No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 47

I shake my head, it's not the right time for all these doubts. I need to be focused on the mission, focused on the one thing I've been leading up to since the murder of my parents.

I lean back in my seat and close my eyes, trying to focus on Enzo's reassuring hand on my leg, letting him calm my breathing.

The drive is silent, and I'm grateful that he doesn't try and spark conversation. My mind races through a million possibilities around what could happen, none helpful or viable if I think too hard about them.

"Ana," I hear Enzo's gentle voice, and I look at him with a strained smile on my lips. "We're here sweetheart," he says, unbuckling his seatbelt before mine too.

"Let's get him," he murmurs, reaching over and kissing my cheek before getting out of the car. I nod and clear my throat, getting out of the car and not sparing Enzo a second look before I walk over to Ari and Gabriel.

We've parked on the street outside of the complex, so three black cars don't arouse suspicion. It's a complex of motel rooms, with one 'master suite' which is a larger motel room, more like a house. Which is Leonardo's. Luckily it's dark now, so no one else is out.

I look back to see the De Santis' and Carlos already gone, leaving us to complete the mission.

"Come on, no use in getting cold feet now," Gabriel murmurs, nodding at me as I give him a small smile.

Ari and I turn and follow Gabriel as he leads us to the front door. We decided to just go in all guns blazing, there's no use trying to be subtle, he'll probably be alerted the moment we get inside regardless of our tactic.

"Three, two, one," Gabriel says in a hushed voice, kicking the front door square in the middle, breaking it down instantly.

We all run inside, guns in front of us, splitting up down the different hallways. I run forwards, into the middle of the house, where most of the open spaces are.

I turn into the first lounge room, a tacky motel style lounge, above my Grandfather in every way. No one.

I walk through the kitchen, seeing a half empty glass and the crust of a sandwich on the bench.

An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach as I look around, standing up as I hear the soft patter of footsteps behind me.

"So much like your disgusting mother, always poking your nose where it's not wanted," I hear him snarl.

I immediately turn around, my gun raised as Leonardo looks at me with a grin too smug for the situation he's currently in.

"I've got him in the kitchen," I say under my breath, not wasting a single second before shooting both Leonardo's kneecaps.

He lets out a loud cry and falls to the ground, his face twisted with pain. My gun still raised, I walk over to Leonardo, pushing him onto his stomach and keeping my foot on his back, letting the heel of my boot dig into him.

I suddenly let out a strangled cry as Leonardo reaches up and digs a blade into my side. My eyes roll back in pain as I bring my foot down hard on his arm, snapping it before I pull the knife from myself.

"If I'm going down, I'm taking you fuckers with me," he hisses, his voice hoarse.

I look up to see Ari and Gabriel running towards us, their expressions draining all colour from my face. "We have to go now," Ari shouts, not wasting any time in kicking Leonardo in the head, knocking him out before slinging him over his shoulder.

"Care to fill me in?" I hiss under my breath, feeling like now might no longer be the time to tell them about my fucking stab wound.

"Just run," Gabriel huffs, grabbing my wrist as he leads me out of the house, running faster than I thought was humanly possible.