Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 245(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 245(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
“He’s about to take a ride out to the East River. I expect you to come through for me, Devon. Because, as of right now, I haven’t decided whether you’ll be joining him.”
I slammed my shoulder into a flimsy wooden door and it splintered apart easily, the broken pieces left on the hinges swinging into the wall.
The tiny room held a small cot and there was a lone figure huddled up in a ball.
“Gianna!” I sprinted to the bed and tried to scoop her limp body into my arms. The moment she felt my touch, she began to struggle violently, her legs kicking out and one arm swinging, while the other stayed curled protectively over her stomach. I was breaking inside as I was forced to restrain her, lowering my head so my lips were near her ear.
“Gianna. Calm down, bellissima,” I said soothingly. “It’s Nic, mia dolce.” I don’t know if it was the words or the sound of my voice, or both, but she suddenly froze, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. I ran a hand over her hair before tracing one finger over her swollen cheekbone. It wasn’t the time to let my rage take over, but I vowed to make whoever inflicted the damage pay.
Her eyes blinked open and my shoulders slumped in relief at the recognition in her green eyes. They filled with tears and I cupped her face gently, kissing each one away as they fell.
“Nic?” she whispered.
“It’s me, mia dolce.” I gathered her up and took her place on the bed, pulling her onto my lap. “I love you. I love you so fucking much,” I murmured as I placed soft kisses over her eyes, cheekbones, and one, very carefully, on her lips.
“Sophia? Allegra?” she asked urgently.
“They are both safe, unharmed. Only worried about you, bellissima.”
“I—I knew you’d come for me,” she cried fervently, burying her face in my neck. “I love you.”
The clearing of a throat drew my attention to the door and my arms instinctively tightened around Gianna.
Devon stood there, his face expressionless as usual. “Pat O’Reilly slipped out before we got here. One of his guys admitted that word of Darby being taken got back to them. Pat’s not as stupid as his son. He knew Darby would crack.”
If I didn’t have Gianna in my arms at that moment, I’d have spent the next one on the phone, informing Brecken his team was one man down. But, even if Gianna was aware of the darker side of my life, I didn’t want her to witness it. She was my first priority.
“Find him,” I gritted out between clenched teeth. He nodded and departed out the door.
I held Gianna close as I got to my feet, then swiftly made my way through the dusty basement. She clung to me, making it easier for me to keep a hand on her head, so her face remained buried under my chin. I didn’t know how she would react to the multiple bodies littering the ground and steps up to the backroom of the pub.
A black Town Car was waiting outside the building and I slid in, settling Gianna on my lap, unwilling to let her go. I placed a hand on her flat belly and pictured her, round with our child and cuddling with our other daughter. It warmed me, helped me to calm my racing heart.
I kissed the top of her head, nuzzling her soft hair before resting my cheek in the same spot.
“I love you, mia dolce,” I crooned. “I promise not to fail you again. I will always protect you and our children. You are everything to me. Everything.”
TWENTY-ONE
Anna
Cradled in Nic’s lap, listening to him murmur sweet nothings in my ear, I let my eyes drift shut. I felt him shift my hair away from my face and kiss my forehead, but I kept them closed. His concern for me was evident in his voice and by the way he touched me. Knowing this strong man had no problem showing me a vulnerable side he kept hidden from everyone else was humbling. Even though I knew he’d come to my rescue, that I was safe, I started to tremble and sob.
“Shhh, bellissima. I’ve got you,” he whispered into my ear.
His soothing words only made me cry harder. I was having a delayed reaction to what I’d experienced and nothing was going to make it stop. I needed to cry it all out. Or at least, that’s what I thought until we pulled up in front of the hospital.
“W-w-what are we doing here?” I hiccupped on a sigh.
Nic’s thumb gently rubbed under my left eye, before hovering over my bottom lip. Even as lightly as he touched me, it hurt and I winced in pain.
“You need to be checked over, mia dolce.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted. “I just want to go home. Please. Everything will be better if I’m home with you.”