Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Fuck, she caught me checking her out.
She quirks a knowing brow and smirks, and I clear my throat.
Matteo needs to find Leysa ASAP.
I cannot live with this woman.
“Mr. Russo,” Ronald says, reminding me he’s still on the phone and waiting for direction.
I glance at my son, who’s playing nicely on the floor, and then at Vanessa again, torn between not wanting her anywhere near my son and not wanting to take him downstairs to sign for the letter. He’s content, and I really need to get through this meeting.
“I’ll be right down,” I tell Ronald and then hang up.
“Just … keep an eye on him. Make sure he’s okay, doesn’t choke on anything, and I’ll be right back.”
“Yes, sir!” Vanessa chirps, her grin widening in mock cheer as she raises her hand to salute me.
Not wanting her to be with him for too long, I rush out of the condo and into the elevator, hitting the button for the lobby. While the elevator descends, I text Kathleen to let her know I’ll start the meeting in five minutes.
The doors open, and I spot one of Matteo’s men standing near the exit. I nod to him, thankful that Matteo has loyal men to keep us safe.
“Mr. Russo?” the courier, standing by the desk, asks.
“That’s me.”
“I just need to see your license and—”
His words are cut off by the sound of glass shattering. Before I can figure out what’s going on, my shoulder is jerked back as blinding pain courses through it and down my arm. When I glance at it, dark crimson is spreading through my white dress shirt.
Shit! I’ve been shot.
Since I’m unarmed, I duck behind the desk as several gunshots pierce the air before it goes quiet. I look over at my shoulder and wince, knowing there has to be a bullet lodged in there, and when the adrenaline wears off, it’s going to hurt like a bitch. I’ve only been shot once in my life, and the pain was like no other.
“Who sent you?” Jack, one of Matteo’s men, barks.
I stand, my heart pounding behind my rib cage, and watch as he points his gun in a guy’s face. He’s sporting a black hoodie and jeans, and he’s spread out across the marble floor.
“Santiago,” he chokes out. “She said to tell Lorenzo that Vanessa belongs to her.”
“Boss, what do you want me to do?” Jack asks.
He must have Matteo on the phone, using the communication device in his ear because I’m not his boss and I have no fucking idea what to do.
“You got it.” Jack pulls the trigger, and a bullet shoots through the guy’s heart, the only sound a muffled pop, thanks to the silencer. “We need a cleanup,” he says to Matteo’s other man, Abram, who’s standing in the corner.
“On it.” Abram pulls his phone out and starts handling shit while Jack turns toward me, his gaze landing on my shoulder.
“Lorenzo’s been hit,” Jack says. “Shoulder wound.” He nods as Matteo speaks on the other end, then glances around. “Only witness is the doorman. No, the girl and his son aren’t down here.”
“They’re in my condo,” I choke out, the reality of the situation hitting me.
Had I not left Vanessa with Leo, he would’ve been down here with me, in my arms. He could’ve been shot, and unlike the pain I’m feeling, the bullet would’ve killed him.
“He’s got the doc on his way,” Jack says.
Since I know Matteo’s men will handle everything down here, I head back up to my condo to wait for the doctor. My shoulder is throbbing, but at this point, I’m just thankful that my son wasn’t with me and that it was my shoulder and not a vital organ.
“Oh my God, what happened?” Vanessa screeches when she spots me in the doorway.
The pain is intensifying, and I can feel sweat dotting my forehead as I lose more blood.
“Santiago sent a message,” I bite out. “You belong to her.”
“Oh shit,” she breathes out, her eyes going wide in shock and fear. “Are we safe here?” Her eyes dart to Leo. “Is he safe?”
I ignore the warmth that blooms in my chest that she thought about Leo—unlike his own fucking mother—and chalk it up to me being affected by the bullet lodged in my shoulder.
“Yeah, Matteo’s men are handling it,” I tell her, quickly checking on Leo, who’s still playing with his toys, completely oblivious to the fact that his father is bleeding all over the place.
“Okay.” She nods slowly, her gaze zeroing in on my shoulder. “We need to call an ambulance.”
She pulls out her phone, and I shake my head.
“Matteo’s got a doctor on the way.”
I drop onto the couch and tilt my head back, trying to push the pain aside.
“What if you bleed out?” she whispers, sidling up next to me.