Cat and Mouse (New York Mafia Syndicate #1)

Chapter 22 - Leo

I'm going to kill every single one of these bastards.

She's here, in this goddamn warehouse, with Marco and his goons, because she thinks she can handle it.

She's got a split lip, bruises... and they're going to pay.

Matteo was shot, but at least he's alive.

Elizabeth... She has no idea what she's gotten into.

The warehouse is a wreck. Bodies litter the floor, some of them groaning in pain, others silent. Marco's men, no doubt. I see two of my own guys are down—one bleeding from his leg, another struggling to stay upright.

Then I see Marco standing over Elizabeth, that smug fucking grin on his face. "Leo!" he calls out like we're old friends. "You didn't move fast enough."

"Let her go, Marco," I growl, stepping forward. My gun is already in my hand, but I don't fire. Not yet. Not while she's this close to him.

"She's not going anywhere, not unless you walk away and leave me with everything."

Elizabeth is shaking, but she's standing. Her eyes are locked on mine, and she's holding a gun, pointing it right at me.

"Elizabeth," I say, my voice steady. "Put the gun down."

Marco's smile widens. "If she shoots you, Leo, I'll let her walk. Her and the baby." He glances at her stomach like it's a fucking bargaining chip. "Go on, sweetheart. Take the shot. Free yourself from him."

Her hands are trembling, her eyes wild with a mix of fear and fury. I can see the conflict tearing her apart. She could shoot me, end this, walk away from this life I've dragged her into. But she doesn't want that. I know she doesn't. She's just scared.

"I hate being manipulated," she shouts, her voice breaking. "You both think you can control everything. But I'm not a pawn in your fucking games!"

The gun shakes in her grip, and for a second, I think she's going to pull the trigger. But then, she moves. In a blink, she pivots and fires at Marco.

He doesn't even have time to react before the bullet tears through his chest, and he goes down like a sack of bricks.

The whole world seems to freeze for a second. Then I'm moving, sprinting toward her.

"Elizabeth!" I reach her just as she collapses, catching her in my arms. Her body's trembling, her breath ragged. "I've got you," I whisper, pressing her to me. "You're safe now. It's over."

She grips my jacket, her nails digging into my skin. "I was so scared," she whispers, her voice shaking. "I didn't know what to do. I—"

"You did the right thing," I say, my hand cupping her face gently. "You saved yourself. You saved us."

Her eyes fill with tears, but she doesn't let them fall. "Can we stop now, Leo? Please. I'm tired."

"Stop?" I frown, brushing her hair back from her face. "What do you mean?"

"I'm tired," she repeats, her voice small. "I can't do this anymore. I don't want our baby born into this... this madness." She looks up at me, her eyes pleading. "I don't want to live like this. Always looking over my shoulder. Always waiting for the next fight."

I close my eyes for a moment, the weight of her words crashing into me. I've been so focused on avenging my father, on winning this war, that I didn't stop to think about what it was doing to her. What it was doing to us.

"What do you want, Elizabeth?" I ask quietly.

"Take me away from this," she gasps, her voice desperate. "I don't care where we go, as long as it's far from here. Away from all of this."

I nod, pressing my lips to her forehead. "I will. I promise. I'll take you away from all of this."

She lets out a shaky breath, relief flooding her expression. "Is Matteo...?"

"He's alive," I tell her, my voice soft. "He's hurt, but he's alive."

"Oh, thank God." She closes her eyes, sagging against me.

I hold her tighter, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I love you," I murmur against her skin. "But you have to stop trying to die on me."

She lets out a weak laugh, her fingers tangling in my shirt. "I'll do my best," she says, her voice breaking a little. "But you make it hard."

I chuckle softly, resting my forehead against hers. "Yeah, well, I tend to have that effect on people."

We sit there for a moment, the chaos fading around us. Marco is dead, his men scattered or bleeding out. I've won. I've finally fucking won. But as I look at Elizabeth, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and fear, I realize I've lost something, too. I've lost the chance to keep her safe from this life.

But I'll make it right. I'll take her away, give her the peace she deserves.

"I'm scared, Leo," she whispers, her voice trembling again. "What if... what if this never ends?"

"It ends now," I say firmly. "I promise you, Elizabeth. This is over. No one will ever hurt you again. Not while I'm breathing."

She nods, but I can see the doubt lingering in her eyes. I can't blame her. After everything we've been through, trust is hard to come by.

But I'll prove it to her. I'll show her that she and our child are my priority now. Nothing else matters.

Not revenge. Not power.

Just her.