“I’m sorry, Leo. Looking back, I see how it was a setup. My usual bodyguard, Pavel, got called away in a sudden emergency. I’d never seen Bogdan before.”
I pinched the bridge above my nose. “I’m going to need Yuri to get me all the information he can on this Bogdan fucker.”
“Of course. I’ll call him right away.”
The dread in the pit of my stomach told me there wasn’t going to be anything on the man who had pretended to be Bodgan. Whoever was tracking Drea must’ve taken out her regular guard and subbed the shooter in his place.
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
After filling Gianni in, he asked, “Who the hell would want to hurt Drea?”
“Someone who wanted to get to me.”
Gianni’s eyes widened. “Vincent.”
I nodded. “Without me knowing, Jack placed another bid on my behalf. Vincent must’ve thought I was ignoring him.”
“Or he’d planned to kidnap Drea all along.”
“You’re probably right considering the planning involved.”
Gianni took out his iPad. “I heard you ask Bianca to have her husband look into the bodyguard. Want me to work my magic?”
I gave him a grateful smile. “That would be awesome.”
“You got it.”
***
While Gianni worked on his iPad, I spent the rest of the flight pacing. Just as we were about to land, a thought popped into my mind, and I acted on it.
“Leo?” Vittoria questioned in surprise.
“Yes, it’s me.”
With a nervous laugh, Vittoria said, “I have to say I’m surprised that you’re calling me.”
“I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you that Drea’s been shot.”
“No, oh God, no!”
“She’s in surgery at the moment, and I don’t have many details now. She’s in New York.”
Through her sobs, Vittoria said, “Yes, she called me from there this afternoon. What about the baby?”
I should’ve felt guilty that I hadn’t given much thought to him. Instead, my focus was solely on Drea. “They haven’t said.”
“Oh my poor lamb.”
“Listen, I’m going to send a car for you.”
“You are?” she questioned in disbelief.
“Yes, Drea needs you.”
Silence echoed on the line. Finally, Vittoria said, “She needs you more, Leo.”
I pinched my eyes shut. Shaking my head, I countered, “I can’t do this right now. Just be ready when the car arrives.”
