Code of Honor (Spontagio Family 1)

She nods as I shut the door. I press the lock key, then I start for the side entrance again. Why the hell did he have to show up? I had this under control, and now all he’s doing is making everything a thousand times worse.

Running a hand through my hair, I take a deep breath and make my way to where I last saw Benito. As I near the base of the stairs, I hear Giovanni’s voice. I move closer until he comes into view. I gasp when I see the gun he has aimed at Benito’s chest and Mark standing next to him.

Benito’s eyes dart to meet mine, alerting Giovanni to someone else’s presence. He turns around, sighing when he sees me.

“Can you not follow any direction, Pietro? You’re supposed to be looking after Lucy,” he growls, his face clouded with anger.

“She wouldn’t leave with me knowing you were still in here,” I say through gritted teeth. “Just leave it, Giovanni. Take your daughter home.”

“Do not tell me what to do,” he yells, turning his attention back to Benito. “You tell whoever the fuck it is that you’re working for if they touch my daughter again, there will be hell to pay. Got it?”

“That would be me.”

My blood freezes. I turn slightly and see the gun aimed at my head. I have no idea who this guy is, but he looks pissed. “Get over there with your little friends,” he orders me.

I slowly make my way across the room to where Giovanni stands. This is bad. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Think, Pietro. Think. But it’s useless.

“What is this about?” Giovanni asks in a loud, booming voice. Even when he’s clearly down he still somehow manages to sound menacing. “What the fuck has you so interested in my daughter, Andreas? Does Gambero know you’re here?”

My breath catches in my throat at the sound of that name. Giovanni knows Gambero. Of course he does. Why would that surprise me? Slowly things begin to click into place. This Gambero must have something to do with my parents’ death. Lucca was getting close, so they took matters into their own hands and took Lucy and did God knows what to Lucca.

What the fuck am I missing here?

“The funny thing is, Giovanni, I had very little interest in you until you came bursting in here with your guns blazing.” He shakes his head. “You know how this works. If it doesn’t have anything to do with you, don’t get involved. How hard is that to follow? And of all people, why would you want to piss off Gambero?” he says, and laughs.

Giovanni stares at him, a confused expression on his face. He opens his mouth to reply and I brace myself. He’s about to learn that this is all my fault. Any possible chance I had of him eventually accepting Lucy and me together will be gone after this, along with any hope I once had of him telling me what he knows about my parents’ death. I hang my head, defeated, and wait for Andreas to tell Giovanni everything.

A sickening crack fills the air and I watch, shocked, as the guy falls to the ground. Out of the shadows behind him steps Lucy, clutching the baseball bat in her hands. She’s shaking. I race over and throw my arms around her.

“Are you okay?” I ask, kissing her forehead. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

“Saving your asses,” she replies, her voice shaky. “I saw him come back in and I had to make sure you weren’t in trouble. Is he dead?” she asks.

“I don’t think so.” No sooner than the words leave my mouth, three gunshots ring out, all landing in his chest. I look up into the cold eyes of Giovanni, who now stands behind me. Lucy gasps, her grip on my hand tightening.

“Lucia, come here.” Giovanni orders, his arms outstretched. “Check and make sure this place is secure.” He turns to glare at Benito. “How many of your men are here?”

“Just Mario upstairs,” he says, his voice shaky. Giovanni nods at Mark, who disappears upstairs.

“All clear up here,” Mark yells from upstairs. “We have one who is out cold. I’ve secured him for the moment and I’ve called Johnny and Philippe to come down and help,” he adds as he retreats down the stairs.

“Good,

” Giovanni mumbles, motioning for Lucy to come closer to him. “Tell them I’ll give them a discount on their next package for their trouble.” His eyes narrow in on mine as she falls into his embrace. “Let’s get you home, bambina.” He nods for Mark to join him. “Can you clean up this mess?”

Mark nods, his eyes darting from Benito, to the bullet-ridden dead guy on the ground, and finally to me. I let out a laugh. Am I the mess he’s referring to?

I take a step closer to Lucy, but Giovanni stops me.

“She’s been through a lot, Pietro. Give her a few days. Let me take her back home so she can recover.”

I nod. It kills me to watch him take her, but I know he’s right. What she needs now more than anything is rest.

“Luce. I love you,” I say, ignoring the burning gaze of Giovanni. “I’ll call you, okay?” She manages a small smile, then allows her father to lead her outside.

—

I leave Mark to “take care” of the mess and walk over to where Benito is sitting. He is crouched on the ground with his back up against the wall, and I can see he’s in shock. He looks up at me with wide eyes.