Killer Santas

Chapter 14

The following morning, nothing was said about the previous night's kiss. Instead, a hurried breakfast was eaten before Elaina and Victor finished their preparations for the Christmas party that afternoon. Victor checked their guns, over and over again, as if worried something inside them would break when he set them down again.

Elaina ran through the plan in her head, studying the blueprints and making sure she had every detail memorized. Victor joined her midway through the morning, a hand resting lightly on her back as he leaned over her shoulder.

"Okay, so we know how we're getting in, and we know how to escape afterwards," Victor said after several minutes of silence. "I've got our guns and our spare clips loaded." He lifted a strand of her dark hair, twirling it between his fingers. "Make sure you tie this back, Elaina. Don't want it getting in your face during the shootout."

"Right," Elaina said, gathering her hair messily back into a ponytail and securing it with the band on her wrist. Her stomach fluttered, nerves clutching her at the approach of the coming Christmas party.

A week ago, I thought this was a normal party, just an obligatory but possibly fun event. I was even trying to brainstorm a gift for Victor! I should get him something after this, something to show my gratitude. Something to give him for Christmas.

Elaina remembered the Secret Santa drawing, Tony's joke about taking the person whose name you drew out to dinner. She remembered the slip of paper she had drawn, holding none other than Victor's name.

By Tony's game, I was meant to kill him.

Elaina glanced over at Victor as he continued to run his eyes over the blueprints. I'm so grateful he's not dead.

As one thirty, their designated departure time, approached, Victor and Elaina double checked their guns and glanced at the blueprints one last time before pulling on their coats and shoes, Elaina opting for her sneakers over her boots, and the two of them left the apartment, Victor locking it behind them.

Victor hailed a taxi and gave the cabbie the accounting firm's address. He squeezed Elaina's hand as Christmas music played low from the radio. "You don't mind if I keep the radio on?" the cabbie asked.

"No, no, we love Christmas music," Victor assured him, settling back against the seat. He smiled at Elaina. "Tomorrow, we'll be free," he whispered to her. "We'll celebrate Christmas with no fear."

Elaina returned his smile. "I can't wait," she murmured, the gun weighing heavy in her pocket.

"Have a holly, jolly Christmas, and in case you didn't hear – oh, by golly, have a holly, jolly, Christmas, this year."

It seemed too soon when the taxi pulled up outside the firm. Victor thanked him and paid the fare before he and Elaina stepped out of the cab. It was with some wistfulness Elaina watched the taxi drive away through the gently falling snow, wishing she could be on it, heading far, far away from the coming shootout.

I promised Victor I will shoot to kill.

Victor took her hand. "Come on. It's almost over, Elaina."

She sighed and followed him, he removing a key from his pocket and unlocking the front door of the firm. This was all built by the Mafia, Elaina thought, glancing up at the building's front. All of it.

They walked into the empty building, Victor and Elaina drawing their guns and holding them at their sides. Striding over to the elevator, Victor hit the up button and waited for the doors to open.

"I'm scared," Elaina murmured.

"Don't be," Victor said soothingly, glancing at her. "Just stay with me. You'll be safe with me, okay?"

The doors pinged open and Victor ushered her into the elevator cab. He pressed the button for the top floor, their floor, and Elaina tightened her fingers around her gun.

"Follow my lead, okay?" Victor said.

"Okay," Elaina replied.

When the doors opened, they stepped off the elevator, Elaina's hands shaking. Victor walked forward, holding his gun out before him, and she imitated his stance, trying to hold the pistol steady.

"Victor."

Elaina's head snapped in the direction of the voice. By the door to Victor's office stood Marco Andrisano, holding a pistol casually by his side. Next to him stood Tony, pointing his pistol right at Victor.

They were the only two in sight.

Victor lifted his own gun with one hand, gesturing for Elaina to stay near him. She inched over, holding her own gun pointed unsteadily in the direction of the father and son. Can I really do this? Can I really kill them?

"I've come to end this, Father," Victor said eventually, breaking the tense silence.

Marco Andrisano frowned. "Why, son? Why? You were never being excluded from the family just because you weren't going to inherit control over it."

"It's time for this to end," Victor said again, Elaina furrowing her brow at Mr. Andrisano's words.

Tony laughed bitterly. "Oh, don't pretend this is about morals, Victor. We all know why you're really here." His gaze hardened slightly. "Except for Elaina. What lies have you told her? That you're seeking to escape the family, to escape the Mafia you know is inescapable?" He glanced at Elaina, his eyes sharp. "Elaina, he's not here to live a better life. He's here to take charge of the family by killing my father and me."