Between Esposito and His Weapons Part II

Between Esposito and His Weapons Part II
Maggie’s Point of View

That wasn’t just an attack; it was a complete betrayal, planned and executed to perfection. I felt the fear grow even stronger inside me—heavy, suffocating—because I knew… He hadn’t come there to negotiate; he’d come to finish something.

My gaze fell slowly.

The chairs, the table by the left window, and the guns. My heart raced. I didn’t know how to shoot; I’d never needed to, but if I could… maybe…

“Let’s have everyone sit down,” Massimo announced, spreading his arms like a host. “That way we can talk better. Negotiations are better when you’re comfortable… and with a good drink, right Marco? Isn’t that what your father used to say?”

“You remember what my father used to say?” Marco spat, his contempt evident. “As a traitor to the family, I didn’t think you’d hold onto memories from when you were part of it.”

I saw the chairs being pulled out; my whole body went on high alert. One of the men grabbed my arm tightly, pulling me without any care. I let out a small groan, more from the shock than the pain, as I was led to the row of chairs. We were placed side by side.

Chiara.

Yulia.

Marco’s daughter.

Me.

Valentina.

Like targets.

Like pawns.

I sat down, feeling my heart pound in my throat; the next second, my hands were pulled behind me, and the pain came immediately as the plastic tightened around my wrists—it was too tight. I held my breath, then they brought in the men.

Nicolai.

Noah—who was now holding Jamie; I don’t know why Dominic had handed our son over to him, but if he did, it was for a reason.

Dominic, and finally, Marco.

All tied up, all vulnerable, all… at risk. The guns were positioned, one for each of us and some covering two at the same time. Massimo stood facing Marco, the gun pointed directly at him.

“So… let’s get down to business,” he said, satisfied. “I need to get out of this shitty country. I won’t be able to do it alone, since my assets are frozen.” He pointed at Dominic. “The first thing you’re going to do is get me a plane. Today. Now.” And then he turned his gaze to Marco. “And I also need a considerable sum of money to get back on my feet.”

“You’re really pushing your luck,” Marco snorted.

My God, couldn’t he just shut up?

“Marco, Marco, Marco…” Massimo shook his head, smiling menacingly. “Be nice to an old friend. Be very generous… and maybe I’ll be kind and, before I kill you, I’ll tell you what happened to your dear brother.” He was really toying with everyone’s emotions. “Didn’t you want to know so badly?” His gaze shifted to Chiara. “You too, didn’t you, girl? You were even brave enough to visit me in prison…” he chuckled softly. “I was touched. It must be hard growing up in the shadow of a traitorous father.”

“Do you really know what happened to my father?” Chiara cried, her voice breaking completely.

Noah shifted in his chair, trying to reach her even though he was restrained.

“Chiara…” he growled, helpless.

“I know, dear,” Massimo replied, almost gently. “And the truth is much more painful than the lie they told you.”

He turned back to Marco.

“You’re going to take all the cash you have in this house, and you’re going to transfer an even larger sum to an account.”

Marco didn’t answer; he just stared at him. Massimo then crouched down in front of him, his smile fading, replaced by something much darker. He pressed the gun against Marco’s chin.

“You tortured me these past weeks… in that cage,” he said quietly. “Even if it had been for months… years… I’d never tell you.” My stomach churned. “But now…” he tilted his head. “With a lot of money… and with your life… I’ll trade that for the truth.” Heavy silence. “I’ll tell you exactly who turned your brother into a traitor.”

Marco swallowed hard.

“Tell me… and you can have whatever you want,” he replied. “Even my life.”

“Marco…” Valentina whispered, her voice breaking.

“Dad…” his daughter cried.

My chest tightened.

He was going to kill us all. I didn’t need to look at Dominic to know that; I felt it in every fiber of my body.

“My wrists…” I said, my voice weak, almost failing. “Please… they’re too tight… they’re swelling because of the pregnancy…” My breathing became irregular; I didn’t even know what I was doing, but I needed to do something—and fast. I let my body slump a little. “Please…” I whispered, letting the tears fall.

Massimo finally looked at me. Direct and cold. He stood up slowly, stepping out from in front of Marco.

“Look how the world turns…” he muttered. “You were the beginning of my downfall.” My heart skipped a beat. “Listening to what I shouldn’t have… saying more than I could…”

“Massimo, leave her alone,” Dominic shouted, the chair creaking as he moved forcefully. “Our business is between us.”

Massimo smiled, a small, cruel smile.

“I know it is…” he replied. “She’ll just be an incentive.”

Everything seemed to slow down and at the same time move too fast, as if the world had collapsed inside that room decorated with ribbons and soft colors that now meant absolutely nothing. Massimo leaned over me; I couldn’t even breathe properly when I felt his hand unfasten the plastic cuff, grab my arm, and yank me forcefully out of the chair. My body reacted sluggishly, heavy and slow because of the pregnancy, while he lifted me without any care; before I could even think, the cold gun was already pressed against the side of my head.

“Get up,” he ordered, his voice low and controlled, yet laced with something completely insane. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to tear through my chest. I stood up. I felt Dominic’s eyes on me immediately. “Get the phone,” Massimo said to one of the men, without taking the gun off my head. “Big Volkov is going to make a call for me.”

I was pulled closer to Dominic. Close enough to feel his presence like an electric shock coursing through my entire body. Close enough that from where I stood, I could see he was forcing my wrist; my gaze dropped automatically—that plastic cuff… was loose, almost off.

My heart skipped a beat. Dominic looked up at me and then… he glanced down subtly and quickly; almost imperceptibly.

I followed the movement. His fingers were tapping against the chair. Once, twice, three times. My gaze dropped further; he was pointing under the chair.

The gun.

My stomach churned.

He needed a distraction to reach it. I swallowed hard, trying to control the trembling of my body. My hand automatically went to my stomach, as if it were just another protective gesture… but in reality I was trying to think. Think fast.

“I…” my voice came out weak. “I’m not feeling well…” Massimo didn’t answer, so I let my body slump a little. “I think I’m going to pass out…”

“Damn it,” he muttered irritably. “Don’t fall on me, I’ll sit you back down.”

The gun didn’t leave my head for even a second, but he pushed me back into the chair.

That was it, this was it.

I lowered myself slowly, controlling every movement, feeling every gaze on me, every gun pointed at me, every breath held in that damn room, and then I screamed.

“Aaaah! I think I’m having a contraction!” The sound came out loud, desperate, raw.

Immediately everything changed; all eyes turned to me. Everyone’s, including his and the man’s who had the gun pointed at Dominic.

This was our chance—a gun—and I knew Dominic could do something to save us. I heard the sharp crack of plastic snapping, and then… a shot. The noise was deafening inside the room. I didn’t even see Dominic stand up properly; I just saw the man in front of him fall.

Dead.

In the same motion, Dominic was already armed, and he tossed the gun to Marco, who caught it and freed himself from his handcuffs. Another shot, and another man fell; now there were two guns pointed directly at Massimo.

The air grew heavy, almost unbreathable. I felt Massimo’s arm tighten around me again, pulling me close to him, the gun still pressed against my head.

“Let her go,” Dominic growled. That voice, low and dangerous.

Massimo laughed.

“That’s not going to happen.”

I heard Jamie cry; the sound cut through everything. My heart broke right then and there.

My baby…

“Dominic…” my voice came out broken.

“Everything will be okay,” he said, without taking his eyes off Massimo. “I promise… Take me in her place,” he said then. “You want someone who’ll cooperate? It’s me. Let her go.”

My chest tightened.

“No…” I whispered.

“Stay quiet, Maggie,” he murmured, firmly.

Marco shifted slightly, the gun still pointed.

“Let them all go,” he ordered the remaining men. “Now, or he dies first, and with your fucking brain-dead leader, you won’t last a minute.”

The guns were still pointed at Dominic and Marco. No one moved.

“Do it,” Massimo said then, with a strange smile. “The only one who has a reason to hesitate here is him.” Massimo said, pointing at Dominic.

Silence… then they obeyed. One by one, they began to release the others. I saw Nicolai stand up, pulling Jamie toward him, saw Noah free and Yulia… all the others following.

Massimo began to back away, taking me with him. Step by step. Dominic followed every move, gun steady and eyes on him.

“Let’s take this slow,” Dominic said. “You’re getting out of here. I guarantee it.”

“You guarantee a lot of things,” Massimo replied.

And then, it all happened at once. I don’t even know exactly how, I just know that I moved—or tried to—and in that moment Dominic lunged forward and Massimo reacted.

The shot rang out loud and sharp; I saw it leave the gun, but not toward me—it was aimed at Dominic, who was coming toward me—but it wasn’t Dominic who fell.

It was Yulia.

She appeared out of nowhere between them. Like a reflex, like instinct. Her body was thrown backward by the impact.

“YULIA!” Dominic screamed, and the sound tore through the hall.

I saw the blood and saw her body falling. I saw Dominic drop everything to catch her, and then the world shattered. Noah lunged at Massimo and the two fell to the floor, the gun slipping from his grasp and sliding across the floor.

It stopped right at my feet; I don’t even know how I bent down. I was shaking, with a muffled sound in my ears from the gunshots—it seemed like I was somewhere far away—when my trembling hands grabbed the gun. I was shaking all over, my eyes blurred with tears and horror, I saw Noah lying near Massimo, trying to hold him, so I aimed at that man—or maybe I saw two of them—put my finger on the trigger, and fired, fired, and fired, until I had no strength left.

“Maggie… Maggie… Maggie!” Someone was screaming my name, but I could barely register it. All I could see was that damned man, and Dominic’s scream calling for Yulia as she fell to the ground.

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t feel. Just… see. Marco ran over to Massimo, who was lying on the floor; I was frozen beside him. I felt someone take the gun from my hand, but I didn’t know who it was.

“Tell me… Tell me, you bastard, who was it? DON’T DIE! Who framed my brother and sentenced him to death? WHO WAS IT?” I heard Marco’s screams and could only stare at Massimo on the floor.

“Your… your father.” He smiled, his teeth covered in blood, looking very happy with his last words.

“Maggie… Maggie. Yulia…” Yulia’s name brought me back to reality. Again, the image of Massimo shooting Dominic, and then her jumping in front of him, and as if in slow motion, the bullet hitting her chest.

Maggie blinked, then looked to see Chiara by her side, and then she heard Dominic’s voice.

“Damn it, don’t close your eyes! Yulia, please!”

She turned her face and saw Dominic on the floor with her sister in his arms, Nicolai leaning over her, holding her face and speaking softly to her. There was so much blood it didn’t seem possible for it all to come from just one person.

“Yulia, don’t close your eyes, please. Sis, don’t do this to me.” Dominic pleads, and Maggie feels the tears streaming down her face, pouring out the pain she knows she will never stop feeling.