CHAPTER 2 The Bullet She Stole
CHAPTER 2 – THE TEXT THAT STARTED A WAR
Lena Carter never heard the second gunshot.
The first bullet had slammed into her shoulder with enough force to throw her backward against the icy sidewalk.
The world became a blur of flashing headlights, screaming voices, and pain so sharp it felt like fire spreading through her body.
She remembered falling.
She remembered blood.
And she remembered the face above her.
Dark eyes.
Cold eyes.
Dangerous eyes.
Yet somehow filled with concern.
The last thing she saw before darkness swallowed her was the face of the man everyone in Chicago feared.
Marco DeLuca.
The Mafia Boss.
Then everything disappeared.
Three days later.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The steady rhythm of hospital monitors dragged Lena back into consciousness.
Pain exploded through her shoulder the moment she tried to move.
A groan escaped her lips.
Instantly a nurse appeared beside her.
"Miss Carter? You're awake."
Lena blinked.
The room looked nothing like the hospitals she remembered.
This room was enormous.
Private.
Luxury furniture sat against the walls.
Fresh flowers filled the room.
A television larger than her apartment hung across from the bed.
Confusion flooded her mind.
"What happened?"
The nurse hesitated.
"You were shot."
The memory hit immediately.
The alley.
The gunfire.
The black SUV.
The man.
Marco DeLuca.
Lena's heart nearly stopped.
"Where am I?"
The nurse glanced toward the door.
"You're safe."
That wasn't an answer.
The door opened.
Two men entered.
Both wore expensive suits.
Both looked like they could kill someone without blinking.
And both carried guns openly.
Lena's stomach tightened.
One of them spoke into an earpiece.
"She's awake."
A moment later another figure appeared.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Perfectly tailored black suit.
The entire room seemed to grow colder.
Marco DeLuca walked inside.
Every news article she'd ever read suddenly felt real.
The rumors.
The murders.
The empire.
The fear.
He stood beside her bed.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then he said quietly:
"You saved my life."
Lena stared at him.
"I wasn't trying to."
A surprising smile touched his lips.
The first genuine expression she'd seen on his face.
"I know."
Silence filled the room.
Then Marco nodded toward the nurse.
"Leave us."
Everyone immediately exited.
The door closed.
Now they were alone.
Which somehow felt even more dangerous.
Marco pulled a chair closer.
"You took a bullet meant for me."
"I was delivering food."
"You were standing between me and an assassin."
"Bad luck."
"No."
His voice hardened.
"Bad luck is spilling coffee. Taking a sniper round for Chicago's most hunted man is something else."
Lena swallowed.
"What happens now?"
Marco studied her carefully.
The answer frightened her.
Because he looked like a man making decisions.
Big decisions.
Dangerous decisions.
Finally he spoke.
"You recover."
"And then?"
"And then you go back to your life."
Relief washed over her.
Good.
That was good.
Because the last thing she wanted was involvement with organized crime.
She had enough problems already.
Rent.
Bills.
Her brother.
Her job.
Her life.
The Mafia was not on her list.
Then Marco asked:
"How is your brother?"
Everything inside Lena froze.
She never mentioned Ethan.
Never.
Marco noticed immediately.
His expression remained calm.
But his eyes revealed everything.
He knew.
Of course he knew.
Men like Marco always knew.
"Ethan Carter," Marco continued. "Age twenty-one. Kidney disease. Three surgeries. Currently waiting for another treatment."
Lena's voice trembled.
"You investigated me?"
"I investigate everyone."
Fear crawled through her chest.
Marco leaned forward.
"Your brother's medical debt is over two hundred thousand dollars."
Lena looked away.
Because hearing the number out loud made it real.
"I'll handle it."
She snapped her head toward him.
"What?"
"The debt."
"No."
His eyebrow lifted.
"No?"
"I don't want charity."
Marco laughed softly.
Not mocking.
Amused.
"You think this is charity?"
"What is it then?"
"A debt."
His eyes locked onto hers.
"You saved my life."
For a moment neither moved.
Then Lena shook her head.
"I don't owe mob bosses favors."
Marco stood.
"Good."
He started toward the door.
Then stopped.
Without turning around he said:
"Unfortunately, neither do I."
The door closed behind him.
Leaving Lena alone.
And more confused than ever.
That night.
Three miles away.
A phone vibrated inside a dark warehouse.
A man answered immediately.
"Yes?"
The voice on the other end sounded terrified.
"Sir... she's awake."
The warehouse fell silent.
The man slowly lowered his cigarette.
"What did you say?"
"Lena Carter survived."
Several seconds passed.
Then the caller heard something smash.
Glass shattered.
Metal crashed.
A roar of rage echoed through the warehouse.
When the man finally spoke again his voice sounded murderous.
"Find her."
"Sir?"
"Find her before DeLuca figures out who she really is."
The call ended.
And the war officially began.
The next morning Lena received a text message.
One message.
One sentence.
Unknown Number:
YOUR BROTHER HAS BEEN TAKEN.
At first she thought it was a joke.
Then her phone rang.
"Ethan?"
No answer.
Only breathing.
Heavy breathing.
Then a voice she didn't recognize.
"If you want your brother alive, come alone."
Lena's blood turned to ice.
"What do you want?"
The man laughed.
"We want the truth."
The line went dead.
May you like
And somewhere deep inside Chicago...
Ethan Carter screamed.
