Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
“You guys all right?” Gianni calls from behind.
I turn and walk Ny closer to where he stands. “We’re fine. Thanks for the assist.” Suddenly, shots are fired from behind.
My heart skips a beat. I instantly know something’s wrong. I turn as Jace drops to the floor as if he just used his body to block me and Ny.
Ny and I drop to our knees at his sides. This can’t be fucking happening. Why the fuck is he bleeding?
“Jace, Jace, Jace,” Ny screams as she searches for where the blood is coming from. “No, please no.”
I look up to search for where the shots came from. I hold up a hand in warning to my dolls, who are aiming and ready to fire.
“You took my sons, now I’m going to take everything you love,” Sylvia Kelley snarls, aiming a gun at me.
Ignoring me, Ma walks up behind her and cocks her gun. “No, I took your sons. I’ve been waiting to settle the score with you for years. You’ve helped that bastard every chance you could. Now look, your whole fucking family is dead and you’re about to join them, bitch,” Ma seethes.
“Jace, come on, please. Don’t do this to me,” Ny whimpers.
I glance back at Jace’s still frame. Pain sears through me. I’m stunned. My brain doesn’t want to believe my eyes.
Nyla stands. The look on her face is like she’s possessed. “Back away, Ava.”
Sylvia gasps and turns to look at Ma. Nyla shoots the gun from Sylvia’s hand. Sylvia cradles her hand against her chest. Now surrounded by Ny and the master dolls, she looks like she sees the error she’s made. She looks around the Dollhouse at the fallen bodies of her family.
“I said enough. I’m done with this shit,” Ny seethes before she pulls the trigger.
Ny, Ma, and the master dolls light Sylvia up as her body jerks with the bullets. She drops to the ground and Ny and Ma stand over her, emptying their clips.
I turn back to Jace. He’s not moving and blood has started to come from beneath his head. I don’t know where to touch him.
“Don’t do this to me, man. Come on, Jace. Together, we do this together.” I wipe a hand across my brow. “Carleen, Car, Holly,” I bellow.
“We’re here, Gio,” Holly answers.
“I’ve got him,” Car says.
Chapter 73
On the Other Side
Gio
I take a sip of my whiskey as I narrow my eyes and step into the back doorway leading out to the beach. I lean into the doorjamb with my shoulder. A smile comes to my lips.
They’re both happy and safe. We made it through the fire. I didn’t lose my knight or my queen and I’m in control of my world.
Jace hit his head hard after the fall when he dove to cover me and Ny. The vest took the two bullets meant for me. Once again, my best friend put his life on the line for me.
I’ll never forget that. Our bond is stronger than ever. All I have, I owe to him and Ny.
I even managed to mend things with Dante—he’s just happy to have Ma back in his life. Lizzy knew something was up with us, and she was pretty much happy for Ny more than anything. It doesn’t hurt that we still make our trips to the bookstore, and I still send her new books all the time.
Gwen and Elijah are married now with a cute dog. Gwen was able to earn her brother’s forgiveness for putting him through so much pain.
Ma and Dad are happily living in their new home. Both are excited about the new babies on the way. Bella and Matteo are already spoiled. Ma can’t help herself. She’s making up for lost time.
“Ciao, how you doing, Nonno?” I answer my phone with a smile.
“I’m better than expected. How’s our Ny?”
“She’s getting big. I’m loving every minute.”
“Boys, girls, what are we having?”
“All boys,” I say proudly.
“Bene bene. I can’t wait.”
“Me either.”
“I love you, Michelangelo. You make me very proud.”
“Ti voglio bene, Nonno.”
“Kiss our girl for me. Ciao.”
“Ciao.”
I hang up and think of the wedding. Nyla took my breath away as she walked down the aisle to me on Nonno’s arm. It was the first time in my life that I came that close to tears. So many memories and so much love.
However, watching the look on Jace’s face during their handfasting showed me something else about the woman I love. She has a huge heart, one too big to limit who she gets to love.
Now here we are in our dream home on the beach. Are there always armed guards around? Yeah, I can’t help who I am, but God help you if you test that shit for yourself.
I focus back on my family and smile wider. Jace lies in the sand with his head on Ny’s lap and a hand pressed to her protruding belly. Triplets. My twins and the other from Jace’s seed. We’re going to be complete soon.