Jagger ran after him. I yelled at him to stop, but he
charged ahead regardless. I followed him, finding him looking at
all the doors, no doubt wondering which one Alberto had disappeared
into.
“ Alberto,” he
yelled. “Come out!” When no one answered, he placed a hand on the
left door and turned the handle.
The door on our right shot
open. Alberto barged out of it, his sudden appearance taking both
me and Jagger by surprise. He plowed into Jagger, sending both of
them crashing into the adjacent room, the door banging against the
wall as they hit it. Jagger cried out, the momentum sending him
sprawling across the floor, his grip on the gun lost. Alberto
landed on top of him then lunged for the gun. I went for Alberto,
but skidded to a halt as he turned the gun on me. “Back off,
bitch!” he yelled, looking vicious.
I raised my hands and took a few steps
back.
Keeping the gun trained on me, he
pushed to his feet. “Up,” he said to Jagger.
“ Just shoot
me, ”
Jagger said, his voice broken. He was lying face down, not
moving.
Alberto kicked him.
“Up!”
Jagger cried out, but still
didn’t move. Alberto kicked him harder, causing Jagger to holler
and curl up into a ball.
“ Stop
it! ”
I shouted. “You don’t need to hurt him.”
“ Then make
him stand.”
Not taking my eyes off Alberto,
I moved forward cautiously and bobbed down next to Jagger. “Just do
as he says.”
Jagger shook his
head.
“ Then she’s
dead,” Alberto said, cocking the gun.
Before I knew what was
happening, Jagger spun around and pushed me down, blanketing my body with his
own.
“ Oh, for
fuck’s sake,” Alberto growled, “just get off her and I promise not
to shoot the bitch—for now.”
Jagger hesitated then pushed
off me. He got to his feet and moved in front of Alberto. “You can
shoot me,” he said, holding his arms out wide.
Alberto leered at him.
“Only with cum.”
“ I’m not
your puttano !” Jagger yelled, looking ready to attack.
“No, you’re my
lover.”
“ I’m
no one’s lover! And Frano won’t stand for this.”
“ He won’t
have a choice. He should never have gone to the Donatelli to get you
back.”
“What?” Jagger croaked
out.
“ He went to
the House of Whores.” Alberto laughed. “And now you turn up here,
naked and ready for my cock: it’s fate, Jagger, you’re mine and he
can’t do merda about it.”
“Where’s
Thierry?”
“With Frano.”
Jagger put his hands to his
head. “Phone Frano, tell him I’m safe.”
“The only person I will be
phoning is the Black Russian.”
“ No, we need
to warn Frano and Thierry or the Donatelli will kill
them.”
“ They won’t
kill them, they’re in mourning. My stupid wife accidentally
poisoned Don Donatelli and Lucky.”
Jagger’s face fell. “Where
is she?” he croaked out.
“ In
hospital , and unfortunately breathing—for now.”
“ You bastardo !” Jagger yelled, taking a step forward.
Alberto aimed the gun at me.
“Unless you want her dead, I’d suggest you get your pretty culo down to the cells,
so I can make that call to the Black Russian.”
“Why are you calling
him?”
“ To tell him
about what the Donatelli have done to his guards and
Sasha.”
“ You can’t,
you’ll get Frano killed.”
“ He won’t
kill Frano, he likes him too much. Apparently, he wants to lick
him. And since Frano won’t let me have you, then the Black Russian
can have him.”
“He’s your
brother!”
“ He
threatened to kill me today if I touch you again. If anyone else
had said that they would be dead, but I love Frano, so this is my
only means to keep him alive and out of my way.”
“ By letting
the Black Russian use him?”
“ Only as a
trainer. Frano will be safe, and I’ll finally get what’s
mine.”
“I’m not
yours!”
“ S ì , you are, but that wasn’t what I was
talking about. I meant the house.”
“ That’s in
Frano’s name.”
“ Not after I
petition the court.”
“
Cathy Marie Hake, Kelly Eileen Hake, Tracey V. Bateman