Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Fucking bitch.”
The sound of a door crashing open fills the air and the lights come on. The light stings my eyes, and I have to snap them shut as pain blasts through my head.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“Emory,” I murmur, still not able to open my eyes.
“Get the fuck out and mind your damn business.”
The sound of a gun cocking catches my ears. “The only one leaving this room is you. I’m not allowing you to rape her, Lorcan. Get out, you sick bastard.”
“Is that why he called you here? To watch over this slut while I keep him busy. She’s a whore.
“Those Italians probably passed her around. Now it’s my turn. Go mind your business.”
“When he comes for her, I hope he blows your head off. Things were peaceful while you were away. The last two years have been hell since you’ve been trying to lift your head.
“Romano is using you and you’re too stupid to see what’s coming. I said get the fuck away from her before I break your brother’s heart by making him have to bury you.”
I smiled to myself. That’s the Emory I know and love. I give her a silent thanks as the drugs they’ve been filling me with take me under once again.
Fire? Did Emory make it out? Rage fills me; I need to wake up.
I have fish to gut. Rico needs me. I need to make sure Emory made it out.
I push harder to open my eyes. Blinding pain rocks through my skull. I have to keep fighting.
“Any word on Rico?” Fredo asks.
“He’s finally stable, Doc says now we wait, same as here.”
“They’re going to be devastated. Rico wants to be a father. When he finds out Oni was pregnant and lost the baby, no one will be safe.”
Fredo sighs. “I wish that Emory chick had called with the location sooner. We lost a week trying to find her.”
“Bro, did you see that?”
“See what?”
“I think her finger twitched.”
“Wait, her eyes are moving under her lids,” Fredo says. “Oni, hey, sweetheart, can you hear me?”
“Oni, it’s me, Al. If you can hear me, give my finger a squeeze,” he coaxes as light pressure settles in the center of my palm.
“Where’s my gun? They killed my baby, and he tried to rape me.”
They both chuckle.
“That’s my girl,” Fredo croons.
“Welcome back, baby girl. We’re going to get them. You and Rico need to recover first,” Al says.
Rico
“Where is she?”
“Rico, hold on. You’re recovering. You need to rest,” Uncle Emilio says as he tries to stop me from getting out of bed.
“I can recover when I know she’s alive and well. Forgive me for not being able to trust you where she’s concerned. I need to set eyes on her.”
“Marone, when are you going to forgive me for that? I thought we got past all that.”
“This isn’t about us. My wife was taken. I should have killed Romano when I wanted to.
“I would have kept the blowback from your door. Out of respect for you, I let him live,” I snap.
“Oni, wait. You should be in bed. Please,” my mother-in-law says on the other side of the door.
In the next moment, the door bursts open, and my wife comes into view. I go to stand to get to her, but pain sears through my leg. I stumble forward and have to pause.
Oni rushes to me and wraps her arms around me. I wrap her in my embrace and hold her tightly to me. She breaks down sobbing, which is so unlike my wife.
I tighten my embrace and move back toward the bed to sit and bring her into my lap. With her in my arms, I’m able to ignore the pain firing through my body.
“I’m here now. It’s okay, baby. I’m here,” I murmur into the top of her hair.
She takes a calming breath. “The baby is gone. The drugs and lack of nutrition … I lost the baby,” she sobs.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“I stepped out of the shop because I was feeling nauseous. I realized once I stepped out that I was already pregnant. That’s why I’ve been so tired and cranky lately.
“When I woke, the doctor told me I miscarried once you saved me and got me home. I’m sorry. I did everything I could.”
“Shh, baby, shh. This is my fault. I took too long to find you.
“If not for Emory reaching out, I’d still be looking for you. She said they only brought her in a few days ago. She had been somewhere else when the call first came in.
“She called me as soon as she was able to get a number for me. You were at one of Romano’s properties. We hadn’t known to look there; the Sullivans were the ones who took you,” I say as my thoughts race.