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26
“You can love a monster, it can even love you back, but that doesn’t change its nature.”
Eliza Crewe,Crushed
Bianca
I keepmy fist shoved against my mouth because if I don’t, more screams may burst out and this time never stop. I’m about to shatter and break into a million tiny pieces. I’m pretty sure the father of my baby is about to execute those men huddled on their knees in front of him.
If he does, that will make his head count for today six, if you include the one from earlier. Anders.
DoI count Anders? He was about to shoot Rio and no doubt me directly after that, so that one at least could be deemed self-defense. Protecting his own. Protecting me.
But the others…
Are they about to die, simply because they’re on the wrong side in a war that never seems to end?Isthis a war? Is that the right term?
I stare around the room, at the bodies and the blood. At the men on their knees in front of Rio, staring up at their probable executioner with the knowledge of impending death in their eyes.
Yes. Thisisa war. A war for the city of Boston and beyond. A war with power and money and control as the ultimate prize.
And my husband is at the center of it all.
My brain stops working at this point. I can’t process anything more about this situation. It’s too horrific.
Someone drags me up to my feet. Pulls me into a firm chest. Holds me tight. Rocks me. Whoever it is smells good.Safe. His scent masks the smell of blood and death, at least for a few seconds. I sink into the embrace, grateful for the reprieve.
Who knew death could smell so overwhelmingly awful?
I realize my name is being called, over and over.
“Bianca.Bianca!La mia bella moglie. Little bird. Come back to me. Ah, there you are. Back with us again.”
I blink up at Rio. He’s the one holding me. The one who has given me a sense of safety. The one calling me back from wherever I went. He still has a gun clutched in his hand.
A crazed laugh lurches out of me at the irony. “We made it through a hailstorm of bullets, Rio. You, me, and the baby.”
The announcement tumbles unexpectedly from my mouth, which doesn’t seem connected to my brain right now.
I didn’t mean to tell him this way. I wasn’t sure I would tell him at all.
I’m still laughing. Why can’t I stop?
His brows rise and his mouth drops open. So that’s what a jaw-dropping moment looks like. Then he snaps it shut. There’s a sudden tic in his cheek, a raw look in his expression that I’ve never seen before. For the first time since I laid eyes on Rio after my kidnapping, he seems…uncertain.
“You can’t be… Are you…” His brows become the only expressive part of his face. They lower, pulling together in a frown. “You must be in shock, Bianca.” He turns and barks an order to someone. “Get her out of here. Now.”
“Yes, Boss. Where—”
“Not the estate. Obviously. Take her to my boat. It’s moored at the Constitution Marina.”
The estate. Danelli’s earlier words flitter to the top of my mind.The estate was hit too.
“Francine? Is she okay? I hope she’s okay.” I don’t even particularly like the woman. But she’s been growing on me lately. The ferocity with which she loves and serves her family—myfamily now—is deserving of respect. “Her son was arriving today. She was so happy.”
Rio gives me a tiny shake and leans forward to stare intently into my face. He’s truly rattled. Can the others see it? I suspect not. But I’m beginning to know him. And I glimpse his fear deep behind those dark eyes. I think heletsme see it, just for a moment, though I’m not sure why he would allow anyone—even me—to see his vulnerability.
Somehow, I sense he’s not afraid for himself. Instead, Rio is afraid for his family. He’s afraid for me. And he’s deathly afraid for our baby.
