Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 63: Chapter 63

DANI
Jealousy bit at me. I played with the champagne glass to distract myself from not looking at Nicolette and Terzo.
The way she looked at him with fire in her eyes, something stirred up inside me that I’d never felt before. A complex rush of inexplicable emotions rushed through me. It was more than what I felt with Katie. She didn’t even try hiding it.
“What’s with Terzo and Nicolette?” I couldn’t help it. I needed to ask since Terzo never mentioned her name even once. And he was my husband. Somehow, I had the right to know about their past, or if it was already in the past.
“Oh.” Celestina stole a glance at her with Terzo and Gaetano involved in deep conversations. “Papa was trying to arrange him for her. You know business alliances. Her father and Papa had known each other since they were boys.”
“I see.” I ignored the tightness in my chest. “Were they in a relationship before?”
“Them?” She studied my face as if deciding whether to tell me the truth or not. “Sometimes they met at parties, they hooked up, but that was before he met you.”
“They would look great together. I mean, she runs a family business in Philadelphia. Terzo runs Italy and New York. They both have strong personalities, both alphas, born to lead, and look at them.” I stole a glance again at Terzo and Nicolette. They stared eye-to-eye.
“Don’t sell yourself short, Dani,” Magnus said. “Alpha people in marriage often don’t work. They are both dominant. They fight for power. Sometimes, an alpha needs a submissive, soft, and humble partner. And you got the man. He actually chose you.”
“Because he didn’t have a choice. I’m just a pawn that he and Francesco have to deal with.”
“That’s not true, Dani. My brother had choices. I could marry your father, he could kill him or send you to him, but he chose to marry you. My brother isn’t reckless. He learns the hard way. He can be selfless, but he’s also selfish in his own way, but he does everything for this family.”
My hand tightened around the Champagne glass. “Lately, things have not been good between us. Last night, I opened up about divorce.”
“Are you insane?” Celestina stared at me in shock, gripping my arm. A perpetual scowl appeared between her eyebrows. “You can’t do that. You can’t just decide because things get complicated, and you and my brother have a misunderstanding. When things like that happened, that’s when you two sit down and talk to solve the issue. And as far as I know, what he’d been trying to get things done is your father’s exploitation of this family. He’s doing everything to protect you, and all you did in return is what? Hurt his feelings.”
“Calm down, Cee. It’s their issue to solve, but I agree with Cee, Dani.” Magnus shrugged. “Terzo can be overprotective, but it’s his job to protect you. He’d been through hell, had been in that situation of feeling that he failed everyone. Cee and Maverick almost died, and he blamed himself. If he chose to protect and save you, then you’re a lucky woman.”
“I think I’m—” I startled, ducked my head, and froze. The Champagne glass shook, almost fell from my grip, contents spilled on the floor as gunfire erupted. Everyone gasped in unison.
“What the hell is going on?” Celestina asked the obvious.
“Oh, God. Not again.” My knees quickly weakened, eyes widening.
“Dani!” I heard Terzo call my name.
My head snapped at him, I met his gaze as he ran in my direction. “What’s happening?”
“A couple of men just attacked this place. Their target is probably us. I don’t know how many, but they are heavily armed with high-powered automatic rifles.”
“How did they know about this place that there’s a meeting here?” Nicolette asked. I must admit, she was smart. “This meeting is discreet. Only a few of us know, and mostly are in this room.”
“Good question.” Terzo just attached a silencer to his pistol. “Dani, Marco and Gio are on the way here. I want you, Cee, and Nicolette will go with them. Do as they say. I have an exit plan, but I want you to be safe first.”
“What about you?” My voice shook as I looked at him. Another gunshot erupted, and it was closer this time.
“I have to know who’s attacking us and help our men.” He looked at Magnus. “You can join them.”
“Okay.” He pulled out his gun from his back. “I’ll keep them safe.”
“Son,” Gaetano called. “We should go now.”
Marco and Gio, with an automatic rifle, barged inside, which had me yelping.
Gio gestured at Terzo. “We cleared the path, but I don’t know how many are there, and they are scattered in this building. Expect a reinforcement soon. You might need this.” He threw a rifle at Terzo and extra ammo. “Guys are waiting for you in the hallway.”
“Girls? Magnus, let’s go.” Marco tipped his head.
“Marco, please keep her safe.” Terzo’s words frightened me even more.
“Yes, sir.”
I turned to Terzo. My mind was in chaos, and I was terrified that he might get hurt or, worse, die. My throat cinched tight. “Be careful.”
I didn’t expect him to hug me and kiss my forehead, and I almost cried at his gesture despite my stubbornness and how I treated him. I hugged him tight and realized he meant the world to me.
“I’ll see you at home.”
I nodded and looked at him one more time before I joined Celestina and Nicolette waiting for me.
We made it to the hallway. The deafening silence was frightening. Our footsteps were the only thing I could hear, but my heart pumped so hard that it made me jumpy.
“Stay behind me. Keep your head down,” Gio ordered.
“Which way are we going?” Nicolette asked, pulling her gun out of the bag.
Then I remembered, I carried my gun, too.
“It’s better no one knows except me and Marco,” Gio said as he turned right and aimed his gun.
Marco was behind us, watching our backs. When gunfire exploded, I began to shake.
“Breathe, Dani.” Nicolette gripped my arm. “Look at me.”
I did as she said.
“I know this is scary, but you have to face your fear. If you don’t, you will be forever scared, and a lot of people are gonna get hurt. Do you understand me?”
I nodded, swallowing.
“Now breathe.”
I drew a deep breath and grabbed my gun from the bag. I recalled my shooting practice and managed to ready my weapon without shaking. I wiped the tears on my cheeks that I didn’t know were there.
“Good girl. Nice gun,” she said.
“A gift.” I managed to put a smile on my lips as I hid myself behind the wall as per Gio’s signal to stay back.
When he fired his weapon at our attackers and they began exchanging fire. I covered my ears, but it wasn’t enough. It was too loud for me. It was ear-splitting.
Marco fired his gun as well. I turned to Marco. Shocked and horrified, I stared at an armed man who dropped to the floor.
“Hurry up,” Gio called urgently, making me audibly gasp.
“Guys, we have to go. We’re about to be pinned down,” Marco said.
“Give me a gun,” Celestina asked Marco.
Marco gave her his sidearm, and she aimed behind us.
I felt like floating as things became chaotic. My breathing sped up.
“We’re almost there. About thirty feet to the exit.” Gio turned to us. “If I say run, you run, and don’t stop. I’ll create a diversion. Just run straight ahead.”
Without uttering a word, I nodded, blinking rapidly.
There was a slight problem, though. We had to cross a huge hallway, and we had no clue that both sides were clear. They were blind spots. There could be assailants waiting for us and ready to shoot at us.
My chest heaved at the thought of what lay before us.
Gio and Marco checked both sides. Once it was clear, he signalled at us.
Magnus, Celestina, Nicolette, and I ran forward. The exit was just an arm’s reach. Someone just shot at us from behind. Deafening shots echoed. Marco and Gio returned the fire.
My legs shook. Bullets flew, passing through, penetrating the walls, so close I could feel my hair flying.
“I’m hit,” Marco grunted.
I froze and sucked in a breath that stopped me from running.
“Run, Dani!” Marco yelled at me while clutching his side, firing at our back. I thought of getting shot at or dying. My body shook uncontrollably. I was torn between helping him and running away to save my life. At that point, I made a decision that could either get us both killed or save him.
“No.” I ran back at him and fired at the assailant hiding behind the curb. I grabbed his arm and swung it over my shoulder.
“Boss is going to kill me, Dani.” He tried not to put a lot of weight on me as we walked fast towards the exit. The girls, Magnus, and Gio managed to get out. I was glad they made it out safe, hoping no surprises were waiting for us.
“I don’t care.” I blinked at each shot I made, not aiming to hit but to slow down the shooter. No matter how scared I was, I conquered it. I couldn’t leave Marco behind and let him bleed to death, or worse taken for torture.