Taken by Her Prince

But I’d also be wary. Even though he had Colleen’s father as a prisoner, she still told him in no uncertain terms that she was done with him.

Still, I waited. All I needed was for them to show up. Didn’t have to be the whole crew, didn’t have to be Mathis himself. Just a chunk of them would be good.

“Time,” Luca said, nodding at the clock. “Nobody’s here.”

“Just wait,” I said. “They run on mob time.”

Luca laughed, nervous and high pitched. He picked up the Glock and fiddled with it. “I hate being bait,” he said.

“You’re with me,” I said. “Don’t worry.”

He gave me a look. “That doesn’t make me feel better at all, boss.”

I laughed and leaned back in my seat.

Several minutes later, lights bloomed at the end of the block. Several cars rolled down it, moving slow. Their headlights illuminated the empty houses, the busted-out windows, the broken fire hydrant, the graffiti.

I felt naked, exposed, just like I was supposed to.

The cars came to a stop behind us. I looked in the rearview as Luca slid down further in his seat.

“How many?” he asked.

“Three trucks,” I said. “I can’t see how many guys.”

“Fuck,” he said. “Oh fuck. They’re just gonna light us up.”

“Wait,” I said, my jaw clenched.

If they just started shooting, we might be fucked. But I was betting that the Club was desperate to make sure they had me and didn’t want to risk me getting away. Just as I was almost ready to throw the car into reverse and get the fuck way from there, a door opened and a guy stepped from one of the trucks.

Followed by three more guys. Then four more.

Until nine men were walking slowly toward my car. Their trucks were left behind, empty and idling, the doors wide open.

They all carried guns. Some handguns, some rifles. One guy had a shotgun, leaning up against his shoulder like he was out for a hunt.

They stopped a few feet away.

“Steven Bianco,” one of the guys called out. “Steven Bianco, are you in that car, lad?” He had a light Irish accent.

I gave Luca a look. “Listen to that mother fucker,” I said.

Luca snorted. “I bet it’s fake.”

“Steven Bianco,” the man called out again. “I know you’re in there, lad. Just open up an’ come on out.”

I rolled down the window. “Who’s calling for me?” I said as loud as I could.

“Connor O’Malley, and this isn’t a negotiation,” he said. “Come out, hands up, don’t move. We got you, boy, and it’s time we finished this real good.”

I looked over at Luca and grinned.

“All right?” I asked.

“Fuck,” he said.

“All right,” I said.

I flashed my lights three times.

Then threw myself to the floor of the car.

Luca did the same on his side.

Then the world exploded into gunfire.

Screams rang out from the parking lot. More screams, some running, more gunfire. It sounded like a fucking war was happening. Bullets broke my rear window, broke my windshield. One snapped off the rearview mirror, bullets broke each side mirror. They tore into the car, and I moved up as the firing began to slow down. I looked out the back window and saw one man limping for his truck. I popped off two rounds and he tumbled down to the ground with a moan.

“Get up,” I said to Luca.

“It’s over?” he asked.

“Get your ass up. You’re okay?”

He nodded. “I’m good.”

“Good. Come on.” I threw open the door. It hung at an awkward angle. I climbed out and stepped in glass.

The parking lot was a bloodbath.

Bodies littered the ground. All nine of them in various stages of trying to run away. The shotgun guy had his gun in one hand, like he’d tried to throw it aside, but failed. Their bodies were torn to pieces, ripped through by bullets. I walked through the carnage, a smile on my face, until I reached the man that had tried to get away.

He was breathing hard. His bright red hair and freckled face made me grin huge as I kicked him in the side and rolled him onto his back.

“Let me guess,” I said. “You’re Connor O’Malley.”

He tried to spit, but only managed to blow blood up into the air and have it settle back onto his own face. He groaned in pain as I shoved the tip of my boot against his chest.

“Fuck you,” he wheezed.

“All right, Connor,” I said. “No need to make this last longer than it needs to. I’m guessing I just wiped most of your muscle out tonight, isn’t that right?”

He glared at me, but didn’t speak.

“Fine, okay, don’t talk. I don’t need you to. I’m going to visit your boss next. I mostly just wanted to know if you had a message for him.

“Fuck. You.”

“Clever.” I held my gun out and put a bullet in his skull. Blood splattered on my jeans and Connor went quiet.