Chapter 18 - The Waitress Returns
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Leah didn't think. The polished, comfortable life of the last three weeks vanished, and the gritty, desperate waitress who had survived the streets of Queens took over.
She grabbed the heaviest thing in reach—a solid cast-iron skillet resting on the stove—and swung it with every ounce of strength she possessed.
The heavy iron connected with the side of the Russian’s head with a sickening crack.
The man dropped like a stone, unconscious before he hit the tile. Dante shoved the heavy body off him, staring at Leah in shock. She was breathing heavily, clutching the frying pan like a weapon of war, her eyes wide and wild.
"Remind me never to complain about your cooking," Dante grunted, grabbing his rifle and pulling himself up.
Before they could catch their breath, the screech of tires echoed from the street. Heavy machine-gun fire erupted, but this time, it wasn't aimed at the house. It was aimed at the Russians.
Enzo had arrived.
The sounds of a brutal, one-sided slaughter filled the front yard as Dante's heavily armed loyalists descended on the Bratva hit squad. Within two minutes, the gunfire ceased, replaced by the shouts of Enzo's men securing the perimeter.
"Clear!" Enzo yelled, walking through the shattered front door, his suit covered in dust.
Dante lowered his weapon, letting out a long, ragged exhale. He turned to Leah, who was kneeling on the floor, holding a terrified, sobbing Matteo tightly to her chest.
Dante dropped his rifle and fell to his knees beside them. He wrapped his massive arms around both of them, burying his face in Leah's neck.
"I'm sorry," Dante whispered, his voice cracking for the first time since she had met him. "I thought this place was a secret. I thought I could keep the blood away from you."
Leah pulled back, looking into the dark eyes of the man she had fallen in love with. She gently cupped his face, her hands trembling.
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"We survived," she said fiercely. "That's all that matters."
"We can't stay here," Dante said, standing up and pulling her with him. "The Russians just declared open war. The city is going to burn."
