Page 94 of Sins of Bliss


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The blinds of the window are open enough to see through them, which I am grateful for. Carefully, I peer through the small opening, and rather than seeing the shadow that was moving around just moments ago, I look through the window on the opposite side of the room that shows through to the warehouse.

Immediately, I see the back of Vincenza, seated just a few feet from the glass, her body slumped forward slightly as she sits in a metal chair with her hands tied behind it.

I don’t think when I see her, the feeling of desperation seizes my body, and rather than force myself to keep calm, I find myself crying out her name.

Chapter 32

Vinnie

“Vinnie!”

The sound of my name lulls me from the dream-state sleep I’m in, and I sit up, inhaling a breath.

Am I imagining things?

Looking around, I see nothing but darkness and the faint glow of what I assume is a lamp in the office that Joseph is in. He hasn’t come back since telling me Sly had three hours to get here, and in that time, I’ve fallen in and out of sleep—or maybe consciousness.

I’m so exhausted, it feels like I can’t keep my eyes open for another minute. When I’m sure I dreamt of Sly’s voice calling my name, I close them and immediately drift back to sleep.

Chapter 33

Sly

Nixon’s hand slaps over my mouth the moment her name falls from my tongue, pulling me out of the way of the window. Caught off guard, my body slams into his.

“You idiot,” he reprimands gruffly as the door to the office swings open.

Joseph strolls through it with his hands in his pockets and a smug look on his face as looks around at us. “It’s about time you showed up.”

Nixon releases me, training his weapon on Joseph, so I have time to remove mine from its holster.

“Joseph,” Maurizio says in disbelief. “Tell me it isn’t true. Tell me Vinnie isn’t here.”

Rolling his eyes, he ignores his father, still focusing his attention on me. “You took entirely too long and my patience has worn thin. I’ll tell you the same thing I told her. One of you isn’t leaving here alive, and since you brought every single person you know, it looks like several people won’t be leaving here. It’s a shame you’ll have so many deaths on your hands, Lucchetti. But your family has always only thought about themselves.”

Sirens cut through the quiet night air and Joseph’s eyes turn dark, zeroing in on me as he realizes this is all about to be over.

Faster than I would have ever given him credit for, he withdraws a handgun and fires a shot in Nixon’s direction, only narrowly missing him. Fast on his feet, Nixon sends a shot of his own and hits Joseph in exactly where he intended—his shin.

Joseph’s howls pierce the air as he drops his gun and doubles over in pain. “You motherfucker!”

At the same moment, Vinnie screams, and my heart nearly explodes when I hear her, relief washing over me that she’s conscious. As I rush into the building, I see Luciano walk over to his brother and kick the gun further away from him.

Pulling open the door to where Vinnie’s being held, I don’t stop moving until I reach her. Dropping to my knees, I work as quickly as I can to untie the ropes that hold her.

Tires squeal outside, followed by doors opening and shouts of, “Hands where I can see them!” and, “Put your hands in the air!” as the police officers navigate the chaos in front of them.

As quickly as I possibly can, I work through the knots around Vincenza’s wrists.

“I’m here, amore mio. Tell me you’re okay. Please tell me you’re unharmed.”

“I’m okay,” she croaks, her voice scratchy and strained. “Thirsty, and exhausted, but I’m okay.”

“He didn’t hurt you?” I question, frantically working to loosen the ropes. Freeing one of her hands, I start on the other.

“No. But…but he killed Ross.”

My heart sinks. “Did you have to witness it?”