Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 108926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Looking at Felix, I jerked my chin in Darby’s direction. “Help him make a decision while I take care of this.”
Felix nodded and I jogged for the door, satisfied with the sound of Darby’s grunts and little girl screams as he incentivized Darby to talk.
Reaching the entrance, I grabbed the envelope my man handed over and ripped it open.
“Motherfucker!” I shouted, throwing the pictures of Gianna with a busted lip and black eye to the ground, and throwing my fist into the cinderblock wall beside me. Pain radiated from the bones all the way up my arm, but I barely noticed it. The pain and fury were the only things keeping my terror at bay.
Whipping back around, I stalked over to Felix and Darby, who lay on the ground in a huddled ball. “Get him up,” I commanded.
Felix lifted him under the arms and helped him get steady on his feet, before moving out of my line of sight. I pulled a pistol from my shoulder holster and pointed it straight at his forehead. “Where is she?”
Darby’s eyes flicked around wildly, before returning to my gaze, and flinching at the barrel of the gun in his face.
“Broo—Brooklyn Heights,” he stuttered, his words choked through the blood and his already swelling face. “The basement of Flannigan’s Pub.” He rattled off an address and Felix got on his cell, calling Devon to relay the info. I put out my free hand, silently demanding the phone.
At the feel of the cool metal object, I brought it to my ear. “She’s been beaten, take Doc. I’ll meet you there,” I said flatly. “And Devon”—I paused—“if you arrive before me, no one touches Pat O’Reilly. Keep him until I get there.”
Devon was silent for a moment, then asked, “And Darby?”
My finger twitched, on purpose, and the quiet ping of a silencer was the only sound as Darby fell to the floor.
“He’s about to take a ride out to the East River. I expect you to come through for me, Devon. Because, as of right now, I haven’t decided whether you’ll be joining him.”
I slammed my shoulder into a flimsy wooden door and it splintered apart easily, the broken pieces left on the hinges swinging into the wall.
The tiny room held a small cot and there was a lone figure huddled up in a ball.
“Gianna!” I sprinted to the bed and tried to scoop her limp body into my arms. The moment she felt my touch, she began to struggle violently, her legs kicking out and one arm swinging, while the other stayed curled protectively over her stomach. I was breaking inside as I was forced to restrain her, lowering my head so my lips were near her ear.
“Gianna. Calm down, bellissima,” I said soothingly. “It’s Nic, mia dolce.” I don’t know if it was the words or the sound of my voice, or both, but she suddenly froze, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. I ran a hand over her hair before tracing one finger over her swollen cheekbone. It wasn’t the time to let my rage take over, but I vowed to make whoever inflicted the damage pay.
Her eyes blinked open and my shoulders slumped in relief at the recognition in her green eyes. They filled with tears and I cupped her face gently, kissing each one away as they fell.
“Nic?” she whispered.
“It’s me, mia dolce.” I gathered her up and took her place on the bed, pulling her onto my lap. “I love you. I love you so fucking much,” I murmured as I placed soft kisses over her eyes, cheekbones, and one, very carefully, on her lips.
“Sophia? Allegra?” she asked urgently.
“They are both safe, unharmed. Only worried about you, bellissima.”
“I—I knew you’d come for me,” she cried fervently, burying her face in my neck. “I love you.”
The clearing of a throat drew my attention to the door and my arms instinctively tightened around Gianna.
Devon stood there, his face expressionless as usual. “Pat O’Reilly slipped out before we got here. One of his guys admitted that word of Darby being taken got back to them. Pat’s not as stupid as his son. He knew Darby would crack.”
If I didn’t have Gianna in my arms at that moment, I’d have spent the next one on the phone, informing Brecken his team was one man down. But even if Gianna was aware of the darker side of my life, I didn’t want her to witness it. She was my first priority.
“Find him,” I gritted out between clenched teeth. He nodded and departed out the door.
I held Gianna close as I got to my feet, then swiftly made my way through the dusty basement. She clung to me, making it easier for me to keep a hand on her head, so her face remained buried under my chin. I didn’t know how she would react to the multiple bodies littering the ground and steps up to the backroom of the pub.