AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"It's going to be okay, Ryan." Sergio squeezes my thigh. "You will always have us."
I smile at him, and for some odd reason, I feel a little ache in my chest. "I know I do."
Glancing at Dante and then at Luca, I don't feel the same ache as I do with Sergio. This bothers me because I should be feeling nothing except anticipation for this all to end. I can't lose focus now. I'm too close to getting my life back, and with it…Beau.
A light squeeze on my thigh pulls me from my thoughts, and I feel the limo come to a stop. Surprisingly, once Luca is out of the vehicle, he holds his hand out, offering me his help. I take it and let him help me out. I look around and see the three other blacked-out SUVs pull up behind us. Five men climb out from each one and span out to cover their employers.
Chills wrack my body as thoughts of a bloodbath enter my mind. I don't know what Bain has in store for the brothers, but I hope he is prepared for what may be a bloody ending. I hate that this is all taking place because of me. Well, not solely because of me, but tonight's events will be.
"Luca, you told me once that you would have taken me eventually even if I wasn't with the Huntley heir. Why is that?" I stop walking and wait for his response.
"Why are you bringing it up now, poppet?" He replies with his own question.
I shrug because, honestly, I'm not sure. "The thought just popped into my head, and I wanted to know."
The youngest brother briefly studies me before answering. "My assignment was to watch Huntley's son once they moved to this area. I lived and breathed the young heir, watching and waiting for his next move by way of itty-bitty camera bugs that I had implanted all over his house, car, his bag—anything that he ever carried around, just so I could see his every move. I was watching the day he met you, and I knew instantly that he was infatuated with you." He pauses as his eyes wander down the length of my body. "I couldn't fathom why he was so intrigued with a drugged-out little mouse as yourself back then, but now, I think he may have known how much of a beauty you would turn into."
"You had been watching us all that time?" My eyes are wide with shock.
"Oh yes, I watched you grow, amongstotherthings. I became so obsessed with you that I began watching you more than the heir." He leans in close and lowers his voice. "I was there every time you gave that Brock puke a piece of you, and all I wanted to do was rush in and gut the little fucker. Huntley was too lenient on him the night he beat him for fucking that tight little ass of yours. I would have finished him off, but I wanted to ensure you were taken care of."
His hand caresses my cheek. "Luca, I…"
"No, that's all in the past. After watching you for so long, I knew you would be ours. I was prepared to take you right out from under Huntley's roof one night, but I was almost caught, first by one of the guards and then by you, when I bumped into a table as I made my way through the dark. You were so brave coming to see what the noise was. I always watched you... until you left." Luca's expression turns stormy.
"I think that's enough reminiscing for now," Dante states as he takes my hand. "I'm sure Lacey would like to see her daughter."
I hear Dante's words, but I can't seem to pull my stare away from Luca's cold, dark eyes. There is a message in the way he's staring at me, a promise of something to come, and I'm afraid to learn what it is. When he leans in, I keep myself from flinching as he leaves me with one last message.
"After tonight, you will be completely ours, poppet, and oh…I can hardly contain what that means for us…and you."
Luca's words echo in my head as we walk through the halls. Bain must have hired new help because I've never met the man escorting us to my mother's room. The man knocks on the door, and a moment later, Bain opens it, looking wary and worn out. I rush to him and wrap my arms around his waist as he crushes me to him, his hot breath on my ear.
"That's enough." Dante bites out. "Ryan is here for her mother, not to comfort you, Huntley." He's glaring at my stepfather when I turn to look at him, so I step away in a hurry.
I go to my mother's bedside, where she looks broken and weak. She honestly does look like she's on her deathbed, and I have to wonder just how much time she really has left. Her hand is small and frail in mine as I pick it up and bring it to my mouth. Pressing a kiss to it, I then hold her cool hand to my cheek.
"I'm here, Mom."
Movement on the other side of her bed catches my eye, and I look to find another unfamiliar face wearing a white doctor's coat with a stethoscope around his neck. I find it odd that he would wear the white coat on house calls, but maybe that's just me. He sounds like a professional when he speaks, so I don't question him.
"Your mother's breathing is very shallow, and her vitals are not good. I have her on pain meds, morphine to be precise, and to be totally honest, I'm surprised she is still with us. Now that you're here, I'm sure it won't be too long."
"Thank you, Doctor—?"
"Frank. You can call me Dr. Frank." He smiles warmly at me. "If you will excuse me for just a moment, I'll be right back."
I nod and watch him enter the connecting bathroom before I turn my eyes back to my mom. I feel her squeeze my hand, the only indication that she is here with me. When I feel another squeeze on my shoulder, I see Sergio standing beside me. It's thoughtful of him to want to be with me, but I need him to stay by his brothers.
I have a strong feeling that something is about to happen, and I think it's best that I'm not close to any of the brothers so they can't use me as a shield. Smiling softly, I place my other hand over his on my shoulder. "Thank you for being here, but I just need a little time with her. Is that okay?"
"Of course, I won't be far if you need me." Sergio bends and kisses my head before returning to his brothers.
As Sergio takes his place beside Dante, Dr. Frank comes back out and stands close to the head of my mother's bed and waits. Aside from the beep of one of the machines, the room is so quiet that I can hear the clock from the hallway ticking just like the last time. It's an eerie sound and the calm before the storm. There's shuffling behind me, but I don't bother to look back; I'm afraid the brothers will see the deceit in my eyes if I do.
Suddenly, the machines begin to go crazy, and I notice my mother's body go limp. "Mom!" I cry out.
And then, all hell breaks loose.
