I’m immediately crouching, holding Matteo to me as individuals round us begin screaming and working, and Bruno’s males are forming a defend round Matteo and me as certainly one of them shouts, “Keep down!”

Oh, fuck.

Extra gunfire, this time from Bruno’s males, and I wrap an arm round Matteo’s head as I flinch, the sound deafening. My coronary heart is thundering and my pores and skin is on hearth from nervousness and concern, and I hear Matteo’s muffled cries as I decrease myself to the bottom. I can vaguely make sense of what the lads defending us are saying as they convey with each other, however I do make out certainly one of them saying Russians. I inhale sharply, eyes large, and my gaze goes towards an extended cement planter that I may perhaps cover behind with Matteo to maintain us out of the spray of bullets.

There’s just one thought going by my thoughts: shield Matteo in any respect prices. If one thing occurred to Bruno’s son, I’d by no means forgive myself.

I don’t know which path the enemy hearth is coming from, however I do know we’re being attacked. “I bought you, I bought you,” I whisper to Matteo, hoping he can hear me over the sounds of his cries, my pounding heartbeat, and the vicious shouting and gunfire occurring throughout us.

The aspect of my face prickles, feeling like somebody’s watching me, and my head snaps towards the left from the place I’m crouched on the bottom. Over Matteo’s head, I catch sight of a person a long way away, however along with his gun pointed immediately at us—at Matteo.

My coronary heart stops. He fires.

And I twist my physique round instinctively, shielding Matteo, and all I can do is let loose a pointy, agonized cry as a bullet buries itself into my aspect earlier than the blinding ache knocks the wind out of me. Simply as shortly, I’m falling into darkness, the world round me fading into nothing.

Chapter 21

BRUNO

“That was a fucking waste of time,” I say by gritted tooth, making my method down the entrance steps of the bar lounge, Leo proper by my aspect. My males encompass us as we head towards the automobiles, and I pull out my switched-off telephone. I didn’t need to be disturbed throughout such an essential assembly.

Alexei and I got here to no form of settlement; the assembly, for all intents and functions, ended with me warning Alexei, in no unsure phrases, to keep away from my territory. If I bought wind of any extra Russian operations occurring in San Francisco, I might have his Goddamn head on a stick and plant it within the bed room he shares along with his spouse. He didn’t take kindly to that risk, however I didn’t give a flying fuck. He’s fortunate I didn’t lower him up on precept.

Once I swap on my telephone once more, my eyebrows pull collectively on the a number of missed calls from Raf and Diana. My coronary heart jumps after I learn her title. She wished to speak to me and I take that as an excellent signal. Just for a second although, as I start to hearken to her voicemail whereas approaching the automotive.

“Hey, Bruno,” she says, and I instantly detect the undertone of fear in her voice. “Matteo’s not feeling properly, he’s bought a fever. I feel it’d be a good suggestion to take him to the hospital. You’re not answering, however Raf is right here. If he says it’s okay, I’m gonna take Matteo to the physician. And, don’t fear, I received’t be going alone.”

Concern pinpricks my pores and skin on the notion of Matteo being sick. Earlier than I can name her again or name Raf since he’s left me some calls as properly, Leo instantly calls out to me. “Bruno.” I take a look at him, and I see the look on his hardened options. Dread curls on the base of my backbone, and I perceive why when he tells me, “There was an assault on the entrance of the hospital Diana and Matteo had been at. Diana bought shot.” His gaze glints towards the lounge. “Tony and Raf confirmed it’s the Russians. Matteo’s again residence with Raf, however Diana’s in surgical procedure.”

A ringing echoes by my head, and I can solely deal with three phrases.

Diana bought shot.

Diana bought shot.

Diana bought shot.

White-hot rage shoots by my veins, and I’d somewhat really feel that than the iron grip my terror has on my chest. I virtually throw open the automotive door, my jaw tight sufficient to shatter my tooth as I inform Leo, “Acquired to plan B.”

Leo nods and offers the sign to the opposite males earlier than getting within the driver’s seat. He doesn’t want an order from me to peel out of the lot and velocity towards the freeway. As we drive away, I can hear the distant, acquainted sounds of gunfire. My males know to not go away any survivors.

We may have performed this amicably. We may have come to some form of settlement. However Alexei selected to jerk me round and waste my time—for this. He purposefully stalled as a result of he’d ordered his males to seek out both my children, Diana—since she’s Benny’s daughter—or each. And for that, his life, or the lives of his males, is not going to be spared.

It’s about time I removed my Russian drawback.

As Leo drives to the hospital, all I can really feel is the thundering of my coronary heart, the concern that bleeds by my anger. Diana was meant to be saved out of this aspect of my world. And whereas I do know, at first, she had been intimidated by me, I at all times knew she hasn’t been genuinely afraid of me. I see it within the hearth in her eyes when she seems at me—each indignant and lust-driven. And it’s a sight to admire, as a lot as I like the sight of her with my youngsters, who’ve so simply grown to like her.

If something occurs to Diana, Matteo and Monica will likely be devastated.

If something occurs to Diana, I don’t suppose I’ll fucking recuperate—and that may be a realization that settles deep within me.

I can’t lose her. I received’t lose her.

The second Leo pulls up in entrance of the hospital, I’m racing inside. He pulled into a unique entrance, although I see there are a number of police automobiles round. I don’t pay them any consideration as I race inside, uncaring if I look as matted as I really feel. I shove my well beyond docs and nurses and different insignificant individuals till I attain the primary nurse’s station I discover.

My fingers smack on prime of the counter, startling the nurse. I don’t care as I say, “Diana Elliott. She was introduced in with a gunshot wound. The place is she?”

The nurse blinks at me and at my authoritative tone. “I’m sorry, sir—are you associated to the affected person?”

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