Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 74214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
He had to die to protect the secret scheme.
Big Ed had to die because if he didn’t, the one with the knife to my throat would.
Suddenly, though, it seemed like that was the right end for someone whose betrayal cut so deep.
Over money, of all things.
I opened my mouth to say something when Ant’s gaze cut hard to my feet.
The instinct to look was instantaneous.
The second my chin was tucked to my chest to prevent the knife from sinking in, Ant charged.
He moved so quickly that I barely noticed the motion.
There was the flash off the edge of his knife just a second before the man behind me let out a roar.
This time, I knew it was blood that poured down my neck.
But not mine.
My attacker’s.
Ant had just plunged his knife into the guy’s wrist.
In almost the same motion, Ant’s other hand roughly grabbed the side of my head, shoving me to the side with enough force to make me stumble away.
I crashed into the coffin, the wood cracking against my side, stealing my breath.
The pain was a quick flash, though, and easily overcome as I looked over to see Ant and the other guy struggling.
I had to go.
I had to get help.
I rushed past the battling men, saying a silent prayer for Ant.
The fear disoriented me, making me slam into props and jump when the stupid ghost animatronic lunged toward me and let out a shriek.
I cried out, falling backward into the creepy serial killer prop, tripping over the cement brick holding him in place, and going down hard on my knees.
Pain shot up my knees as I scrambled forward toward the door.
I shot up to my feet, threw open the door, and flew out toward the shop.
I didn’t waste time going around it toward the door.
I lifted my arms and slammed my fists into the glass over and over.
Dante and Dom’s heads whipped over.
They didn’t pause.
They turned and ran.
By the time they were around the building, they each had a gun in their hands.
I didn’t wait; I ran back toward the haunted house and ripped open the door.
“Stay here,” Dante demanded as he and Domenico rushed inside.
I saw the guards closing in.
The sight of them, knowing what I knew about the disloyalty in the ranks, they filled me with dread.
Not caring about the command, I rushed inside, flicked on the lights, and ran forward.
Only to freeze at the sight in front of me.
Blood.
Blood everywhere.
Not the too-red stage blood kind, either. It was darker, thicker, coating the props, the walls, the floor. And completely covering Ant’s arms and hands. Judging by the way his black shirt was wet and clinging, I imagined the blood was saturating that as well.
My attacker?
He was dead on the floor in a pool of his blood.
“Fuck,” Dante said when Domenico nodded toward me.
The man was dead.
Ant had killed him.
For me.
I was every bit as entrenched in mafia business as the others.
I should have felt shock, horror, or fear.
What I felt instead was a deep sort of rightness.
As sick as that was.
Because I wasn’t an outsider anymore.
I belonged.
I was part of this world.
My gaze found Dante’s.
His world.
I was part of his world.
Where, I was suddenly sure, I belonged.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Dante
Hazel fell back into her role with the ease of someone who genuinely loved her job. She took charge, made changes, and directed floundering employees.
Within an hour, she’d noticed a dozen or so things that needed to be changed that I hadn’t even noticed.
What’s more, no one seemed resentful to have it pointed out, or to have to fix it themselves.
It was impressive.
I couldn’t help but imagine her one day taking a slightly different management role. When Dom was off parole and moved on to run his own crew. Hazel could step into that role then hire someone nearly as good as she was to run the day-to-day operations.
She would want to step back eventually. If I was right about her future, that is. Our future.
A sparkling ring, a dress, plans, vows, the start of a happily-ever-after.
Christ.
Too much too soon.
I needed to slow down, to focus on the present moment. Not just because there was danger around. But because I wanted to be able to really bask in the glow of something new, something so right. If I let my mind keep drifting to the future, I would miss what was happening right then.
When she was called away, I had to force my legs to walk away from her.
It was crazy as fuck, but it felt like each step was harder, heavier.
She was safe, damnit. There were staff members and soldiers all around. I didn’t have to have my eyes and hands on her every second. There would be time for that back at the house, in the bed, getting lost in each other until we were both too tired to move.