Chapter 15 - The Safe House
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The cacophony of gunfire was deafening. Nora squeezed her eyes shut, burying her face into Luca’s chest, trembling uncontrollably.
“Marco, pop the back hatch on my mark!” Luca ordered, his voice remarkably steady. He looked down at Nora, his dark eyes fierce and protective. “Stay behind me. Do exactly what I say.”
“Okay,” Nora gasped, nodding frantically.
“Now!” Luca roared.
Marco hit the emergency release. The heavy rear hatch of the SUV swung open. Luca didn't hesitate. He kicked the door wide, using the armored frame as a shield, and unleashed a barrage of suppressing fire into the street. His aim was lethal; two of the attackers dropped instantly, screaming in pain.
“Move!” Luca commanded, grabbing Nora’s hand and hauling her out of the back of the wrecked vehicle.
They scrambled out into the freezing rain. Marco provided cover fire from the front seat, distracting the remaining two assassins. Luca dragged Nora toward an abandoned, dilapidated warehouse mere feet from the crash site.
They burst through a rusted side door, plunging into absolute, pitch-black darkness. Luca kicked the door shut behind them, slamming a heavy iron bolt into place.
The warehouse smelled of mold and old oil. Nora leaned against the cold brick wall, gasping for air, clutching her torn silk dress.
Luca pulled a small tactical flashlight from his belt, casting a dim beam across the empty room. He quickly scanned her body for injuries.
“Are you hit?” he demanded, his hands frantically checking her arms and chest.
“No, I’m okay,” she choked out, tears of pure terror spilling over her lashes. “Luca, who are they? Is it the Russians?”
“No,” Luca said grimly, holstering his weapon. “The Russians wouldn't hit me in a sloppy street ambush. This is amateur work. Desperate work.”
He tapped his earpiece, trying to connect to his security team, but the signal was dead.
“We are in a dead zone,” Luca muttered. He turned to her, his expression softening slightly. “We have to stay here until Marco clears the street or backup arrives. We are safe in this room.”
Nora slid down the brick wall, pulling her knees to her chest, shivering violently. The glamorous fairy tale of the gala had evaporated, replaced by the brutal, terrifying reality of the mafia underworld.
Luca took off his ruined tuxedo jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. He sat down on the dusty concrete floor right beside her, pulling her firmly against his side.
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“I’m sorry,” Luca whispered into the dark room, his voice heavy with a profound, agonizing guilt. “I promised I would protect you. I promised you would be untouchable. I failed.”
Nora looked at the most feared man in New York, completely stripped of his arrogance, looking utterly broken because she was frightened.
