Mateo Caputo (Unseen Underground 2)
Rafael and Mario stood at the bottom of the stairs, their eyes widening as they saw me carrying Luna. But they didn’t say anything. They knew better than to comment in that moment, even if it was to ask if she was okay. Because if they asked that, I may have completely lost my shit. She was the furthest thing from okay.
“Where are they?” I asked.
Rafael pointed. “In there.”
I turned on my heel, holding Luna tighter against me. Lorenzo stood against the back wall, watching as the pieces of shit kneeled on the ground in the middle of the room. Tanner grinned like a fool, probably knowing that we wouldn’t kill him. He was needed for intel, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be the one to finish the job when we were done with him. He thought he was getting away without any repercussions, but he had no idea who he was messing with.
“Beg,” Romeo grunted. “Beg for your lives.”
Tanner raised a brow, but it was the woman who screeched, “I’m not begging for shit!” Her eyes met mine. “You!” She tried to stand, but Romeo pushed her back down. Her hands were behind her back, just like Tanner’s were. “You took him from me!”
I adjusted Luna in my arms, staring at the screaming woman. “Took who—”
“My husband!” She shuffled forward on her knees. “Her dad.”
Romeo whipped his arm out, the metal of his gun glinting off the single light bathing the room. “You’re Luna’s mom?” he growled.
“She ain’t no daughter of mine.” She spat on the floor, missing Romeo’s dress shoes by a couple of inches. “She abandoned us. The stupid bitch—”
“One more word,” I grunted. “And I’ll shoot you myself.” If Luna hadn’t have been in my arms, I would have ended her right then and there.
“You don’t need to,” Romeo drawled, not turning to face me. “You’re a pathetic excuse for a mother.” He pressed the muzzle of his gun to her forehead. “Have a nice time in hell, bitch.” The loud pop of the gun blasted throughout the apartment, but not one of us flinched as she dropped to the floor, her eyes open, the life instantly drained out of the woman who had brought Luna into this world.
Even Tanner looked relieved. “Thank fuck for that. I was gettin’ tired of listen’—”
“Shut the fuck up,” Christian barked, bringing his own gun down. He sliced it through the air, using the butt to smack him in the temple. And he went down just like Luna’s mom had, the only difference…he was still breathing.
For now.
* * *
LUNA
My eyes fluttered open, my body aching all over. For a second, I thought I was still on the bed, but when I turned, my arms and legs came with me. It was a small movement, but it was enough to let me know I was out.
The soft bed and bright light coming from a gap in the drapes told me I was in my bedroom. My lips lifted on one side. Our bedroom. I hadn’t dreamed it. I hadn’t imagined him coming when I was high. I hadn’t fantasized him holding me as he walked us out of my hell.
I glanced around the room, my breath whooshing out of me at the sight of him staring at the wall. “Mateo,” I whispered, lifting my arm up.
His attention snapped toward me and he shot up out of the seat next to the bed. That wasn’t there the last time I’d been in our bedroom. “Luna.” He said my name like it was a prayer, his eyes lighting up. “You’re awake.”
I nodded, pushing my hands into the mattress so that I could sit up. Pain shot through my chest and I winced, causing more agony to flash through my face.
Dammit.
“Careful,” Mateo warned. “You’re still healing.”
I swallowed, my throat dry, but as if Mateo had read my mind, he handed me a glass of water with a bright-pink straw inside it. It twirled around, a unicorn head halfway down it. I chuckled as I remembered Chiara’s face lighting up the day she saw them in the grocery store.
Taking sips, I wet my th
roat enough to get out, “How long?”
He sat on the bed next to me, not letting my hand go. “Three days.” He brushed some hair off my face, his small smile slowly widening. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
He moved his face closer to mine and placed a kiss on my temple. “How are you feeling?”