CARTER

Rossi had gotten old. Silver white hair but the hatred on his face remained the same. It's been 16 years since I last saw him.

He smiles, "Hello, enemy." I push Lilly behind me and he doesn't miss it that he clicks his tongue, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, don't hide her. Let me see the bride for myself too, Romano." His thick Italian accent was still the same.

I don't move my gaze from his. I don't look anywhere else but at him. I knew we weren't alone in here and I fucking hated that. I fucking hated that Lilly was behind me, shivering with fear. I hate that my enemies are becoming hers. I don't care if I live or not, she must.

Rossi smirks, "Introduce me to your bride." He walks to my couch with his gun low, his back turned to me. Idiot. I take a step forward to take him down but there's a warning in Elijah's eyes. His eyes go to the right and I follow his gaze. There, hiding behind the pillars. His men. I stand all confident but I keep Lilly behind me at all times even as I move.
I say, "The rat finally came out of hiding." Rossi sits on the couch and plops his feet on the table, "It's been shitty 8 months, Romano." Then he rubs at his chest, "The healing process took a lot from me. All caused by your fucking father."

"You shot my father too. We're even."

"Oh? Did he have to hide? Did he have to run for his life?"

He was mocking me. That little shit. He looks at Lilly again and smiles, "I haven't properly thanked you for saving my life." I hold Lilly behind me, "You do not look at her and you do not talk to her." Rossi doesn't flinch, "I can't thank my little angel? Brutal, Romano, always brutal." Lilly clenches the fabric of my shirt in her shaking fists and I am so goddamn helpless at this moment that all I can think about is saying my goodbyes and letting her run. Let them take a shot at me. I may or may not survive but she fucking has to.

She needs to survive for us. For me.

I say, "I gotta give it to you, Rossi. All my life I thought of you as a stupid old man, but time and time again you have proved me wrong. How did you do it? How did you know about all our moves while you were hiding?" He taps the head of his gun to his temple, finger still on the trigger, "You know, Carter, foxes are very unique animals. They're known as tricksters. They don't run in packs or have a hierarchy, but they do know how to lure other foxes in to work with them. With the right offer, they're ready to work with you or for you."

"I don't need a lecture on the animal kingdom, but thanks for the facts. Who is the rat in my mafia?"

Rossi chuckles and corrects me, "You mean the trickster in your mafia. He's someone very trustworthy to your mafia." I'm not surprised at all as I say, "Nico." Rossi laughs loud like I just cracked the biggest joke of the year. I glance at Elijah and even he's looking at Rossi as if he's gone crazy. Then he looks at me and glances at the coffee table, his knee jerking slightly, and his head tilts- a code. His knee jerks thrice and then stop. Three more men are in hiding in this place. Three more that I can't see. Armed too.

I take a swift step backward and Lilly gently whimpers and whispers, "C-Carter, what do we do?" I can't speak so I push my hands behind me and take her fragile shaky hands in mine, rubbing the back of her hands to calm her down.

Rossi's laughter dies down and he wipes the tear from under his eye, "Nico. You have no fucking idea how much I hate that bastard. Always hated him. Always told your dad to not bring him into the mafia but that snake turned everyone against me. We were in power before you were born. Giovanni, Russo, Rafael, and me. Four powerful mafias connected. Best friends, all of us. Your father was always greedy for more and Nico took advantage of his greed. Your father tried to take my mafia, tried to kill my family," venom drips in his memories like lava, "he tried to kill my child when he knew my baby was the most precious thing to me in the world." He looks at me, "I couldn't let my child be born like a normal human being because of him. My child was born in a dirty garage, by doctors that I had to kidnap because of your fucking father!" Then he abruptly stands up, "Your father kept me on run for years and years that I couldn't even hold my child properly. Always had to keep my baby at arm's length to protect it. Giovanni was with me for some time but then he turned against me. He told your father everything and your father came after my baby again. He almost killed my baby until my wife gave up her life for it."

He flicks his gun around, "He killed my wife! He stole my happiness!" It wasn't hard to see the wound that ran deep in his veins but I had to bait him somehow. Long enough for Lilly to take my car and run with my phone. All the new details of the house are on there. The house is set with precautionary weapons and money. No one knows about it except for me. It's on a secluded beach, I own all of it. Nobody can get in and Lilly would be safe.

I say, "If your hatred is towards my father, congratulations, he's dead. I want nothing to do with you or your mafia. Stay, don't stay. Live, don't live. I don't give a fuck about you and I don't give a fuck about your child. Leave me and my mafia. Let's live in peace, Rossi. You don't get in my way and I don't get in yours. Simple as that. You know what I'm like. You know I'm not a trickster." Rossi nods, "You are not a trickster, Carter. Just like your mother. She was a simple woman."

I warn, "You don't speak of her." He smiles because he knows it gets on my nerves, "You're not a trickster, but do you know who it is?" Elijah frees himself from the chair and I almost smile in relief that I'm not gonna be fighting alone. At least I'd have someone to protect Lilly with me. There's a gun hidden under the coffee table, that is if Rossi hasn't gotten to it first. But by the look on Elijah's face, he hadn't. He dives out of the chair, grabs the gun and I run towards Rossi. It doesn't even take me time to get his gun from his grip as Elijah shoots three shots at the men hiding.

I lock his gun and take it apart in seconds. Letting the muscle memory take over because I couldn't handle holding a gun yet even after I killed my father. I let him watch the parts fall on the floor and I kick it all in different ways on purpose. Elijah's chest heaves as he staggers a little but regains his balance, pointing the gun at Rossi but Rossi is unfazed. Keeping up his confidence because he wants to die with fucking pride.

Fuck his pride. This ends today.

I move away from Lilly when I know she's safe. I take a step and stand in front of Rossi in full fledge confidence, "This ends today. No more rivalry between a Romano and a Castello. No more blood and no more lives." Rossi looks at me with so much deep hatred but I want this to work out. I want this to end. I say, "It's easy. Let go. Forgive and forget." Rossi doesn't move, he's still because he knows one move and Elijah will pull the trigger. And Elijah never misses.

I sigh, "We could've lived in peace, Rossi. Just know your fucking pride came in between." He asks, "Are you gonna shoot or not?" I shrug, "I have to. You're a threat to my family." I look at Elijah and he nods, jaw clenched, finger ready on the trigger. I say, "I respect you for wanting to die with pride when many die begging for their lives." Rossi sits back on the couch and smiles up at me, "One last thing about tricksters before I go." I wait and listen, "Sometimes they're right under our nose."

Elijah points the gun at me.

My voice comes out broken, "Elijah?" He smiles and wipes the blood off from under his nose, then he wipes his mouth with the back of his sleeve and smiles down at Rossi, "You hit me fucking hard and I will get you back on that." Rossi shrugs, "We had to make it believable. You killed my men. Be grateful I didn't ruin your face for all the future fucks you're gonna have." Elijah chuckles and nods, "True." Then he looks at me. I'm utterly confused but I say, "Elijah, kill him." He mocks me, "Kill him." Then he laughs, "I should kill you."

I look back at Lilly and she's holding herself, hand on her mouth, tears running down her eyes. I knew the horror that went inside her head. We might not make it alive. Then I realized. The notes, the death of that old woman, taking Lilly out to thank her... all lies.

All fucking lies!

Elijah is the trickster. I couldn't believe anything at this moment, it all felt like a nightmare. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real.
Elijah smiles, "Surprised, Carter?" He chuckles, "Damn, you have no idea how much I love the shock on your face. Makes me proud of myself for being so fucking good at acting."

"S-since when have you been-"

"Tricking you? Oh, since I walked in on you fucking that girl and panicking that your got father shot. It's been fun watching you walk around like a lost puppy."

"Why did you do it? You were my best friend. My brother."

"Oh, don't get all those emotions out. It's business, bestie. I was promised my mafia."

Tears sting my eyes at this betrayal as I say, "You knew I would've done the same thing if you just asked me for it. I would've given you this mafia in a heartbeat." He nods, "Yeah, but it would've been your name. The fucking Romano. Always the alphas. Always the shit. Always the fucking morons! You have no idea how stupid you and your father have been. This mafia could've been more if you would just get your tails out from between your legs. Small fucking dreams of taking over the USA when you could've taken over Italy too! Stupid, stupid, stupid."

I could still make out. Granted that I will get shot but there's a good chance that the bullet won't be fatal. But it's not a guarantee.

Rossi doesn't seem like he has a hidden gun, and the only gun I see on Elijah is the one under the table. I had to shield Lilly and then run out with her. We can make it. She can make it. I know my car is parked out front and I still have the keys in my pocket. She can make it. I have to try. I have to.

I get ready in my head, mentally preparing for the shot that's about to hit me in a second if I move. His finger was firmly on the trigger. I gotta move. I have to.

I say loud, "Lilly, run!" I turn around and shield Lilly with my body as I push her out the door. The gun goes off and I get shot right on my shoulder blade. I grunt but I don't let Lilly stop for one second to make sure I'm okay. We make a run for it.
She's slow because she's worried but I can't let her worry now.

We run out of the mansion and I make sure she gets in the car first. I know Elijah is behind me.

I get in the car and I drive off like crazy as I bleed and groan in pain. The white interior of my car is painted with my blood. The white steering wheel leather is lathered with my blood. Lilly's wedding dress has a handprint of my blood.

I feel so fucking sorry that I ruined our wedding. I ruined our happy day. I wanna cry and beg her for forgiveness but I have no time. She wipes her tears, quietly crying and I glance at her and hold her hand, "I know, baby, but you have to be strong, okay? For us. You need to be strong." With both shaky hands, she holds my hand tightly and cries, "You're shot." I smile, "I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine, Lilly."

I was losing my grasp on reality because of the fucking pain.

I ask, "You think if we stop, can you drive for me?" She sniffs, "I haven't driven in ages, Carter." I scoff, "You can. I know you can. My wife is a fast learner and she's awesome in everything she does."

When I know no one is tailing me, I stop the car on the side of the road and get out with a grunt. I walk to her side and as soon as she gets out, she wraps her arms around me, pulling me in for a hug, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I kiss the top of her head, "Why are you sorry?"

"I'm sorry for coming into your life. None of this happened if I hadn't been in your life. I'm sorry."

I pull her face from my face and make her look at me, making sure no blood of mine gets on her cheek, "You never say sorry for being my sunshine. You never say sorry for loving me. Did you get that? You are my blessing, Lilly." I kiss her forehead and she nods understanding what I just said. She quietly crossed to the other side and sits in the driver's seat. I sit in the passenger seat with a grunt and rest my head back for a second. Her hands grab the wheel and I smile.

My wife drove me to safety felt kind of ironic at this moment.

And slowly my eyes start closing with a smile on my lips. I hear her sweet voice calling my name, "Carter? Carter, open your eyes. Carter!"

If I'm dead, god, please let her get to safety. Please let her find the house and leave me and get to safety.

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