Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Vanetti sighed. “Okay. We’ll keep it quiet, but I’d feel better if you let Dino know what happened here. It might help us catch the guy.”
“Yeah. I’ll tell him about it.”
“Good.” Vanetti shook his head at the painting on the floor. “Damn. I really liked that one.” His phone rang, and he quickly answered. “Yeah?” He listened for a few seconds. “That’s what we thought. Stay there. I’m sure Stone will want to take a look, and I don’t want anyone messing with the scene.”
Slipping his phone into his pocket, he nodded at me. “Looks like our guy left in a hurry and forgot to clean up. Ricky found the shells and the broken window. This might be what we need, especially if Serenity can get a reading on who the bastard is.”
Nodding, I glanced into the kitchen. Dix and Serenity had moved closer to the sink. With his medical bag on the counter, it looked like he was just about finished stitching up her wound, and I sighed with relief.
Stepping closer, I caught the last of Dix’s instructions to Serenity. “You need to take it easy for the rest of the day. Getting shot in the head can be traumatic, even if it didn’t do any major damage. You can shower in the morning, but try not to get it wet before then. Why don’t you come into my office in a week, and I’ll take the stitches out. And don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions. Here’s my card.”
Serenity took his card, but could barely nod. Her eyed had glazed over right after he told her she’d been shot in the head. It kind of shocked me, too.
Vanetti stepped beside him. “Thanks, Dix. I’ll see you out.” He ushered Dix out the door, leaving me and Serenity alone.
Serenity glanced my way, her eyes still wide with shock. “Did he just say that I got shot in the head? With a bullet?”
Her face had drained of color, and I hurried to her side, grabbing her arms to steady her. “Are you going to faint now?”
She stiffened, and fire lit her eyes. “Of course not.”
“Good, because we need to take a look at the building across the street. Ricky’s waiting for us at the window the shooter used to take his shot. You might pick up something. Do you think you can manage a trip over there?”
“Oh… sure. That’s a good idea.”
I knew that made me look like a big asshole, so I quickly continued. “Once we do that, we can take the rest of the day off. Okay? I know you need to rest… but this might be the clue we’re looking for.”
She closed her eyes. “You’re right. Of course we need to check it out.”
“Good. We can go whenever you’re ready.”
She shrugged. “We might as well go now. My head’s numb, so I can’t even feel the wound, although I do have a slight headache.”
“I’ve got something for that.” I opened the cupboard above the sink and got out the pain reliever. I gave her a couple of pills, and grabbed a glass of water for her.
“Thanks.” She swallowed the pills and finished off the water before examining her hands. Bloodstains covered them. “I think I need to clean up first.”
“Oh yeah.” I glanced at my own hands, finding blood on them, too. “I guess Ricky can wait a few more minutes.”
She glanced at me with raised brows.
“Come on… I’ll help you walk to the bathroom.”
“What?” She waved me off. “I’m fine… really.” To prove her point, she stood and carefully picked her way across the kitchen. I followed behind, making sure she didn’t faint. Making it to the bathroom, she stepped inside and closed the door in my face.
Letting out a breath, I hurried into my bathroom, and washed her blood off my hands. As the red-tinged water ran down the drain, I tried not to think too hard about the close call, but the fact that she’d almost died saving me made something in my chest ache.
How had I been so blind to the fact that being stuck with me could get her killed? I wasn’t sure I was worth her life. In fact, I knew I wasn’t. She was kind-hearted and wholesome, with a bright future ahead of her… nothing like me. She deserved better than a hitman for the mob.
So why did she risk her life to push me out of the way? According to the contract, she still would have been paid if I’d died. Did that mean she cared about me? The ice around my heart cracked a little, sending a small drop of hope into my blood.
Did I want her to care? I wasn’t worthy of her, and I was pretty sure she knew that, but she’d saved me anyway. I sighed. I only knew one thing for certain… I’d have to make sure nothing ever hurt her again, because, if it did, I’d never forgive myself.