“This isn’t the time, Gina. Get your ass back over here.” Fillipo narrows his eyes on Mia. “Now, you, don’t lie to me, little girl. My men examined the body. It was a stab wound, but it could have been repaired. Instead, it looks as if someone sliced his artery with something other than a knife. Something jagged. What can you tell me about that?”
Everyone is silent a moment. Then Mia laughs. It is similar to her normal laught, but seems a bit off.I
“You want to know about your precious son? Fine, I’ll tell you. As he laid on that floor looking into my eyes, he was crying. Tears falling down his face. I thought it was from the pain of the wound, but it was a different kind of pain. While you argued with the others, he begged me to end his life. Do you want to know what he said when I asked him why? He said because he couldn’t live under your rule anymore. He would have rather died than face the consequences from your actions. I took pity on him and gave him what he wanted. His last words were to thank me.”
Fillipo jumps up and comes around the desk just as I surge forward. Gina is right next to him, ready to do whatever he needs. He’s about to Mia when his guard grabs his arm.
“Sir, they have breached the house. We need to go. Now.”
He kicks his foot out and hits Mia in the face. He pulls a gun out, and I leap forward, covering Mia with my body. I feel two bullets hit my back as the guards pull Fillipo away. I don’t move as the pain sets in.
“Mia, are you okay?”
She doesn’t answer.
“Mia. Answer me.”
I roll off her, and she turns to look at me. “I’m fine. Are you okay? Lo, where did you get shot? Let me help.” Her hands search my body for a wound, but I grab her face and pull her down to me.
“Mia Russo, don’t you dare do that to me again. If you’re mad at me, go to the other room, but don’t you ever leave my house again, especially without protection.” I pull her lips to mine and capture them.
“Lo, I need to make sure your okay.” Mia tells me between kisses.
“All the bullets hit my bulletproof vest. I’m okay, it just knocked the wind out of me.”
I finally see what she has been saying. There is a darkness inside her that matches mine. If only I had seen it sooner, this wouldn’t have happened.
She pulls back from my lips. The smile she flashes me is worth a million bullets.
Chapter Eleven
Mia
That kiss. Holy shit. It was even better than the first one he gave me.
It might be because he saved me.
Fillipo wanted to know the truth, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. I confessed my sin to him. I told him the gritty details of how I killed his son. What I didn’t tell him about was the joy it filled me with. I didn’t tell him it turned me on knowing that I ended his life. I should be ashamed or freaked out, but instead I find joy and excitement in the kill.
I was shut down and cold. I knew Fillipo would kill me, but I didn’t care. Maybe I deserved it for what I did. Then Lorenzo jumped on top of me and took multiple bullets for me. He likely gave up his life for me. I thought he was dead. I froze. My heart beating erratically. My mind breaking down. Then I heard him.
Mia.
The same way I heard him in my dreams each night. Calling out to me. Begging me to be okay. Next thing I know he’s yelling at me, then kissing me. I lose myself in the kiss. Thinking it’s a dream, I pull back and find him gazing into my eyes. Checking me. I can’t help the smile on my face.
“Are you okay? Where are you hit?” My hands ghost over his back, feeling for the wounds.
“I’m okay,” he wheezes.
Dread fills my gut with each breath he struggles to take.
“Turn over. Let me check you.”
“I have a vest. Just hurts to breath.”
He doesn’t sound any better, but my hands have yet to find blood. I hear a noise outside and decide that I can check him better once we are safe.
“We need to go, Lo. Can you stand?”
