Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“I’m going to kill Orlando Gallo,” I say.
He sits up, the blanket shifting aside to show his muscled body, as he stares at me. “Explain.”
His tone is on fire, his voice deep and rumbling.
I swallow, feeling tears prick my eyes. “He texted me last night, threatening to hurt Mom if I didn’t come and meet him. I told him to meet me at the arcade. I wanted one last night with you,” I shudder, “if it went wrong.”
“If he killed you, you mean?” Matt grits his teeth, letting out a shaky breath. “He’s across the street now?”
I pick up my phone, glancing at it. Ticktock, bitch …
“Yeah,” I murmur.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“He said if I told anybody, he’d kill her.”
“Kill who? Your mom?”
My whole body trembles as I scroll up in the conversation thread. The photo is almost too sick for words. When I show it to Matt, his entire demeanor changes. It’s like a demon slithers into him, ready for pure bloodshed.
“Sick fuck,” Matt growls, tossing the phone down. “He thinks he can take this city by hurting kids? Does he think we’re going to let him get away with that? He seriously believes that?”
Matt stands, his big cock bouncing as he leans down for his clothes.
“You did the right thing setting up this meeting,” he says, “but there’s no damn way I’m letting you go out there.”
“What if he has the kid with him?” I whisper. “Is he capable of—”
“He’s not just capable. Every Gallo is, and they’ve done it countless times. Fuck.” He looks at me bleakly. My phone vibrates from the bed. Another photo, this one showing Orlando smiling like a vampire ready to feast on blood, a knife in his hand, and his other hand wrapped around the back of a child’s neck.
Come alone, or you’ll be eating her brains. Five minutes. TOPS!
“What do we do?” I whisper.
Matt grits his teeth. “You’ll have to go,” he says, his voice heavy, “and I’ll need to hide. When the time comes, we’ll have to pray he can’t get a shot off before I do.”
“What’s the plan, then?” I say.
He pulls his shirt on and then takes the gun from my hand, tossing it side to side, chewing the inside of his cheek. “You’ll go out there and keep him talking. I’ll try to find a good vantage point. He’s inside the arcade building?”
I nod. “Yeah. We haven’t got long.”
“Okay,” he nods.
I know it’s going to happen a few moments before it does. It’s like his whole face changes. His entire demeanor, his personality even, becomes that of somebody else. He narrows his eyes with this savage focus. He’s almost scary—this man I love. I said that because I wasn’t sure we’d have enough time together, but I meant it.
He lunges forward and grabs my shoulder.
“Stop!” I yell. “Let me help.”
“No. Damn. Way.”
“Matt!”
He pushes me into the en suite with complete control of my arms and my shoulders. The only thing I’d be able to do is kick him, bite him, but it wouldn’t stop him. There’s no way I’ve got it in me to do that to him.
I grab the handle when he closes the door, but I can’t turn it. Then, suddenly, it gives way, and the door flies open. I rush for the main bedroom door, push that, and it crashes into something cumbersome on the other side. I push against it again, yelling, “Matt, not on your own! Let me help. Please!”
He’s barricaded me in here.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
MATTEO
My mind is cold. My senses are honed. I’ve narrowed my existence down to the cold fact that a child’s life is in danger. It wasn’t long ago I burned this man’s Family, took his pride, and ruined his life. Not that long ago, I gave him every reason to hate me. Well, hate me. Take it out on me.
Not my sister, not an innocent child, and damn sure not my lady.
“I love you, Bella,” I whisper as I tuck the weapon into my waistband and jog across the street.
The bite of life-or-death feels close as I run around to the side entrance, finding a fire door. I know this could be the end. I could get this kid killed. I love you, Bella, I whisper in my head as I hammer against the door. My drunk voice is good after so many years of fooling different people.
“Cigarettes … bum … some … gotasmokeorwhat?”
When I hear footsteps, I slide to the edge of the door near the trashcans.
“This a game or something?” somebody grumbles, the door whining open.
I see the little girl first. She’s got a teddy bear in her hand. I’m going to have to traumatize her for life. This isn’t an action movie or a comic book. There’s no way around it. Fuck.
The man appears, a knife pressed against the back of her neck. From his leanness and the security footage, I can see it’s Orlando. He looks like what he is—a dreg, an afterthought, somebody we didn’t even bother learning about until after all the real heavy hitters were dead.