Author's note: Here it is the last chapter everyone. Please comment and rate. Thanks for all the support.xx
*
"That old bastard! Son of a bitch!!" Michael kept on shouting obscenities as another empty bottle of whiskey was thrown at the wall. He had been hiding in the abandoned warehouse he used to store his good; goods stolen from Visconti. He knew no one would think of looking for him there because not even his moles had knowledge of this place.
He had been taken totally by surprise when he was told the news about Leigh being held at Visconti's, but Michael was actually furious with himself for not foreseeing the possibility of that happening.
At first, he hadn't been sure if Visconti had found out about his betrayal but now he was certain. Why else would the old man keep Leigh?
This totally screwed his plans. Now, he had to decide on what to do next and he had to do it quickly.
*********
"So, you understand what you have to do?" Gino asked for the third time.
"Well, I am not stupid." Leigh looked at him annoyed with his arrogant demeanour.
"I am sure you're not, however I need to be absolutely certain you know what to do and how to do it."
Leigh studied his face and was surprised to see a hint of honest concern in his eyes. She frowned confused.
"Yes, I do understand."
Gino gave her a brief nod. "Let's go." He said guiding her by the elbow out of the room.
*********
It was late afternoon and Damien was just about to punch the wall in frustration. "Where the hell is Darryl?"
"Will you calm down, you're driving me insane." Brian grumbled.
They had used every informant they knew but so far nothing. Visconti didn't make any move. No one had spotted Michael. They were in the dark and it was killing Damien.
When they heard his phone ring, he somehow sensed it was Darryl with news. He didn't even check the number displayed and started spewing. "Why the hell did you take so long? Do you know anything? Where's she?"
Darryl gave an exasperated sigh. "Fucking hell, man! You don't need to shout! I am on my way, nearly there. Get ready, I've got news."
"We've been ready the whole fucking day!" Damien didn't care if he was being an ass, he was sick of sitting around waiting for news. He needed to do something. Not knowing if Leigh was safe and well was just too much to bear.
Not ten minutes after hanging up, Darryl was outside the house. He never had the chance to knock as the door burst open.
"So?"Damien asked anxiously.
Darryl just rolled his eyes. "I will explain in the car."
"But..." Damien didn't even have the chance to finish speaking because Darryl was pushing him out of the house. Brian was right behind him laughing at his friend's frustration, although deep down he was worried as hell about Leigh.
"Let's go. Got your babies with you?" Darryl asked looking at Brian and at a very wound up Damien.
"Always." Damien replied as he touched his 9mm handgun for reassurance.
They got into the car and Darryl sped off. On their way he started telling them what he'd learned about the situation, or rather what was going to happen.
"I can't fucking believe it!" Damien shouted. His hand was now pretty sore from punching the dashboard repeatedly.
"Calm the hell down Damien. You don't know what made her agree to go along with this, and it doesn't matter now." Brian was serious and ready to start kicking ass.
"I know why." Damien said shaking his head. "That fool was trying to protect us. I know my Leigh." He shook his head in disbelief. "When this is over I am going to kill her."
Darryl smiled knowing well enough that Damien wouldn't stand a chance with Leigh.
"Okay, so Salvatore is taking her to meet Michael..." Brain began, but Darryl interrupted.
"No, Salvatore doesn't get his hands dirty. I bet it will be Gino. My sources told me Michael is pretty much finished. Salvatore will not let him get away with anything. Apparently there are unresolved issues to be settled between him and Salvatore."
"Whatever it is I don't care. Leigh shouldn't be involved in this mess. Damn it, that woman will be the death of me!" Damien threw his head back against the headrest and shut his eyes tight.
Be safe, Love.
After driving for what felt like an eternity to Damien, they arrived at a rundown area of the city. They parked on a street where there were a few warehouses.
Brian and Damien looked at Darryl, expecting him to know where to go. Darryl didn't disappoint them.
"It's that building with the Lease sign over there!" Darryl murmured.
As they approached the building, Brian kept his eye on the street. There were no cars nearby, no one around.
Brian murmured. "I have a bad feeling about this."
Darryl shrugged and averted his eyes from both men. "We have to check out what's going on...come on."
Brian shook his head and pulled Damien's arm slightly. "I don't like this. I think Darryl is hiding something."
Damien stared at his friend for a moment then he nodded. They couldn't talk more because Darryl was motioning them to follow him.
It was now getting darker and they knew they had to act with caution. They could see from the dirt smudged windows that there were people inside.
"Shit! I can't see her." Damien said.
"Good. It's a good thing, right?" Darryl said.
Neither Brian nor Damien answered. They just kept looking through the window.
**********
"...You've got something that doesn't belong to you, Michael. My uncle was very disappointed to know you've breached his trust in you." Gino was standing a few feet away from Michael.
"I needed a guarantee you would help me, I was going to hand it back." Michael said with a smirk. He looked rough and shabby.
"I see, well, what do you need help with, then?" Gino didn't believe one word Michael was saying. He knew Michael was prepared to use the incriminating documents he stole from Visconti's office to bargain with the feds.
"Word is you have something I want too."
"Ah! Are you referring to Miss Grayson?" Now it was Gino's turn to smirk.
"I know you have her, Gino. Where is she?" Michael raised his voice impatiently.
Salvatore and Gino had planned everything carefully. Leigh was supposed to be seen in the house as their captive. They had already found out which member of his house staff was betraying them with Michael. That particular staffer, after passing the information to Michael, had been appropriately dealt with.
But Michael didn't know that. He didn't know that, at this very moment, Gino had her safe waiting in a car two blocks away.
"Well, you won't need those documents now Michael. My uncle sent me here to help you. He's willing to forgive your mishaps if you just hand over what it is ours."
"What about Leigh?" Michael asked suspiciously.
In his present mental state, Michael wasn't thinking clearly, otherwise he would've remembered that Salvatore's never forgave betrayal.
Gino picked up his cell phone and spoke quickly, then after a couple of minutes he said, "Look out of the back window and you will see her." Gino's voice was low.
Michael hesitated briefly, but he just had to see if she was really out there; not far from his reach.
********
Outside the warehouse a car with tinted glass parked slowly. The back window slid down and Leigh's face was in clear view.
"Jesus!" Brian and Damien turned to look at Darryl who had a horrified look plastered on his face.
In an instant, Damien was heading towards the car, when Brian held his arm brusquely. "No!" Brian said shaking his head vehemently.
It was then Damien saw a couple of men moving at the back of the warehouse. They had to act fast but how to know who those men were there to back up? Gino or Michael?
"They're with Michael." Darryl said with certainty.
"How the hell do you know?" Damien was anxious but trying hard to keep his control.
Darryl ignored the question. "I will handle one of them." He said instead as he passed Brian, who followed right after.
"I'll deal with the other one." Brian said as walked behind Darryl. Damien had his eyes glued on Leigh.
"And Damien..." Brian called, causing Damien turned to him. "Don't rush into action, wait for us to return."
Damien gave him an unpromising look. Brian rolled his eyes.
******
Looking through the back window, Michael saw Leigh opening the car door and he followed her line of vision; He saw Damien and he was walking towards Leigh. Anger filled him and he lost his mind completely.
