The Mafia Contract Series

ALESSANDRO

I almost couldn’t concentrate on the job I was given. As soon as Winter walked into the room, my mind left me. It was the most difficult thing in my life not to pounce. To tear her husband apart in front of the packed restaurant for daring to breathe the same air as her. The fact he obviously laid his hands on her made my blood fizz like a volcano on the edge of eruption.

My instructions were clear. Take the bastard out with one bullet from my gun at the perfect moment as soon as Ivan and Charlotte walked into the room. That was my cue, the distraction I needed and as I raised my gun and trained it on the target, even I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

Massimo’s men played their part perfectly. I’ve got to hand it to my grandfather, he knows his stuff and buying every single last fucking one out was a stroke of pure genius. Massimo’s men have been living under a storm cloud for years now and being assured of their protection was enough to get them to switch sides. Massimo thought he had won and had outsmarted the fox but every single fucking body in Scarpetta was intent on ending his life today.

Before I could finish the job, Winter made her move, and the gun shook in my grip when she moved to his side. It happened so quickly I had no time to think and when she stabbed him in the neck, it took me a moment to understand what was happening. When he fell, it was in slow motion, in my head, anyway, and before he even hit the deck, I was on my feet and running.

I am the first to reach them and it takes minimum effort to tear his body from hers and with an angry roar, I swing my arm back and relish the sound of bone shattering as I knock the bastard clean across the room, shouting, “Ivan, deal with this bastard.”

Massimo’s agonized screams are the best sound in the world as his body reacts to whatever Winter did to him, coupled with the pain from my own rage.

My trusted friend needs no further instruction and I sense Massimo’s body being dragged away and I hope it’s to fucking hell.

The chaos you would expect to follow an incident like this never happens. Instead, the men watch as if they are frozen to the spot. My attention is now focused on only one thing and as I drop to my knees, the emotion inside me threatens to tear me apart. I briefly hear my grandfather’s firm, authoritative voice say roughly, “Call the doctor.”

It all pales into white noise around me as I drop beside my woman and as I reach down and pull her into my arms, the emotion almost overwhelms me.

She looks so beaten, so tragic and nothing like the woman who radiated happiness the last time we met. Her body is frail and so thin it tears my heart apart and squeezes it in a vise like grip, causing me unimaginable pain.

Her skin is white, and her eyes closed against the terror that lives inside them and as I lower my face to hers, I experience a huge wave of relief when I detect shallow breaths telling me she still lives for now.

The open wound on the back of her head is of concern and grabbing the napkin from the table, I hold it against the back of her skull, applying pressure to stem the flow.

I almost can’t speak. The emotions are swirling inside me like an advancing enemy, either promising me a slow painful death or preparing me for the fight of my life.

“Winter.” My voice shakes a little as I try to reach her, and then I raise it a little, more out of fear than anything else.

“Winter baby, it’s Alessandro. You’re safe now. Open your eyes.”

She resembles the Sleeping Beauty in my arms and like the prince who stumbled upon her own lifeless body, I press my lips to hers in the foolish hope that fairy tales are an actual thing, and this is all it will take to bring her back to me.

I have pictured this moment a trillion times since she was taken, but nothing prepared me for the pain I’m experiencing knowing she is hurt.

“Alessandro.” My grandfather’s husky voice reaches through the darkness and his hand on my shoulder reminds me I’m not alone.

“The doctor is on his way.”

Portia drops down beside me and says firmly, “We must apply pressure to the wound.”

She hands me fresh napkins and as I hold my angel in my arms, I am grateful for their support.

I don’t even register that the restaurant has emptied, and it’s just the four of us crowding around Winter. The time stretches interminably as we wait for professional help.

Charlotte hands me another napkin and whispers, “She is so brave.”

I am surrounded by well-meant actions, but I want them to go. I want to be alone with my beautiful woman and it will take a strong man to tear her from my arms.

Charlotte kneels on the other side of me and takes her hand, causing me to snarl, “What are you doing?”

Her firm response reminds me why she is a match made in heaven for my irascible friend as she ignores the undercurrent of anger in my voice and says firmly, “Checking for a pulse. We need to assess the situation and just holding her and hoping she’s ok is not going to work I’m afraid.”

She looks at Portia and says briskly, “We need to clear some space. Move some of these tables and bring more napkins to stem the blood flow.”

She looks at my grandfather and says firmly, “Go and find the emergency first aid kit in this place. They must have one. It’s the law, you know.”

To my surprise, my grandfather doesn’t even question her command and then she places her hand on my arm and says with a hint of steel in her voice, “Is she breathing, Alessandro?”

“Yes.” My voice shakes and I hate the emotion that is filling my heart.

“Good, we need to check her vital signs.”

I can’t even speak and as Charlotte searches for a pulse and checks her breathing, I allow her to fuss around Winter like the best emergency room nurse as I openly stare at the woman I love and whisper, “Winter baby, please open your eyes, it’s Alessandro. Angelo is on his way. You’re safe now.”

At the mention of Angelo, I hope to God Ivan is briefing him now and as the door opens to the restaurant, I barely register the person entering until my grandfather says, “Alessandro, the doctor is here. Stand aside.”

I can’t even move and just the thought of moving away from Winter is like a knife to my heart but then Charlotte rests her hand on my arm and says softly, “The best way to help her now is to let the professionals work their magic.”

I know she’s right and as I tear myself away, it’s like a physical punch to the gut as the doctor does what he was trained to do.

It doesn’t take long before the restaurant is filled with activity as the paramedics arrive and crowd around Winter. Charlotte stands beside me and places a comforting hand on my shoulder, reminding me I’m not alone in this, even though it definitely feels that way.

I try so hard to drag my mind back to business and my hand shakes a little as I type out a text to the Boss.

The target is down, but Winter was injured. Meet us at the emergency room. She took a blow to the head when she fell. The paramedics are here now. I’ll go with her.

I watch as the team lifts her onto a stretcher and the doctor says loudly, “We need to get her to the hospital. Vital signs are good, but she’s unresponsive.”

My grandfather nods and catches my eye and I see the pain in his as he sighs. “Keep me informed.”

I nod and as I follow the medics out, I pray to God to bring Winter back to me because I would sell my soul to the devil a million times over just to see her smile again.