Packing Heat(67)

Arturo looked like he was about to have a stroke. He was shocked, physically shocked, and he took a couple steps back. His face was purple from surprise or anger, I couldn’t tell, and his hands clenched into fists.

“Is this a fucking joke?” he asked. “Louisa, what the fuck are you doing?”

“Sorry, Arturo.” She smiled at him. “I’ve been running the Spiders this whole time. Surprise.”

He couldn’t speak. He tried to, but it came out a strangled gurgle. He took a deep breath and released his fists.

“Louisa, I know that you have your fantasies, that you have your idea. But this, this has gone too far. Do you understand what you’ve done here?”

She continued to smile. “No. Tell me.”

“You made me mobilize the whole fucking mob!” he practically screamed. “All for—what? For some joke?”

She just smiled at him.

He continued his rant. “You ungrateful girl. I gave you everything. Everything! And you gave me nothing but attitude, anger, and disgust. You refused to do anything normal, refused to go to college, refused to become a respectable woman. And now look at you, playing dress up and pranking my organization. You can lock yourself in your room and throw a tantrum; I can deal with that. But this, Louisa, this is too far. You’re finished.”

“No, Arturo,” she said softly. “You’re finished. Do you accept my terms?”

“Terms? Stop this fucking joke and come over here.” He looked around. “Stand down,” he called out.

“Do you accept my terms?” she said, louder.

“I don’t accept your fucking terms.” He looked at a man on his right, one of the guard. “Get her,” he said. “All of them. Bring them back.” He turned and began to leave.

The bosses walked with him. The guard walked toward Louisa, frowning.

“Come with me,” he said.

Calmly, Louis reached behind her and pulled out a black gun. She held it out and fired three shots. The explosions rang out in the empty space, and the guard collapsed onto the ground, bleeding.

“What the fuck?” Arturo screamed. “What are you doing?”

“Do you accept my terms? This is your last chance.”

“You insane bitch! Get her!”

Louisa put her mask back on, and all hell broke loose.

Explosions started all around the perimeter of the room. Thick, heavy clouds of smoke blanketed over the space, instantly surrounding everyone. There were confused shouts, yells, people trying to understand what was happening.

That was when the shooting started.

I couldn’t tell where it was coming from. I grabbed Cassidy by the wrist. “Come on,” I yelled. “We have to go.”

“Louisa!” she said.

“Fuck her,” I answered, a plan suddenly jumping into my mind. “Fuck her and fuck the mob. Come on!” I dragged her off. I didn’t care if she wanted to run and try to save the girl; I only cared about keeping her alive through this.

I could barely see her, and she was inches away. Vince was all but gone in the thick smoke. I began to cough as I pulled the smoky air into my lungs. It felt heavy, like I was breathing in lead. I dragged her along as the gunshots rang out all around us. Confusion and pained screams lit up the air, and I moved faster. I could see figures in the smoke all around us, but I didn’t stop to fight. My only priority was getting out while we could still get out.

Soon, we reached a wall. We began to skirt it, heading toward what I hoped was the exit. I held her wrist tightly as we ran, and she kept up the best she could.

Suddenly, from the smoke a person emerged. It was a mafia guy, his gun leveled. I didn’t recognize him, and I didn’t know what I would have done if I had.

But I didn’t hesitate. I slapped the gun down, punched the man in the throat, and then pulled my own weapon. I put two bullets in him before we continued moving. He was dead, and I had betrayed my own people.

This was how it had to be. We couldn’t stay. We couldn’t make this work. I needed her, needed her to live. Pregnant or not, I needed her, and we had to get away.

“That was one of yours!” she yelled.

“I don’t have anyone anymore,” I answered. “Come on. Keep moving.”

We went through the thick smoke, shots and screams ringing out all around us. I stopped suddenly, pulling her down. Ahead, a Spider appeared, aiming toward us. I squeezed off three rounds, and she fell into the smoke. There were more of them coming from all over the place.

“There’s more of them,” I said. “They’re here. But where the fuck did they come from?”

“The basement,” she yelled. “They were in the basement.”