Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
A screaming maid ran our way. “Dead! All of them!”
We rushed up the huge staircase, taking two stairs at a time. Some of Valentina's men and Emily's guards hurried up before us with their weapons out.
When we hit the top, everyone froze.
Eight men lay dead in the hallway—four of Harlem Crew and four from the Brotherhood.
Aren't those. . .
“No.” Emily kicked off her heels and sprinted forward. “Paolo?! Paolo?!”
Jesus, help us.
Emily’s guards and I tried to keep up with her.
She sped forward and had Paolo's door open fast. “Paolo?! Can you hear me? Baby?!”
Please, be alright. Please.
Breathless, I darted in the room.
“No. No.” Emily opened the closet door and did a quick check under the bed.
More men came in, crowding the space and looking around for any sign of Paolo.
“Wait.” Valentina rushed in, panting. “Did someone take the kid?”
“Motherfuckers!” In seconds, Emily jumped over the bed, ran over it, and leapt down.
My heart boomed in my ears.
Emily was out of the room fast. “Paolo! Paolo!!”
Running after Emily, I yelled at the guards. “Hurry!”
Chapter 18
Weak Ass Bitches
Emily
I ran down the hallway and stopped at the top of the stairs. My gaze darted around the space, searching for any sign of Paolo. Baba stood at the bottom of the stairs. No else walked in the Presidential Suite, probably due to the panic of the fire alarms.
God, I need you right now.
Adrenaline surged through me.
He’s been through enough, God. Protect him.
I raced down the stairs, keeping my hand on the rail to keep from falling. My bare feet almost slipped over the cold marble steps. My eyes burned, but I wouldn’t cry.
Please, God. Get Paolo back to me.
I checked over my shoulder.
Blue ran three feet behind me, doing her best to keep up and panting heavily.
Several of my men followed her.
I spotted one guard, holding Harlem and jogging after us.
Oh, baby. I forgot about you, Harlem. Thank God someone remembered.
Kaz didn’t tell me his plan, just that I had to get the hell to the helicopter and fast away from the hotel. Whatever he was up to wouldn’t involve flowers and happy singing. It would be tears and blood, death and pain.
I called to the guy, holding my furry baby. “Don’t follow us! Take Harlem up to the helicopter!”
The guard didn’t seem excited about that order. Still, he nodded.
“You all move too fast for my knees.” Smiling, Baba stood at the bottom of the stairs. “I decided to wait down here for. . .”
Then, she frowned. “What’s wrong, Emily?”
I hit the bottom and rushed past. “Paolo is gone.”
Baba shrieked, “Paolo! H-how did I not see this?”
I dashed through the lobby, not sure if Baba rushed along with me or not
God, I won’t be okay, if something happens to Paolo.
Whoever killed Paolo’s guards had been prepared. They’d been watching us and waiting for the perfect opportunity. Somehow, they knew we would be busy in the meeting and seized that time to grab him.
I made it to the door, twisted that knob fast, and swung it open.
In the hallway, only Russians ran off, carrying weapons and boxes in their arms. They escaped through the stairwells.
Where are you, Paolo?
Racing, I proceeded to the elevator.
My phone rang.
I slowed to a jog and pulled it out. “Yes?”
Kaz’s deep voice came on the line. “Are you close to the helicopter?”
“Someone took Paolo.” I made it to the elevators and punched the buttons for both, waiting for one of them to come. “They killed his guards and took him—”
“Mysh, get to the roof. I will send—”
“I am not going anywhere until I have Paolo in my arms!”
Blue and my men hit my side.
Still running our way, Baba, Valentina, and her people were further behind.
“Mysh, calm down—”
“Fuck calming down!” I gripped the phone hard and hit the elevator buttons again. “Whoever took them dies on sight!”
The elevator on the left showed up first.
The doors opened.
I jumped on and kept the phone to my ear. “Whatever Plan B is, you better call it off, because nothing happens until Paolo is safe and with me. Nothing!”
I hung the phone up. My throat was tight and sore. My head pounded. Cold terror sliced up my veins. I kept picturing the worst images in my head—Paolo being tortured or his little body covered in blood and lifeless.
God, please. Listen. Save him.
Blue and my men stepped on.
I hit the lobby button before Valentina and everyone else could get on.
Valentina screamed, “Emily—!”
Another elevator would be coming.
Plus, there wasn’t time to wait on anyone. We had to act now. Either motherfuckers caught up or they got out of my way. Nothing was more important than getting Paolo back.
God, what do you want from me? I will give it to you. Anything.
The elevator lowered.
Silence ran in the space.
Still, my pulse pounded against my ribcage. With each beat, it felt like a sledgehammer thudding against my eardrums.