He glances up toward me as he says it. I clench my hands as I watch them chat up Isabel and Mia. The girls are laughing and smiling at them.
“They work with Mia,” I tell Gio, and he growls.
“They are getting too close. Did Mia touch his arm? Izzy is touching her hair. That’s her way of flirting. Fuck!”
I grit my teeth as I watch them flirt with my own eyes. They turn to Matteo and say something, and he nods and leans against the bar.
I watch as each couple walks a little away from the bar and starts dancing.
“What the fuck, Matteo?”
Silence. Then a moment later.
“You didn’t say over. Are you done talking? Over.”
“Asshole! Get out there with them.Over.”
“No can do, Lo man. Girls wanted to dance with someone who’s not their brother. I’m close enough to protect them. Chill the fuck out. Over.”
“Go get them now,” I yell into the comm. I add as an afterthought. “Over.”
He doesn’t reply, and he doesn’t move. I watch him as he watches the girls.
“Fuck this, I’m going down there.”
I’m halfway down the stairs when I hear it. A gunshot rings out. My legs move faster as I run out onto the dance floor. Everyone is scattering, but I only have one focus. Find Mia and Isabel. I run to where I saw them last as I push people out of the way. A body slams into mine, and I grab the person's shoulder ready to throw them off until I recognize the face. Mia.
“Where’s Isabel?” I yell.
Her eyes are frantic as she looks around. “She was right there. I saw her.”
I encase her in my arms, protecting her from the herd around us. There’s only about fifty people here, but they are still scattering. You can tell the difference between the guests and guards though. The guards all have their guns out and are blocking the doors. The people are trying like hell to get out, but they won’t let them. I look around for Isabel.
“I have Izzy. Has anyone seen Mia? Over,” Matteo asks in my ear.
I release a breath.
“I have Mia. Taking her to secondary location. Bash? You have Sofia? Over.” I start to move Mia, and she pulls back.
“Izzy. Sofia,” she screams in my ear.
“Isabel is with Matteo on their way to a secondary location. I need to get you to your secondary location.”
She holds steady as I try to move her again. “Sofia?”
I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder, keeping my hand over the end of her dress, making sure she doesn’t show anyone what’s mine. Instead of making my way to the entrances, I head back up to VIP. I go through the office and to the other door. Within minutes, we are standing outside the back door.
“What happened? I have Sofia. Over,” Bash yells into the comms.
“Gunshots. Don’t know if anyone was hurt. Caused panic. Taking Mia to a safe location. I suggest you two do the same. I have a feeling they were after them. Over.”
“Agreed. Everyone check in when you arrive. Over,” Bash says.
“I’ll stay behind and find out what happened. Over,” Giovanni adds after the fact.
The line goes silent then.
“We need to get to my SUV. Sofia’s safe with Bash. Isabel’s safe with Matteo. Are you going to run, or do I have to carry you?” I set Mia down in front of me and take her face in my hands.
