Shadow Reaper (Shadow #2)(91)

She sent him a small smile. "I'm good with this, Ricco. I'm a good shot."



He nodded. She liked that he was a little anxious on her behalf, but she was an excellent shot. The doors of the library opened and the four intruders came in, sweeping the room to make certain it was empty. They hurried to the walls to find the supports for the house. Immediately they eased their backpacks from their shoulders and knelt to get to work.



Ricco and Mariko stepped out of the alcoves. She heard the bark of his gun even as she squeezed the trigger twice. Her targets went down and she switched her attention immediately to his. She should have known he wouldn't miss. She started toward the dead bodies and their backpacks.



"Leave it. We should clear the house first. We didn't give them enough time to do anything but set their packs on the floor."



The idea of leaving explosives around disturbed her, but he was right. They weren't going off by themselves. Ricco was already checking all four men, making certain each shot was a kill shot. He pulled down a screen in the corner of the room nearest the verandah. She could see the little squares indicating cameras.



Five attackers were inside the great room, setting up their explosives on the massive columns. One of them coughed. The room looked a little smoky. Metal shields on the windows prevented light from entering, and suddenly all the lights went out, leaving the room in darkness. The one man coughed again. Someone flashed a light on and she could see the smoke was thick now. Much thicker than it had been a few moments earlier. 



One of the men tumbled over and lay gasping. His friend went to him and tried to drag him toward the door. He coughed, let go of his fallen companion and tried to make it to the door. He couldn't find the right direction in the murky darkness. A third and fourth man fell. The last one grabbed his throat and tried to cover his mouth at the same time. He gasped and went down, first to his knees and then to the floor.



"Taviano is here," Emilio reported.



For a moment Ricco sagged with relief at the knowledge that his brother was alive. Mariko moved close to him and he locked his arm around her waist, as if she gave him strength. "Tell him to go to the security room. The house is lethal right now. Gas in the great room. Guns activated. Tell him …  I'm glad he's alive."



"He's reporting Giovanni and Emme both were shot. Emme has a shattered shoulder and Gee has multiple wounds in his leg. He's being prepped for surgery. Stefano checked in with them. He, Francesca and Vittorio are good. Cosimo and Tomas took major hits. They were alive the last time he heard news, taken to the hospital, both in very bad shape. We don't know their status at this time."



"Eloisa? Phillip?"



"He doesn't know."



Ricco indicated they move forward toward the pool room where the last two attackers were busy setting up their explosives. He held her hand as they rode the shadow into the room. Fifteen seconds later, solid steel plates dropped down over the windows. Both men jumped to their feet and stared at the steel.



Ricco took one. Mariko took the other. She was on him immediately, not giving him time to trigger the explosives they already had wired and ready to blow. The moment her hands were on his head, he slammed it backward, trying to dislodge her, his superior weight carrying them six or seven steps back. His elbow crashed into her ribs in another attempt to knock her from him. She leapt onto his back, her legs circling him like a vise.



Her hands never left his head, not even to protect herself when he smashed her back into the wall. She let out her breath and wrenched, snapping his neck, ending his desperate attempt to survive.



Ricco was there instantly, yanking up the T-shirt that covered her body. "Did he break your ribs? Can you breathe?"



She was very aware she wore only her red bra and lace panties beneath the T-shirt. "I'm fine. He was strong. Is it over?"



He touched the fading marks on her skin from the ropes, lowered the tee and took her hands, turning them over to inspect her palms and the pads of her fingers where she'd taken skin off trying to brake in the gardens.



"All quiet. We've got the cameras sweeping the grounds and house," Emilio said. "Ricco, you took a hit. How bad?"



Ricco kissed the center of her palm and then her fingertips. "Bruising only. My chest feels like someone took a sledgehammer to it. Call Sal in. I want them to do the cleanup here and maybe he and his crew can find some clues to who is doing this."



Her heart stuttered a little at the feel of his lips brushing so gently over her torn skin.



Ricco looked at Mariko. "I'm fairly certain I know, but we need proof."