Page 25 of The Hitman’s Obsession

My heart skips a beat at the sound of the first shot.

Oh, God.

Two more follow, then another three.

Then something big and heavy hits the floor.

Part of me is screaming at me to cry out Roman! Are you okay? But my tongue just doesn’t work. My jaw doesn’t move. My entire body is a block of ice, frozen in place as I listen…listen…for any kind of clue as to what’s happening out there.

This is all Dad’s fault.

Anger at my father rises up in me like a storm. All I see is his face. His ‘charming’ smile that he’s used to fool so many people. I think of all the times he skipped town, missed a birthday, bailed on taking me to the movies, and then I think of the two million dollars that got us into this mess to begin with.

If Roman dies because of you…

Footsteps. The sound nearly knocks me over. I duck down behind the bed, fighting to control my fear.

If it’s another man sent to kill me, I’ll have to do something. Throw myself at him, scratch his eyes out. Something. I take a deep breath, playing this out in my mind. But that’s when I hear it.

“You can come out now.”

Roman’s voice.

It nearly causes me to explode.

Tossing the blanket off me, I leap to my feet, vault over the bed, and jump into his arms. My legs wrap around his waist, and I kiss him long and deep, clinging to him like a little spider monkey.

“You’re okay!”

“I’m okay.” He nods. “My feet hurt a bit, but other than that—”

“Who was it?”

My heart is pounding, but I can feel his through his chest. Slow and solid. Like he just finished reading a book. A sharp contrast to mine that feels like it’s about to burst.

“One of Jimmy’s guys. I don’t know how they found out about this place, but they did.” He looks at me, his eyes filled with remorse. “I’m sorry, Annie. I thought we were safe here.”

Shaking my head, I kiss him again. “You’ve saved my life twice now, Roman. You have nothing to apologize for.”

Suddenly, a cell phone ring blares in the other room. Roman sets me down.

“Wait here. You don’t want to see what’s in there.”

He’s right. “Okay.”

He’s limping as he walks out of the bedroom, leaving a blood trail from his feet. I go to the bathroom and start putting together a makeshift First Aid kit. Antiseptic, gauze, a pair of tweezers.

I’m still freaking out from what just happened, but if I’m being honest, the thought of taking care of Roman has me giddy inside.

“Not a fucking chance,” I hear him snarl as he comes back into the bedroom. He’s got a flip phone to his ear and a scowl on his face. “Not happening!”

With a grunt, he hangs up and tosses the phone on the bed.

“What was that?” I ask.

Roman bites his lower lip and cracks his neck. “They’ve got your father. And they’re gonna kill him if I don’t…”

His voice trails off.