AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After explaining what happened and where we are, I sit down and pull Tilly next to me. “Lorenzo will be here in ten minutes. He’s going to take you home to the estate,” I tell her.
“What about you?” she asks me.
“I’ll be back there later. I have some things to do here,” I say cryptically.
“You mean you’re going to go and find out who shot at us.”
“I have a few things to do. I need to know that you and your mother and your brother are safe, at the estate,” I tell her.
“How will I know that you’re safe?”
“Sweetheart, I will be fine. Trust me.” I try to give her a reassuring smile.
“Just so you know, if you’re not okay, I’m going to move in with my new boyfriend you haven’t met yet. And if you’re dead, you won’t be able to stop me from making stupid choices, so you have to be okay. Because who’s gonna walk me down the aisle when I get married if you’re not here for my wedding? I mean, I guess Zio Luca could. At least he’ll look like you in the photos…” she rambles on.
“Tilly, stop.” I grab hold of her hand. “I’m going to be okay, and you are not fucking moving in with any boyfriend. And when the time comes to walk you down the aisle, it’ll be me—only me. But that’s not happening for a really fucking long time,” I tell her.
“Maybe. I could meet the love of my life tomorrow.” She shrugs.
“Or you could stay home tomorrow and not go out,” I’m quick to counter.
The door opens. I draw my gun and I see Tilly do the same with the one she’s still holding.Proud fucking dad moment, by the way.Then Lorenzo walks in with a girl before quickly shoving her behind him. And not just any girl. A girl I recognize too fucking well. Kyla McKinley, Dom’s daughter. Matteo was right. Lorenzo is trying to get himself killed.
I shake my head at my nephew while raising an eyebrow in silent question. “Catch you at a bad time?” I ask him.
“Don’t say it,” he warns me.
“Kyla, it’s good to see you,” I call out to the girl.
“Wait… Why are you two together?” Tilly points at her cousin and then at Kyla.
“Ah… I wanted to see some of the sights and Lorenzo offered to be my tour guide,” Kyla says in way of explanation.
“I bet he did,” I murmur to myself.
“Okay, can we get this show on the road? What’s happening?” Lorenzo grunts.
“We have to get three buildings over, to get to the chopper, and I need you to make sure both of these girls get home,” I tell him.
“Okay. Let’s go.” Lorenzo waves an impatient arm, then turns his glare on me. “Who gave Tilly a gun?” He takes the Glock out of his cousin’s hand. “Do you even know how to use this thing?” he asks her, knowing full well she does.
“I can demonstrate on you if you want?” Tilly counters. “It’s not like you’re going to live much longer anyway. Talk about forbidden fruit, L.”
I block out the chatter of my daughter and nephew as I take hold of Tilly’s hand and lead them up through the underground tunnels. I manage to get them to the chopper without further incident. Which makes me think it was Luigi they were after, and I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Even if that is the case, I’m going to string the fuckers up by their goddamn balls for shooting at my daughter.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Imeet Lorenzo in the backyard as the chopper lands. He comes out gripping on to the hand of fucking Kyla McKinley.
Tilly storms up to me. “I really hope you’re heading to Rome right now to stop my dad from doing anything stupid,” she says.
“Stopping your father and his lookalike from doing stupid shit is my specialty. It’s what I’m good at, sweetheart,” I tell her, then grab her waist and pull her into my arms. “Don’t worry, Tilly. He’ll be fine. It’s his twin who doesn’t know how to dodge bullets.”
“Thank you.”
Matteo, Luca, Pops, and my Uncle Neo come out—all of them looking like they’re ready for war. “Pops, you should stay with Ma and the girls,” I tell him.
