Page 122 of Roman

CHAPTER 27

ROMAN

Iwoke up with a gasp, my first coherent thought of my wife.

“Effie.”

Aldo loomed over me, his face concerned. “She’s fine, Roman.” He indicated the side of the bed I was in. “She’s asleep, finally.”

I looked over, the movement making me grimace. Effie was in a chair pulled beside the bed. She was asleep as Aldo said, her skin pale. Gauze was wrapped around her arm, and there was a bandage on her head from the gunshot inflicted on her by Marianne.

“She hasn’t left your side, Roman. She refused to go anywhere. I had to force her to get treated.”

I drank her in. She was alive. Hurt, but alive. The threats to her had been eliminated.

My gaze swung back to Aldo. “Status.”

He knew what I needed.

“Marianne is dead. Timothy is dead. Gregory is shitting himself, terrified of your retribution over this.”

“How did this happen?”

He shut his eyes. “Jesus, Roman. What a clusterfuck. Do you know what I felt, racing to that cemetery? Seeing you lying there bleeding out, with Effie hovering over you like an angel, bleeding herself? And that psycho bitch aiming her gun, determined to kill you both?”

“You got her first.”

“Right between the eyes.”

“Thank you.”

He nodded, and I cleared my throat. He grabbed a glass, lifting it to my mouth, and I drank the cool water greedily. Then he sat. “I thought we’d lost you. Shit, I should get the doctor.”

My body ached like a bitch and my head pounded, but I was determined. “No. Tell me everything first.”

“According to Gregory, Marianne somehow seduced Timothy. Turned him against Gregory. Gregory said when he spoke to Timothy, he ranted at him about being used and he should be in control. He’d been acting odd, and Gregory figured out what was going on. Confronted Timothy. Found Marianne with him. They argued, and Timothy threatened Gregory, knocked him out. When he came to, he called me.”

“And you found us.”

“Yes.”

“The site?”

He smiled grimly. “The men cleaned up the area right away. The story of a car repeatedly backfiring was confirmed by the graveyard manager. Who kindly dug a deeper grave than usual where two bodies will never be discovered.” A satisfied gleam filled his eyes. “I watched it happen to be certain. Earlier today, a coffin was placed on top, and the family had no clue. A donation was made in the man’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association. And the cemetery manager has a generous contribution to his retirement fund.”

“Alex?”

“His family have been notified and taken care of.”

I nodded grimly.

“How long have I been out?”

“Two days. The bitch nicked an artery. You lost a lot of blood, Roman. We got you here as fast as we could, and Dr. Sims started on you right away. Surgery happened immediately. I donated blood, as did Vi. There was a line of your men willing to do so as well. Effie wanted to, but the doc said no. She was very upset.” He frowned. “Another millimeter and I would be attending your funeral, not your bedside.”

I sighed, shutting my eyes, already exhausted. “Nonna?” I asked.

“Has been here. So has Luca. He took her home a short while ago. They’ll be thrilled to hear you woke up.” He smiled. “As will your wife, who refused to leave you.”