Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“No!” Adriana stopped them, standing in front of the broken window.
I didn’t hesitate, ordering, “Find him! I want his head.”
“Cruz! He saved my life!”
“He wouldn’t have had to save your life, if he didn’t put you in danger in the first place, Ari! Go. Now!”
They sprinted out of the room, listening to my command.
“Cruz—”
“Don’t.” I held up my hand, silencing my wife. “He fucked with the wrong man.”
I didn’t wait for her response. In three strides, I fell down on my knees. My hands gripped onto the sides of her face, shutting her up, kissing her like she was my last breath.
“For fucks sake,” I murmured against her lips. “You’re never leaving the house again.”
She kissed me back and for an instant, we got lost in each other, before I helped her up off the ground.
“Papá, Uncle Gino.” She threw her arms around both of them.
“Principessa, are you alright?” Luciano asked, grabbing her face in between his hands, examining her. “Did they hurt you?”
“I’m okay.”
“Gino, call the pilot. Tell him we’re on our way back. Make sure our doctors are there as well.”
“Si, Capo.” He nodded, kissing Sienna’s forehead. “You stole my car.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t ever do that to me again.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
He nodded again and made his way out of the room.
Papá tried to stand, but his body wasn’t having it.
“Cruz, help me,” Mamá panicked.
“Cariño, I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. You can’t even stand.”
Luciano and I hurried toward him, laying his arms over our shoulders for support, allowing his body to relax. Mamá, Sienna, and Ari walked behind us while we pretty much carried him down the stairs. We had to stop every couple of steps from the intense pain radiating through him.
Carefully, we sat his fragile frame in Luciano’s car. Mamá sat closely next to him, resting his head on her lap. I shut the door and nodded to the driver to speed him to the plane.
Knowing in my heart…
Our father would never be the same after this.
—Sienna—
Cruz hadn’t left his father’s side since we arrived at Papá’s plane. If Martinez didn’t make it through this, there was no telling what it would do to his son.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge and made my way over to him. Placing the bottle in front of his face, signaling for him to drink, but he shook his head not wanting it.
“You gotta eat or drink something, Cruz. You didn’t let the doctor inspect your arm, you could get an infection. Please take the water, you need to stay hydrated.”
He didn’t answer, he wasn’t listening to me. Inhaling another deep breath, I sat beside him, gently placing my hand on his knee.
“He’s going to be fine.”
“You heard the doctors, Sin. All his ribs are broken, his chest caved in. He’s old. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“You have to think positive. It doesn’t help anyone thinking the way you are.”
Again, he stayed quiet.
“Your family needs you to stay positive. Cruz.”
“I’ll feel better once I have Vitale’s head on a fucking platter.”
My eyes shifted to Adriana, who was sitting in a seat across the plane, gazing out the window, looking every bit of lost and broken.
“I know you think it’s the right thing to do, but what about your sister?”
“What are you implying, Sienna?”
I shrugged. “I think she feels something for him.”
“It’s Stockholm Syndrome, it’ll pass.”
“Well, you can’t deny he saved her life.”
“And what? I’m supposed to ignore the fact he held her captive for months? And took you hostage as well?”
“No. I don’t know. I just think she’s been through a lot and…maybe…I don’t know, maybe she needs him.”
“You can’t be serious. Are you fucking with me right now?”
“Of course not.”
“You remember when you said you were my wife? Start acting like it, and don’t question my decisions when I know what’s in the best interest for my family.”
I bit my tongue, knowing he was being an asshole because he was worried.
“You know who I am and what I’m capable of. I don’t give a shit what Vitale did back there. I want his head, and I won’t stop until I have it.”
“I do know what you’re capable of. I witnessed it with my own two eyes. I know what my father is capable of, and my Uncle Gino. I even know what your own father is capable of. I know it all. But behind the violence, the blood, the mayhem, you have a heart, Cruz. You love and protect your family, losing your own life if you had to. I’m not saying it makes what you do right, but I’ve seen both sides of you. The good and the bad.” I paused, letting my words sink in. “So maybe, Ari has seen both sides of Vitale too. That’s all I’m trying to say.”