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“Oh.”
“That was a joke, Bianca.”
“Oh.”
“A poor taste one, I can see. I was trying to lessen your tension. I apologize.”
“Okay.” I’m practically catatonic with stress. I can’t even swallow properly as I don’t think I have any saliva left. When I speak, my voice comes out all scratchy and rough. “Don’t joke, please. Just… How do I… What…”
“Here.” He taps different parts of the gun. “This is the grip. You should hold it with both hands. To load a bullet into the chamber, you pull this slide back and then release it. Do not put your finger here, on the trigger, unless you’re ready to fire.”
He talks me through it a little more, but I can barely concentrate. I have a loaded gun literally sitting in my lap, and I’m utterly terrified of it.
But I don’t hand it back to him. Because what if Idoneed to protect myself or Emilia? I have no idea what the hell we’re driving toward at the estate.
As we approach the gated entrance to our home, Rio’s cell phone trills. He grabs it out quickly, and I see Danelli’s name on the screen before he holds it up to his ear.
“Yes?”
I study his expression, my heart pounding. Is it more bad news? What’s happening…
“Hmm. Have him meet us out front. I want to confirm it for myself.”
He hangs up and reaches over to pat me gently on the knee. “Sounds like a false alarm. Danelli’s men have made contact with all of those here at the estate. All is quiet here, apparently. No idea what happened earlier, but Danelli’s team will secure the building while we wait at the front door.”
“And Emilia?”
“I will have him fetch her up from the basement. I presume she is down there. And if she is still upstairs in the nursery, then we will replace the nanny because the instructions to her were made very clear.”
“Okay.” I still feel unsettled. Something isn’t right.
And, judging by the tension still sharpening Rio’s features, I suspect he feels the same sense of unease as me.
But it seems all really is quiet here. Danelli’s Alpha and the Beta teams meet us beneath the portico at the front entrance, though Rio makes me wait in the vehicle until the all clear is given.
Everyone is accounted for. And when they check their phones, all have a signal. It is only then that Rio allows me to exit the limo.
Danelli steps up to stand in front of us. “Do you think it was an EMP, Boss? Though, maybe not. Wouldn’t that have damaged their phones?”
“Possibly. Unless the pulse was small. But that wouldn’t explain how Bianca managed to speak with the nanny.Herphone worked.”
“True.” Danelli frowns and then turns away for a moment, listening to something in his earpiece.
“Rio, what’s an EMP?”
I feel like I’m getting a crash course in Rio’s lifestyle. Mafia 101.
A small chuckle escapes me, and Rio raises a brow. Why do I always feel the need to laugh when my nerves are shot?
“Electromagnetic pulse,” he explains calmly. “It can disable comms temporarily in a particular area.”
“Oh.” I frown. “But that would presumably take outallcomms? Like Penn’s phone too?”
“Indeed. So, therefore, unlikely to have been an EMP attack.”
I open my mouth to ask another question, but Danelli lifts his head, and his face brightens with whatever he’s just heard.
He shoots Rio the closest thing to a smile I’ve seen on the man’s face. “They got the guy at the club, Boss. He was hiding on level four, in that section currently being renovated.”
