“Whatever it is that’s happening at home, you can’t fall apart, Rafe.La famiglianeeds you now more than ever.”
I clench my jaw, blowing a breath out through my nose before shifting my gaze to a concerned Skye. Eyes identical to her mother’s immediately center me, and something inside of me snaps into place.
“Grazie, Fratello.” I nod gratefully at my brother before closing the distance with Skye, taking her little hand in mine.
“I’ll be back to bring you to visit your mo—your sisterrealsoon, okay?”
She nods solemnly, and I squeeze her hand. “In the meantime, Sebastiano is at your beck and call for anything you need.” I lean closer, stage-whispering, “Just keep away from the bees this time.”
I cluck her under her chin, making her lips lift on one side before I nod in encouragement as Sebastiano speaks at my back.
“Go. I’ve got Skye. Do what you need to do,Fratello.”
Before he’s even finished speaking, I’m halfway out the door, dialing Enzo, ready to rip the world apart with my bare hands in order to keep the woman I love from any further harm.
CHAPTER 30
ELODIE
My cell screen goes black,and Rafe’s dark eyes disappear from my line of sight as Sasquatch tosses a pair of white sneakers at me.
“Put these on. We need to get out of the main housenow.”
I quickly lace up the trainers, my eyes never leaving Sasquatch’s. “I thought we were safe here.”
He snorts a dark laugh. “So did I.” Then he ducks his head out into the hallway as I stand up, moving to his back. My head is spinning, adrenaline pumping, and I know if I give myself a minute to think, I’ll begin to spiral, so I do the only thing I can do.
I rise onto my tiptoes, as close to Sasquatch’s ear as possible, and whisper, “What’s the plan?”
He glances over his shoulder, and his usually kind face is tight, hard-set in a grimace. “We need to get to the dock. The boat is our only way out of here if they’ve already gotten inside.”
His bushy eyebrows draw closer together as he presses a 9mm Glock into my hand. “Stick to my side,Coniglietta. And remember to shoot first, ask questions later,capisti?”
I blow out a breath and nod, then he checks the hallway once more before slipping out my door. Following swiftly behind himon silent feet, the sound of my racing heart fills my ears as we make our way to the top of the stairs.
Maria appears at the base, her eyes widening as terror fills her pretty face when she spots us. She gives us an almost infinitesimal shake of her head, and we freeze at her silent warning as she spins back to face whoever is with her.
“I believe he’s withSenorinaElodie, if you wish to wait here,Senor?—”
My blood turns to ice when Maria’s words are cut short, and the sound of a single gunshot echoes through the house. I watch in absolute horror as red stains the front of her crisp white shirt, and when her eyes find mine, they’re telling me to run.
Pleading with me to go.Now.
Sasquatch moves before I do, gripping my wrist and tugging me back toward my suite. He barricades the door as best he can before he moves past me, out onto the balcony.
I watch his actions, not entirely registering anything that he’s doing, as Maria’s face plays on a loop inside my mind’s eye, and I swallow roughly past the enormous ball of guilt wedged in my throat.
“Let’s move.” Sasquatch pops his head around the corner of the balcony door, frowning when his eyes land on me, and he glances behind him before coming back inside to crouch down. He rests his huge hand on my knee and pats it gently.
And when he speaks, his words are low, reminding me of exactly what’s at stake here.
“He’s coming for you.Now. Don’t have Maria’s sacrifice meaning nothing, Elodie.” His eyes flicker between mine. “So, let’s get the fuck out of here, okay?”
I clench my jaw with a sharp nod, renewed determination filling my body as I stand and walk outside. My feet falter when I realize that as I’d had my mini breakdown inside, Sasquatch had been busy out here.
“Are those mysheets?”
“Some towels and a bathrobe, too.” Sasquatch appears at my side, jamming a peanut butter cookie into his mouth, and shrugs as he chews. “I’ve seen it done on TV. No reason it can’t work for real.”
