Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Plan

I woke up by myself the next day and showered before going to look for Giovanni. He was in his office with everybody else, looking down at a map.

“Are you spelling my name?” I asked, looking at the dots and walking into the room.

“What do you mean?” Alessandro asked, looking up at me.

I frowned and picked up the marker that was on the desk and connected the dots.

“It’s an L,” Alex said, releasing a breath and shaking his head.

“I thought you knew that,” I said, looking around the room.

“No, it’s the buildings that Petrov has hit so far,” Dimitri said softly.

I slowly nodded my head and dropped the marker. “How does he know where they are?” I asked, running a hand through my hair and studying the map.

“There has to be a mole, but so far we don’t have a clue as to who it is,” Alessandro responded.

“Do you guys have a plan?” I asked, keeping my head down.

“No,” Lorenzo said.

I took a deep breath and looked up at Giovanni.

“Yes,” Giovanni said, smirking.

“Great, what is it?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

“We know where he’s going next, we just need to get there first,” he said, pointing at the map.

“I’ll prep everybody and we’ll leave in five minutes,” Alessandro said, nodding his head.

“What if he isn’t there?” I asked, looking around at everybody.

“It doesn’t matter. We’d have saved people,” Alex said softly.

“And if it’s a trap?” I asked, biting my lip.

“We’ll think of a plan B before we get there so we don’t stress,” Alessandro said, giving me an encouraging smile.

I slowly nodded my head and took a deep breath.

“Luna, you’ll be going to the safe room,” Giovanni said, sitting down.

“Sorry, what?” I asked, turning to face him.

“You’ll be safe in there—it unlocks from the inside,” he said, running a hand through his hair.

“No, I’m coming with you,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

“No, you aren’t,” Giovanni growled.

“I’m plan B, Giovanni,” I said, shaking my head.

“What?” everybody said at the same time.

“If the plan goes left, you’ll need a distraction. The thing that he wants,” I said, shrugging.

“No,” Giovanni said, shaking his head.

“I’m not asking, Giovanni. I’m not letting anybody else die because of me,” I said before walking out of the room.

I took a deep breath and walked into Giovanni’s room. I changed into leggings and a belly shirt before pulling Giovanni’s hoodie on.

I stepped out of his bedroom to see Alex waiting in front of the door.

“You need to stay here, Luna,” he said before I could say anything.

“Alex, no,” I said, shaking my head.

“Luna, please,” he said softly.

“Are you going?” I asked, taking in his attire. He was wearing black ripped jeans and a white shirt with the leather jacket Giovanni gave him on top.

“Yes,” he said, breathing deeply.

“What’s the difference between the two of us?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I’ve been training since we got here. I got initiated, Luna,” he said, watching me for a reaction.

“Oh,” I mumbled.

“Were you going to tell me?” I asked, looking down.

“Yes, I just didn’t know how. I didn’t want you to be mad at me,” he said softly.

“Mad? No, no, I’m not mad; I’m pissed. What am I supposed to do if you go into another coma? Or worse, you die?” I asked, trying to calm myself down.

“Luna,” he said softly and pulled me into him for a hug. I rested my head on his chest as I hugged him tightly.

“I can’t lose you again,” I cried, burying my face into his chest.

“You won’t, Luna,” he whispered, hugging me tighter.

I sniffled and slowly pulled away from him before wiping the tears off my cheeks.

“I’ll stay,” I said softly.

Alex smiled and kissed the top of my head before running off. I took a deep breath and walked back into Giovanni’s room, making sure to close the door behind me.

“Thank you,” Giovanni said, walking into the room.

“For what?” I asked, walking up to him.

“For deciding to stay. I can’t lose you,” he whispered, leaning his forehead against mine.

“Just come back to me,” I said, taking his face in my hands. “Please come back to me,” I whispered, looking in his eyes.

He smiled and kissed me passionately. “I love you,” he whispered, pecking my lips.

I froze, and he pulled away from me, watching me expectantly for a response. My mouth opened and closed repeatedly as I tried to find a way to respond to him.

“We’re ready,” Alex said, knocking on the door.

I closed my eyes and took a step away from Giovanni. I slowly opened my eyes and took a deep breath.

Giovanni ran a hand through his hair and left the room without looking back at me.

“What did you do to him?” Alex asked, walking up to me with a smirk.

“He told me he loved me,” I whispered as tears started to run down my cheeks.

“I told you. But then—did you not say it back?” Alex asked, watching me curiously.

“I couldn’t. The words wouldn’t leave my mouth,” I whispered, shaking my head.

“ALEX, WE’RE LEAVING!” Alessandro yelled.

“We’ll talk when I come back,” Alex said, hugging me.

“Call me if it doesn’t go as planned,” I said, hugging him tightly.

“I will,” he said softly.

“Promise me,” I pleaded, holding out my pinkie.

He stared at my pinkie for a while before nodding his head.

“I promise,” he said, taking my pinkie with his own.

“Go,” I said, smiling.

He smiled brightly at me before running out the door. I followed him outside and smiled at the boys.

“See you when we get back, kid,” Dimitri said, winking at me.

“Just come back alive, okay?” I said softly.

He gave me a weak smile, and I pulled him, Lorenzo, and Alessandro in for a hug.

“Let’s go,” Giovanni growled, leaning against the cars.

I pulled away from them and gestured for them to go. “Be safe,” I whispered as they climbed into the cars. I waved as they pulled off.

“Miss, we’ve been asked to stay with you,” a voice said from behind me. I turned around to see two guards I’d seen around the house staring at me expectantly.

The one on the left had hazel eyes, and the one on the right had gray eyes.

“Okay,” I said softly. I walked into the house fully aware of them following behind me. “Are you hungry?” I asked, walking into the kitchen.

“Yes,” hazel eyes said, smiling brightly. Gray eyes glared at him and smacked him in his stomach, making me giggle.

“No, thank you,” the other one said.

“Do you have names?” I asked, grabbing the phone.

“What are you doing?” the abusive one asked.

“Ordering pizza,” I said, waiting for the phone to pick up.

“I’m Marco, and this is Angelo,” the one with hazel eyes said, smiling brightly at me.

“I’m Luna,” I said before placing the order.

“We know who you are,” Marco said, giving me a small smile.

“So who’s paying?” I asked, looking between the two of them with a small smile.

Marco shook his head, chuckling as he pulled out his wallet. “How much was it?” he asked as Angelo watched me curiously.

“Twenty dollars,” I said, smiling at him and holding my hand out.

He pulled it out and started to hand it to me until Angelo took it. “I’ll get it,” he said, walking to the door.

“The pizza isn’t here yet. He knows that, right?” I asked, watching him walk away.

“He’s just mad we got stuck on babysitting duty. Ignore him,” Marco said, giving me a small smile.

“Oh. I’m sorry,” I said softly.

“Are you kidding? We’re getting pizza,” Marco said, smiling brightly.

I giggled and shook my head.

Angelo walked back in with the pizza in his hands and put it on the island. Marco and I grabbed a slice, but Angelo stood in the corner ignoring our presence.

I sighed and grabbed a plate before putting a slice on it and walking up to him. He watched me as I walked up to him and held the plate out for him.

He stared at it for a minute before taking it from me. I smiled as I walked back over to Marco, who winked at me.

My phone started to ring, and I pulled it out to see Alex calling me. I frowned as I answered the phone.

“Hello?” I said softly.

“Lulu, I love you so much,” Alex whispered.

“Alex, what’s wrong?” I asked, standing up.

“It was a trap. Listen, tell those guys to get you out of the house—out of the ~state,”~ he whispered.

I opened my mouth to respond only for the phone to hang up. I ran out of the room and into Giovanni’s office. I looked at the map, studying where Johnathan was going to be at.

I looked up to see Angelo and Marco standing in the doorway watching me curiously.

“They need backup,” I said, brushing past them. I ran into Giovanni’s room and changed into a pair of jeans and pulled on one of Giovanni’s big hoodies.

“We’ll find somebody to go. You need to stay here,” Angelo said softly.

“No,” I said simply as I walked past them.

“Luna, please,” Marco called out from behind me.

“No. I promised to stay, and now everybody is in danger. Where do you keep all the weapons?” I asked, stopping and facing him.

“Luna,” Angelo said, shaking his head.

“NO. I can get there faster than any of your drivers—just give me a bulletproof vest and a gun and a knife,” I said, looking between the two of them.

“Do you know how to use a gun?” Marco asked, smirking.

“No, but you’ll teach me on the drive there,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

“~La prenderemo e la bloccheremo in macchina~,” Angelo said, looking at Marco. (“We’ll take her and lock her in the car.”)

Marco frowned but slowly nodded his head.

“Come on,” Marco said, running down the hall.

I followed behind them and they led me to a bookshelf. Marco pulled one of the books and the bookshelf went further into the wall before sliding, revealing a secret room.

Marco picked up a small gun and showed me how to use it before handing it to me. Angelo put the vest on under Giovanni’s hoodie and I took a deep breath.

“You ready?” Angelo asked, watching me. I nodded my head and hugged both of them before hitting both of them in the head with the gun.

“Sorry,” I whispered as both of them fell on the ground.

I ran out of the room, closing the bookshelf behind me and running to the garage. I whistled lowly as I looked at all the cars.

I ran up to a black Ferrari and pulled the handle, smiling a little at the fact they left it unlocked. I grabbed the key from the sun visor and started the car.

I pressed a button in the car that started to open the garage door.

“LUNA!” Angelo yelled as he and Marco ran into the garage.

I rolled the window down and stuck my head out. “I’m sorry,” I called out. I put my head back in and put my foot on the gas.

They started to follow me, but I lost them as I drove faster. I slowed down as I got to the warehouse.

The two SUVs that the boys had come in were parked in the parking lot and there were two guards standing in front of the entrance, and I knew they were with Johnathan.

I took a deep breath as I walked up to them. They raised their guns as soon as they noticed me. I pulled the gun and knife from my waistband and dropped them on the ground.

I pulled off Giovanni’s hoodie, revealing the bulletproof vest on top of my tank top. I took off the vest and dropped it on top of the weapons.

“I’m here for Petrov,” I said, putting the hoodie back on. They looked between each other and I rolled my eyes.

“My name is Luna,” I said, looking between the two of them.

Their eyes widened, and they both grabbed an arm as they started to lead me into the warehouse. I heard a scream followed by a laugh, and I released a shaky breath.

The guards let go of me and gestured for me to walk further in. I watched as they turned around and walked back to the entrance. I took a deep breath as I walked farther in.

“He’s not going to tell us anything, so kill them. Kill them all,” Johnathan said before guns cocked.

I peeked around the corner to see the boys kneeling with their hands behind their heads. Jonathan was standing in front of Giovanni, smirking and holding his gun to his head.

He cocked his gun and pressed it to his head. I watched as he put his finger on the trigger, and my eyes widened.

“JOHNATHAN!” I screamed, running into the room. His guards raised their guns at me, and he slowly looked me up and down.

“Petal,” he whispered with a small smile. His blue eyes looked me over, and his smile grew.

“Don’t kill them, please. I’ll go with you,” I whispered slowly, walking up to him.

He looked between me and Giovanni and slowly nodded his head. He gestured for me to come closer, and I walked up to him.

“Why did you run?” he asked, leaning his forehead against mine.

“You tried to kill me,” I said, frowning.

“Baby, I can’t live without you,” he said, shaking his head.

“You had a knife,” I said, pulling away from him.

“Baby, I wouldn’t have touched you with it. I was going to ask you to help me take off the carpet since you got blood on it.

“You were trying to leave me—that’s why I choked you,” he said, taking my face in his hands.

“Let them go,” I said softly.

He frowned but slowly nodded his head. He pulled out a knife and handed it to me. I smiled and walked up to Giovanni before kneeling in front of him.

“What are you doing here?” he growled, watching me curiously.

“Saving your life,” I mumbled, looking at his bruises. His lip was busted, and his eye was swollen. His shirt was ripped in half, and I could see cuts and bruises littered there too.

“Where are your guards?” he whispered.

“I hit them in the head with a gun,” I said, turning my attention to his hands.

“Why?” he growled, frowning.

“They weren’t going to let me come,” I whispered, cutting the zip ties. He stayed silent as he watched me get up and move on to Alessandro.

“Take care of Giovanni. Help him move on,” I said softly.

He frowned and started to shake his head.

“No, we’ll rescue you,” Alessandro whispered.

“Take care of him. Promise me,” I said, taking his hands.

“I promise,” he said after a minute of staring at me. I smiled and cut the zip ties.

“Luna, don’t do this,” Alex said, shaking his head as tears filled his eyes.

“I’ll be okay,” I said softly.

“Please,” he begged as tears started to run down his cheeks.

I took his face in my hands and wiped the tears off his cheeks as I started to cry myself. I hugged him tightly and buried my face in his neck.

“I love you so much, Alex,” I sniffled.

“I love you too, Lulu,” he whispered.

I cut the zip ties and his arms flew around me as he hugged me into him.

“Petal,” Jonathan said softly from behind me.

I hugged Alex tighter before taking his hands off me and going to Jonathan’s side.

The boys were still kneeling on the ground with the guards holding their guns to their heads.

“Will they take them home?” I asked as Jonathan wrapped his arm around me.

“No, their cars are still outside. Let’s go,” Jonathan said, nodding his head toward the door. He turned me around as he started to lead me out.

The boys called out my name, and I looked over my shoulder to see the guards still holding them down.

Giovanni started to get up and the guard hit him in the head with the end of his gun, knocking him out.

“Giovanni,” I gasped softly.

The door closed behind us, separating me from them.

A car door opened and I turned to see a limo waiting for us. Jonathan took his arm from around me and gestured for me to climb in.

He climbed in after me and turned my head to face his before kissing my lips gently.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered. I smiled weakly, and he kissed my lips again.

“Take us home,” he said before putting up the divider between us and the driver.