Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
When the man climbs off Dad, I suck in a relieved breath, but then he pulls a gun from behind his back, and my legs go numb.
“No!” I cry as he points the barrel at Louisa.
“You and that fucking doctor couldn’t keep your mouths shut, and now Renzo Torrisi and Dario La Rosa are fucking searching the city for us,” the man says, his tone threatening and dark. “Where’s the doctor?”
“Dead,” Dad answers, his voice shaky. “Renzo already killed him.”
“This is what happens when you fucking talk,” the man says, the gun still trained on Louisa.
“Wait! Wait!” Dad shouts.
Renzo grabs me, and as a blast comes from the TV, he squashes my face against his chest.
No.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Renzo growls right before he lets go of me and grabs my hand.
I’m yanked toward the elevator and when he presses the button for the doors to open, I glance over my shoulder. I see Louisa lying on the floor with a pool of blood forming around her head while the one with the gun stands in front of Dad.
“I love you, Skylar,” Dad shouts. “It’s been an honor to be your father. I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”
“Renzo,” I shriek, my face crumbling as tears start to stream down my cheeks.
“Don’t look,” Renzo snaps as he turns to me.
There’s another gunshot, and I see the bullet hit Dad in his chest, and then I’m staring at Renzo’s dark blue vest and white dress shirt.
I just watched Louisa and Dad being killed.
They’re dead.
No.
NoNoNoNoNo.
My breathing hitches repeatedly, no air making it past my throat.
“Fuck, Skylar!”
I’m forced into the elevator, and Renzo’s hands frame my face, forcing me to look at him. “Breathe, mia topolina. Come on, breathe.”
I can only shake my head as the horrifying images of Dad and Louisa being killed keep replaying in my mind.
Renzo’s expression turns to the brutal one that always puts the fear of God in me, then he growls, “Breathe!”
I jerk as I suck in air, and then the trauma of what I just saw hits me so hard, it rips a scream from me.
I’m pulled to his chest again, and the next moment, I hear him say, “Elio, I’m on my way. Have the men spread out around the neighborhood and surrounding areas. I want them fucking caught.”
The elevator doors open, and I’m pulled out, agonizing sobs shuddering from me.
“The fuckers killed Harlan,” Renzo informs Vincenzo and Fabrizio.
I’m ushered into the car, and when Renzo slides in beside me, I get a glimpse of his phone. He has the live stream footage paused on the man who killed Dad and Louisa. He takes a screenshot, then opens a different app where he pastes the photo.
When he makes another call, the trauma pours into me until it feels like it’s suffocating me.
“I just sent you a photo. I want a name.”
After the call ends, his fingers take hold of my chin, and my face is turned toward him.
“Fuck, amo,” he whispers while pulling me against his side. His arms wrap around me, and with his mouth by my hair, he says, “I never wanted this. I’m so fucking sorry.”
The same men who killed Giulio just murdered Dad and Louisa in cold blood.
As the unbearable sorrow rips through me, I realize how Renzo must’ve felt.
I realize why he’s been so ruthless in his pursuit of finding those who played a part in his brother’s death.
The same destructive rage and pain that fueled his thirst for vengeance creeps into every part of my soul.
“They killed them,” I whisper, my voice hoarse.
“I’ll find them, amo. I’ll fucking hunt down every last one of them.”
I never thought I’d condone violence. Less than thirty minutes ago, I was entirely against everything Renzo stood for.
But now…
“Please,” I whimper as I burrow closer to him, then sobs shudder through me again. “It h-hurts so m-much, Renzo.”
“I’ve got you, amo,” he murmurs before pressing a kiss to the side of my head. “Just let it out.”
Shaking my head, I can’t break down. Everything is still too raw, and the shock has a merciless hold on my mind.
There’s nothing I can do but feel as my heart shatters.
Chapter 31
Renzo
Vincenzo checks with Elio to make sure it’s safe before he gives Fabrizio the go-ahead to steer the car up the driveway of the Davies mansion.
“Stay in the car, Skylar,” I order.
She shakes her head slowly as if she’s stuck in a trance.
I know that feeling well.
“I don’t want you to see the bodies. It will make it much worse,” I explain.
Again, she shakes her head, then she whispers, “It’s my choice.”
It is.
I open the door, and keeping a tight grip on her hand, I get out of the car. Seeing Elio as he comes out of the mansion, I walk toward him.
“Any sign of the fuckers?” I ask.