Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Vincenzo

I was in the middle of a call with Aurora. She'd just said she was able to identify the five men in the photographs, and then all hell broke loose.

Fred ducked immediately, and I threw my body over his.

"We're two minutes from the house!" Thomas shouted.

"Anyone hit?" Zion asked.

We got an all-clear from everyone, and a moment later, more shots hit the SUV.

"Stay down!" Thomas yelled as he started taking turns. I couldn't see where we were going, but he was certainly taking them on a ride.

I looked over the seat in time to see Zion shooting out of the broken rear window at the same van from the other day. In the front, Aiden was also shooting out of the passenger window.

"You can't take us to the hospital." Fred was yelling. "Drive to the police station!"

"What?" Aiden shrieked. "Are you crazy?"

"We're being shot at, Aiden! Take us there, Thomas."

"Yes, sir."

I liked how Thomas listened to Fred without checking with me. He clearly saw him as my equal, and that did things to me…even in the middle of a gunfight.

Thomas made a series of lefts and rights, and then suddenly the shooting stopped.

"The van turned off," Zion announced.

"Police station straight ahead." Thomas slowed the vehicle.

"Okay, maybe don't actually go into the police station." Fred pushed me off him with a roll of his eyes. "The alley there, back in."

Once we were parked we did a check-in. Glass was everywhere, from the seats and floor to our hair and clothes.

Aiden was nicked on the arm, but Thomas was able to wrap it with gauze we had in the first-aid kit.

"Everyone else okay?" I tried to see each person the best I could from my spot.

"Fine. Pissed off, though." Fred shook the shards from his hair. "Could it have been Finn or the others?"

I shook my head. "It was the same van from the other day. Unless it's been them all along."

My phone buzzed at the same time Zion's did. "Aurora."

"Everything okay, Praeses?"

"Just a day in the life of the Irish mafia. We're fine, did you have anything for me?"

Fred glared at me, and I wanted to bite his lower lip every time it jutted out.

"I do. We were able to get IDs on the five men: Rafferty, Liam, Cian, Murphy, and Keir Byrne. I did a deep dive as soon as they were identified. They flew into Westford International Airport five days before the shooting but haven't flown out. They're still there."

"Interesting. They're known to take hits from anyone, no questions asked. They just want money. They're slimy but will do exactly what they're told as long as you give them what they want."

I was familiar with the Byrne family. I'd call them assassins, but they were more like guns for hire. They had no code or honor. They were disgusting and ruthless. They wouldn't stop until the job was done. When it all went tits up after Fred didn't die, I'd guess they were who was in the van, and in the two vehicles the other day.

"Yes, Praeses."

"Keep digging, Aurora. See if you can find any paper trail on the money. It might be impossible but if anyone can do this, it's you."

"Thank you, sir. I'll contact you if I find anything. Stay safe."

"I'm trying."

I disconnected the call and looked at Zion. "Was that Beau? How's everyone in their SUV?"

"Everyone's fine. They were behind the van, and they're still following it."

Fred smiled, an honest-to-God smile. "We need someone alive."

"Understood." Zion was texting.

"Aurora was able to identify the men in the photos Albert found."

"Who were they?" Fred was so eager—we were getting answers, and with Beau tailing the van, hope was on the horizon.

"The Byrne family."

He shook his head. "Who?"

"They're from Meath, Ireland. More like mercenaries, not assassins. They have no morals—they kill for the highest bidder. They were sloppy at the restaurant because they wanted to be. Aurora is trying to follow the money."

Fred sighed, and it was loud and full of relief. "Oh my God, we're getting somewhere, finally."

"It's nice when the light at the end of the tunnel turns out not to be a train, right?" I grinned at Fred, who returned it.

"Yeah. Can we get back to the house? Is it safe yet?"

"Let's go."

Zion confirmed Beau was still with the van, so we used the opportunity to pull out of the alley and head back to my house.

Once we arrived, we went about fortifying my property even more than it already was. I had to assume they'd eventually get desperate and need to break in to finish the job.

"I contacted Albert and let him know who the guys were. He's contacting Gia, and they're going to get the word out. Even if Beau doesn't get them, it's only a matter of time until they're grabbed." Fred sat beside me on the couch in the sitting room. "Are those them?"

"Yeah, Aurora got me clearer pictures. We were able to identify them properly through my own database, and I got better photographs. You should send them to Albert."

"Good idea."

I emailed them over to Fred, who made quick work of getting them to Albert, which would only help them find the Byrne boys.

"Any word from Beau?" Fred asked, and I set my laptop aside and faced him.

"He tracked them to some rundown house on the outskirts. I have a team I'm putting together to grab one and eliminate the rest."

Fred's jaw dropped. "When were you going to tell me this?"

"As soon as I saw you, and look at that, here you are."

He sighed. "Please don't do that."

"What?"

"That thing where you're going to try and take over all of this in the name of honor or whatever. I'm no wilting flower."

With one hand, I cupped his cheek. "I in no way think you're incapable, Fred. I was just trying to help and get one of them alive." I traced his bottom lip with my thumb. "I would no more expect you to run things by me when seconds matter."

He leaned into my touch. "Fair enough."

I moved in and pressed my lips to his, right there for anyone to walk in and see. I wasn't sure if he'd pull away, get angry, or what, but I had to know if this was okay. If what I was feeling and where I wanted this to go was the same as Fred. And sure, I understood a kiss in a sitting room wasn't some huge grand gesture to solidify a relationship, but it was something.

As soon as his mouth opened and his tongue brushed the seam of my lips, I relaxed and returned the heated kiss.