I said through my locked tense jaw.

  “Solo quando ho ragione. Torni in sé e faccia un bel respiro. Anche se si nasconde, io la troveró.” Only when I am right. Pull yourself together and take a deep breath. Wherever she hides, I will find her.