Chapter 5 - Fire and Glass
At 11:00 PM, the front window of the bakery shattered.
The sound of breaking glass was followed by a heavy thud, and suddenly, the distinct, toxic smell of gasoline flooded the hallway.
“Molotov,” Gabriel hissed. Despite his fever, adrenaline had him on his feet instantly. “They know we’re here.”
“My bakery,” I gasped, watching orange flames lick the edges of the hallway under the door.
“Clara, grab the kids!” Gabriel commanded. He wasn't the wounded man from yesterday; he was the Boss.
I scooped up the makeshift carrier with the twins while Gabriel grabbed my heavy cast-iron skillet and his discarded suit jacket. We kicked open the back door just as smoke began to choke the kitchen.
Standing in the alley was the tall thug from this morning, holding a suppressed pistol. He raised the gun, aiming right at my chest.
Before I could scream, Gabriel moved. He was a blur of violence. He hurled the cast-iron skillet straight into the man's face with bone-crushing force, then closed the distance, snapping the thug's wrist and taking the gun in one fluid, brutal motion.
“Where’s your car?” Gabriel demanded, turning back to me.
“Down the block!” I cried.
May you like
“Move. Now.”
We ran as the sirens began to wail in the distance. I looked over my shoulder just once. Miller’s Bakery, my father's legacy, the only thing I had left in the world, was engulfed in flames. I had nothing. Nothing but a mafia boss and his two babies.
