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“That's the errand?” Aiden says skeptically. “Not set up a meeting with the Di Luccio family to prevent anything else from going down? Like them ordering a hit on you in retaliation?”
“A meeting right now isn’t likely to go well. Ask Joe what he thinks. With any luck, he'll decide he should be the one to reach out to them.”
Aiden purses his lips thoughtfully and nods. “The cops are at the scene, and so is your lawyer, who’s making sure they confine their investigation to the area where it happened. Is there anything you need him or me to do at the house?”
If I’d left anything incriminating in plain site, it would already be too late to conceal it. By now, the police have walked through the entire house to look for evidence of violence in other locations.
Fortunately, I don’t leave sensitive things lying around. And I’d already done a sweep myself to make sure there wasn't anything I wouldn't want a pretty overnight guest to see.
“There is something,” I say. “Don't let them open the suitcases in my bedroom. One of them is Olivia’s, and I don't want her dragged into this. Don’t mention her name to anyone. If she’s willing to stay in a hotel, put her up at The Wolfram. They've got the best security and privacy of any of the five-star hotels in the city.”
“A girl you just met is the only person you’re worried about? Not the family? Not even yourself?”
“You feeling nervous, brother? Need me to hold your hand?” I raise the hand with the shackled wrist.
“Yeah, right. You’ve got time to bust my balls, huh? Nice to see a brush with death hasn’t affected your sparkling personality.”
I smirk, and there’s a hint of one around the corners of Aiden’s mouth, too.
There’s a tap on the door, and we both glance in the sound’s direction.
“That’s the signal,” Aiden says, moving around the bed. “I’ll run those errands and get back when I can.”
“I’ll be here.”
CHAPTER9
OLIVIA
Three days after that terrible morning in Quincy, I have not been back to school or even out of my apartment. I don’t want to see Liam or anyone associated with him, and I’m concerned that my stalker may still be lurking nearby.
I run a damp mop over the floor. Holed up in the small apartment, I’m constantly getting the urge to clean. As pine-scented cleaning solution fills the air, it makes me feel slightly queasy. When I’m not cleaning, I’ve been reading a stack of paperbacks I want to donate.
The front door buzzer sounds, causing my head to jerk in the direction of the front windows. I’m not expecting anyone. I head to a window to peek out from behind the wood blinds.
The tall, muscular Aiden Callahan stands on the street dressed in a white button-down shirt and black trousers. I back away from the window. This is the third time he’s come to see me. The first was on the day I left Liam’s house.
I assume Liam sent him to try to smooth things over, which is bullshit. I guess Liam can’t come himself right now because she’s home. Well, I don’t want to hear excuses or explanations. He had a fling with me while engaged. End of story. End of relationship. End, full stop.
As before, I pretend I’m not home. Aiden will get tired of ringing the buzzer and go away.
The local news plays softly in the background, and suddenly, I think I hear Liam’s name. For a moment, I’m frozen, then I turn toward the screen.
There’s a photo of Liam displayed in the right upper corner. The young female broadcaster says he’s in police custody after a brief hospitalization for a gunshot wound.
A what?
My stomach churns, and I sink down onto the sofa. I press the button on the remote to raise the volume.
“And now more on that shocking story we’ve been covering about a double-shooting in Quincy,” the newscaster says. “We’ve now confirmed that Liam Callahan, a prominent local businessman, was shot during an altercation with his fiancee, Francesca Di Luccio, daughter of notorious Donato Di Luccio of the Di Luccio organized crime family.”
What?
What is she saying?
Liam shot?
My heart pounds as I strain to listen.
