Mafia's Assassin

Chapter 16

"Mrs Giovarni, there is a visitor here requesting your presence" arching a brow from behind my desk

"Where are they ?" Puzzled at who it could be

"The living room" nodding, I stand from my chair shutting and locking my office behind me, making my way to the living room

"Tanika ? I didn't know we were suppose to meet, what are you .." Tanikas Silk straightened hair falls past her hips turning, tears are present in her blue eyes, her fringe stopping at her brows. Her hands cup and support her growing stomach, my expression one of shock.

"Andres .. he's gone !" Her body shakes and wails as my arms encase her sinking form.

"When did you last see him Tanika ?" Brushing past the bump for now

"Three days ago .. I told my family but nothing happened and An-Andres always told me I could trust you .." her sobs continue, this is the most I had heard her talk

"You did right to come to me, I'll get a room set up. You are not to leave this house agreed ?" She nods "I'll do everything to keep you safe"

Placing my hand on her bump, my other cupping her shoulder "to keep you both safe" her eyes close from the pain as I leave her seated in the living room

"Mary !" She comes from the kitchen "set up a room and a cot from the nursery" her brows raise questions and I shake them of, going for Nico

"Amore Nows not the .."

"Andres is gone" my palms on his desk as the room falls silent "three days" Covering his next question, Nico nods

"How .."

"Tanika, she's here and she's not leaving" Nico stands

"Trovalo" (find him) the men leave the room "Amore we need to talk about statistics.."

"I know .." exhaling a shaky breath "the odds don't stand in our favour" his eyes hold mine, softening slightly

"Bring him home Nico.." leaving his office. However it will be ..

***********
I stand in the doorway of Tanikas room, her body curled around her pillows as I watch her peacefully sleep.

"Amore .."
"Shh" I place my finger to my lips as his arms settle round my waist, my hands squeezing him close, tighter

"I just wanted to be sure, that she was safe"

"And she is Amore, with you watching over her" turning in his arms we head towards our room. His lips brush down my neck but I can't shake the bad feeling in my stomach.

"I don't think he's alive .." my eyes fall as I feel my body hollow, my inner chest bare and heavy

"Shh Amore, we don't know. We need to have hope" my head shakes no

"If he's gone Nico, I will burn that family to the ground" my eyes holding one of loss and weakness.

"We don't know if it's them that have taken him" his palms now rubbing my shoulders as my arms cross tightly around my midriff

"Who else would it be ? We have no quires with anyone but them !" Breaking free from his hold to pace the room

"Just because they said one thing at the ball doesn't mean they spoke a word of the truth ! That family is nothing more then a two headed snake, one in which I will sever, mark my words" my teeth clenched as the fire fills my veins

"And you won't be alone Amore" cupping my cheek "but we need to know for definite first" his thumb skimming my cheek bone

"I have boots on the ground, we will know soon enough and we will find him" his fingers interlocking with mine

"Come to bed" looking to his eyes and the feel of his hand safely in mine I let the fight leave my body and soon after exhaustion takes its place. I let Nico lead me to our sheets, his lips tenderly kissing mine.

           *******************
We wake the next morning in each others embrace to a howl, a scream. Grabbing the gun from our drawers, I throw on a dressing gown running for the stairs. At the bottom stands Mary brought to her knees, running to her side I see broken fingers, blackened and bruised face, a bullet between the eyes. My fingers loosen on the but of my gun, my knees weakened as all the air leaves my body, numb.

My brother lays there, covered in his own blood, lifeless. Never to see his children grow. Gasping I to fall to my knees, hearing Tanikas feet sounding down the stairs, Nico embracing her to block the view. His shirt pocket is torn and looking closely I see a note. Pulling it free with shaken fingers my eyes focus on the scroll signed across the paper

V.P.

crushing the note between my fingers, I kiss my brothers cheek one last time, standing the noise around me silenced as Nico continues to wrestle Tanika in his arms, his lips move but I can't hear the words, disappearing to my room. A single tear caressing my cheek.