Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
I stood, eyeing the one who’d given me the key.
He was holding his knee, openly weeping like a little girl. “I didn’t know, man. That she was yours. I wouldn’t have touched her.”
“Is that a fact?” I asked.
“Look, just give me a hundred grand so I can hide somewhere. It was all his idea, you know. The two mil, and even this job. Not me.”
I rubbed my chin as if contemplating his words. He seemed to think he actually had a chance.
“One hundred,” I mused. “I’ll make it two for a little information.”
He nodded eagerly.
“Was it the Santini brothers?”
“Yes. They bought her from her sister. They said she was a virgin and not to touch her. I guess they lied.”
I stepped closer. “You know something I discovered today about the Santini boys?”
He waited, not speaking.
“They hire the dumbest fucks I’ve ever met.” I shot his other knee, and his mouth opened, a soundless scream frozen on his face as I bent closer. “And that two hundred grand? I lied too.”
He was dead before he hit the floor.
Aldo spoke. “Finished having fun now, Roman? We need to get out of here.”
I turned to lift Effie into my arms, startled to see her eyes open, the blue-violet color dull and vacant. She looked at me and the two men bleeding on the floor. A small whimper escaped her mouth.
I scooped her up, holding her tight. “Close your eyes, Little Tiger. You’ve seen enough for now.”
Her body slumped in my embrace.
“What are we doing with them?” Aldo asked.
“Leave them to rot. It’ll send a message.”
And I headed to the SUV.
CHAPTER 6
ROMAN
In the vehicle, Aldo glanced at me. “She needs medical attention.”
“I already have Sims on standby. Head to the General,” I instructed.
Dr. Sims met us at the entrance, and I carried Effie to a private room. She had been in and out of consciousness the whole trip, at times staring up at me, her hand fisting my shirt. Even when she would pass out again, her hand stayed clutched to me. I held her close, not understanding the intense sensations raging within me. Anger, worry, fear, and desperation swirled inside me. Anger, I was used to. Worry over Nonna, I felt often. The rest, never. And all at once? Certainly not.
It was hard to release her from my arms. Dr. Sims shook his head as he looked at her. “I’ll take care of her.”
“She hit her head.”
“I’ll get a CT as well as seeing what other injuries she has.”
“Gently,” I ordered.
He lifted his eyebrows. “Of course.”
He said something to the nurse, who left the room, then returned, handing me a pile of material.
“What is this?” I asked.
“You might want to change before going to the waiting room,” he said mildly. “And clean up.”
I looked down with a grimace. I was covered in blood and dirt. In the corner of the room, I watched as he began to check out Effie. I shucked off the shirt and pants I was wearing, pulling the scrubs over my head. I washed my hands and arms, then bundled the soiled clothes into a bag the nurse also had given me.
“Wait outside,” Dr. Sims instructed, inserting an IV and starting fluids.
Aldo grabbed my arm, dragging me from the room.
The small waiting area was empty, and I paced, edgy and angry. When the room became too small, I paced in the hallway.
Aldo watched me silently. I heard a noise, and I turned to head back to the room. Aldo stopped me. “Let him do his job.” He pulled me back into the waiting room. “I think we’re done here,” he announced.
I waved my hand. “Yes. Go home to Vi.”
He stood, stopping my pacing. “No. We’re finished here. You’ve accomplished what you set out to do, Roman. Be done with it. She is free. Let the doctor examine her, and we’ll make sure she has the best care. Leave it now.”
“No.”
“I’ll post a guard. You said you did this because you felt guilty. You’ve made amends. You rescued her.”
“Leave it.”
“Why? What hold does she have on you?”
“Nothing,” I snapped.
“Feels like something. You’re not acting like the Roman I know.”
“You’re seeing things that aren’t there.”
“Better to leave her now than later when she starts asking questions.”
He was right, but I wasn’t leaving this hospital.
“I’ll take it from here. Make sure she’s okay. We’ll pay her off, and you can stop this. I’ll go tell the doc to keep me in the loop.” He began to move away.
“I will drop you where you stand,” I hissed, my gun drawn without thinking.
Aldo stared at me. I lowered my weapon.
“I-I apologize,” I said formally, shocked at my behavior. “I have no idea what came over me.”
He crossed his arms. “I have no idea,” he mimicked, shaking his head. “Good God, Roman. Listen to yourself. Look at you—pulling a gun on me for suggesting you leave the hospital.”