CLASS ACT (A BRITISH ROCKSTAR BAD BOY ROMANCE) (44 page)

She raised an eyebrow. “That few?”

“It’ll help lure Gregori into a false sense of security,” I replied. “You’ll be surrounded by my grandfather’s personal honor guard. They’ll take a bullet for you and my grandfather if need be. They’re the best of the best.”

“Other than you of course,” she joked before turning serious. “Petrov blew up the penthouse and he was just one guy. Forty of them might be enough to down an entire building.”

“That’s why we’re having it at the warehouse,” I consoled. “It’s out of the way so no civilians get caught in the crossfire. The dockworkers nearby will be ending their shift soon. It’ll be a showdown between just us and the Black Fang.”

“What do you think Gregori will want to do to me?”

“He’ll want you tortured and executed,” I said plainly. There was no point in sugarcoating it for her. Kelly had a knack for seeing through my lies. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to do it personally as an example to anyone who dares get in his way.”

“I hope it doesn’t come down to that,” she said nervously. “You’ll stop them before they do that right?”

“The police will need Gregori’s dental records before I’m through,” I reassured her. “Honestly, I expect Gregori to draw first. A man like him is likely to see this meeting as a sign of weakness from the Pastore family.”

“Weakness?”

“The first person to come to the negotiating table during a war is usually on the losing side,” I explained. “Gregori will see my grandfather offering you to him as a peace offering. He’ll attack us expecting us to be at our weakest. The problem for him is that we’re prepared for him.”

Kelly smiled. “I’m glad the Pastore family is on my side.”

When we were a mile away from the warehouse, I dropped Kelly off with my grandfather and his men. With two bodyguards beside him, he looked completely composed in his wheelchair. I didn’t know whether it was his certainty in pulling off the plan or the fact that he was a couple of months away from arriving at death’s door. The most type of dangerous men I knew had nothing to lose.

“If something happens to her,” I warned my grandfather. “I’ll come for you after I’m done with Gregori and Petrov.”

He laughed before a coughing fit took him. “It’s preferable to the medicine I’m taking. Don’t worry about your girl. I’ll take care of her.”

Kelly brought a hand to my face. “This nightmare ends today. Whatever happens… just know how thankful I am.”

With a lingering kiss, she left me and departed with my grandfather’s men.

Afterwards, I scrambled to my sniping point in the adjacent building. Either through bribery or legitimate purchases, the whole area was owned by the Pastore family one way or the other. Officially, the warehouses were used to store supplies for the various restaurants owned by the Pastore family. You just had to ignore the illegal firearms stored beside the grain used to make pasta. The restaurants themselves were a way of laundering the money. I had to admit my grandfather knew how to run an efficient criminal empire.

Thankfully, the wire I had placed on Kelly was working. There was a metallic rasp but it was clear enough. I could hear my grandfather speak to her.

“We’ll have you in handcuffs,” he said. “It’ll come off with a small tug in case a fight breaks out. Just be careful not to lose them too early or the Black Fang will know that something’s wrong. The more helpless you look, the more likely they’ll buy the whole charade.”

I could almost see Kelly laugh in my head. “I can do helpless.”

Finally, I reached my sniping point. Through the warehouse’s windows and open grates, I had clear vision of just about everyone in the building. I spotted Kelly and focused my sight on her.

She really sold the part of a helpless college girl who had been captured by the Italian mafia. We had put soot on her face and tore her clothes. It looked like she had been dragged through a war zone.

I checked all angles of entry into the building. It didn’t look like the Black Fang would have a counter-sniper or any other countermeasures against a sharpshooter. As well-equipped as they were, they preferred to fight with a sledgehammer when a scalpel would’ve sufficed.

No wonder my grandfather had chosen this area. I could easily provide covering fire from this elevated position. Even though the Black Fang had a manpower advantage against us, we had the element of surprise.

Speaking of them, our enemy arrived in style. I spotted a dozen limousines driving straight. It would’ve seemed like some dictator from a third world country was coming to town.

Then again, this was Gregori we were talking about. Several armed soldiers stepped out of the cars and began scouting the area. I took off the scope of my sniper rifle in case the lens glare prematurely alerted the Black Fangs to my presence. At this range, I was still a damn good shot without it.

The big man himself stepped out after one of his soldiers gave the clear. He was dressed in gaudy clothes and expensive jewelry. Gregori looked smug as though he was on his victory lap. My grandfather had fed the man’s ego with this arrangement. It would be easier to take him down if he thought the Pastore family was on the ropes and asking for peace.

Then, another man emerged from Gregori’s right. He wore a tactical combat vest that was typically seen on Russian soldiers. He had an assault rifle slung over his shoulder. This man had no intention of seeking peace. He was here for a fight.

It was Sergei Petrov.

I had always been a well-disciplined sniper. I waited until the perfect shot. I never let my anger cloud my judgment. Now, I had to use every fiber of my willpower to resist putting him down. Only the concern I felt for Kelly kept me from losing it.

A fresh bandage lined Petrov’s cheek. He received it when I returned fire during our shootout in the penthouse. It explained the blood I had seen earlier. He had escaped death once again.

Today, I’d finish the job.

Gregori and his men entered the warehouse to meet with my grandfather. It was almost like a standoff from the Old West. I still couldn’t risk using a lens to zoom in on the situation just yet. Thankfully, Kelly’s wire let me listen in on the conversation.

“Hello, Mr. Gregori,” my grandfather said with a false smile. “I see that you’re fashionably late as expected. Shall we get down to business?”

Gregori laughed. “The only business is why I shouldn’t execute your entire family?”

“Your grandson was seen with that bitch,” Petrov growled touching his bandage. “He almost killed me! I want his head!”

“I’m well aware of that,” the great Don Pastore said coolly. “I’ve given him a time out so we can discuss terms. I’ve brought you the girl in hopes of resolving this peacefully. Shall we discuss terms?”

“My terms are that you surrender that boy as well,” Gregori snarled, staring at Kelly. “That bitch will do for now. Her father cost me my wealth. She’s been a thorn in my side for the last two weeks!”

Kelly began to sob quietly. The woman was a born actress. “Please, don’t hurt me-”

“Quiet,” my grandfather said, lacing his fingers under his chin. “What do intend to do with the girl? You’ve already blown up a penthouse chasing after you money and tying loose ends.”

Petrov eyed the young woman before licking his lips. “Maybe I’ll cut her into a thousand pieces. Maybe I’ll fuck her before killing her. It depends on what mood I’m in.”

Kelly continued to sell the part of a terrified college student. My grandfather didn’t break his composure. “Are you in the mood for a deal then?”

Petrov scoffed at the idea. A man like hated to negotiate when he could take what he wanted. Gregori, however, seemed amused at the proposal. “You give us your grandson and maybe we might come to an understanding. He’s cost me very much by harboring this woman. He was last seen with her.”

“My deal is that you turn around and leave,” my grandfather replied, starring daggers into the two men. “You might have lost your fortune but it’s not too late to keep your life. You leave with what little dignity you have and disappear into Siberia or God knows where. As for Petrov, he stays behind. The man killed my daughter and he’ll be put to trial for his crimes. Blood can only be paid with blood. That’s my best offer.”

“That is your deal?” Gregori said, breaking out into a fit of giggles. Petrov chuckled at the idea as well. “You want me to leave empty handed? You want to have Petrov on trial in some court with you acting as judge, jury, and executioner? In case you haven’t noticed, I have more men than you.”

“Get the fuck out of this city,” my grandfather growled. I hadn’t seen him this angry in years. “Get out of this country and don’t ever come back. Leave the girl and Petrov behind. Leave my grandson alone. Don’t come back or else I’ll make you wish you’ve never been born.”

“I have more men,” Gregori said, reaching into his pocket. I tightened the grip I had on my sniper rifle in case he tried anything. “I have more guns.”

Gregori drew a small handgun and pointed it at my grandfather. The Pastore men drew their guns as well. The Black Fang army responded by drawing their firearms as well.

Ignoring the gun in his face, my grandfather raised a hand. “Easy everyone. No need for violence if we can avoid it.”

However, Gregori didn’t share the sentiment. “No, I think violence is exactly what I want.”

He reached out to grab Kelly. My heart raced as I heard her scream for help. The acting was over and she knew she was in danger.

The whole warehouse went into Defcon One. I could almost hear the men cock their guns and point it at each other. The situation was balanced at a knife point.

Gregori used Kelly as a human shield in case my grandfather’s men tried to fire at him. I felt my heart skip a beat as he held the woman I loved. She cried out. “Let go of me!”

The drug kingpin merely laughed. “And why should I let you go?”

My grandfather answered for me. “Because my grandson is about to end your miserable life. Now, Jackie!”

One shot.

One Kill

I fired a round.

Kelly broke off her handcuffs.

And all hell broke loose.