AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Giulio
We jogged toward town. It was almost midnight, and there was no moon. Alessio kept a brisk pace in the darkness, his rifle case slung over one shoulder. On his other shoulder was his backpack. He made it look easy, while I struggled to keep up.
I didn’t know what was happening between us. After the gun fight in the woods, I thought he was going to have a panic attack. My only thought was to comfort him. To ensure he was okay.
“You’re not getting rid of me, principe.”
So, he was on Team Giulio? What happened to the hit he was supposed to carry out? The four-week time limit we’d imposed on ourselves? The whole situation had turned upside down.
Not that I was complaining at the moment. I was grateful for his help tonight. I’d be dead otherwise. Fighting off six assailants with assault rifles was beyond my abilities.
But not Alessio’s.
He’d been amazing out there in the woods. Taking out the man headed toward the sheep enclosure was his only mistake.
Then the truth hit me like a hammer. Alessio believed that I was in the sheep enclosure.
“I will fight for you with my dying breath.”
Warmth suffused me as I stared at his broad back. Madre di dio, that idiot. He’d risked his life to protect me.
The flutters in my chest multiplied. I didn’t know what to say. Thankfully, I hadn’t waited with the sheep. Instead, I was able to save him in return.
Thinking back, it would’ve made sense for me to run while Alessio and the assassins were busy in the woods. But the thought never occurred to me.
Cazzo. I couldn’t catch feelings for Alessio. What kind of fool fell in love with the man hired to assassinate them?
I pushed all of this aside for later. The priority was getting to safety. Then I could sort out my head.
When we reached town, he headed for the pub. Were we stopping for a drink? Was the place even open?
Alessio went in.
With no other choice, I followed him. Mrs. Campbell was behind the bar, her expression turning serious as she looked us over. Without missing a beat, she faced the one man drinking and watching the television. “William, get out.”
“But—”
“Don’t argue with me, you bawbag.” She took his beer right out of his hand and dumped it in the sink. “Go home. I’m closed.”
William started to dig money out of his pocket, but Mrs. Campbell waved him off. “It’s on me, because I cut you short. Good night.”
Muttering the whole time, William shuffled outside, leaving us alone with Mrs. Campbell. She focused on Alessio, her demeanor all business. “What do you need?”
Alessio set his rifle case on the bar. “Some men attacked the farm. We need a boat, preferably.”
Smart. Hiding on the water had worked for D’Agostino all those years. It could work for us. We could investigate the Sicilians while keeping away from land.
That reminded me of Theo.
I touched Alessio’s arm. “I know of someone with a yacht.”
“Your father?”
“No, a friend.”
“Good. Then we’ll find them.”
