Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
As he stumbles back, I grab him by the throat and drag him into the grimy, piss-reeking, narrow passageway between two rundown buildings. The only other people on the street are two teenagers. They swiftly turn and take off on their bikes, making me wonder if they’re Gallo spotters or just a couple of kids who don’t want any problems.
“Please!” the man yelps when I grab his wrist and violently jerk it, causing his wrist to snap and the firearm to fall to the ground.
Kneeling next to him, I grab the ratty wildness of his hair and twist him so he’s facing me. “One chance. The name of the man who sent you.”
He licks his lips. He looks like he might try to lie for a second, but then he whispers defeatedly, “Orlando …”
I headbutt him in the nose, causing blood to spill from his face. Then I reach into my suit jacket pocket and take out some zip ties and a gag.
“You can’t just leave me here,” the man squeaks as I tie him to a pipe from one of the buildings.
“I’ll send a couple of my friends to pick you up,” I snarl. “Unless, when I leave, more men are waiting for me, and you haven’t told me. Then I’ll be forced to come back here and …”
“It’s just me. They thought I could take you by surprise.”
“Hmm,” I grunt, but it matches my suspicions.
Leaving the wannabe assassin in the piss and the filth, I take out my cell phone and call my brother. Things just got far more urgent. I won’t be able to give Bella a choice now. She might hate me for it, and I wouldn’t blame her.
Like it or not, she’ll have to do what I say.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
BELLA
Mom has her hand on one of mine. Emily’s is on the other, and both hold me with warmth and support. There’s a small voice whispering in me to text Matt, to tell him I want to see him, but I have to be strong for Mom. After I told her what happened, she freaked big time. Maybe I should be freaking, too. Perhaps I am, deep down, but it hasn’t hit me yet.
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can get you?” Mom says.
“I’m fine,” I murmur. “Honestly. I don’t think you need to take time off or anything.”
“You don’t think I need to take time off?” Mom says in disbelief. “You were mugged …”
“I wasn’t mugged.”
“Attacked, threatened … I knew that man was bad news.”
Mom still doesn’t know what I told the police. Neither does Emily. As far as they’re concerned, the police know everything I do. They know that the wannabe tough guy mentioned Matt. They don’t realize I covered for him.
Mom flinches when there’s a loud knock on the door. “What is this now?” she groans.
“I’ll get it,” I say on instinct, making to stand up.
“You will not.”
Mom rushes to the door, her loud footsteps telling me that whoever this is might regret interrupting us. “Uh, hello …”
I turn, my breath catching, when I see Matt standing there looking like a demon straight out of hell. His shirt is crumpled, and his whole body is heaving in time with his breath. I’ve never seen somebody look so wild before—so ready for blood.
“I’m sorry, Mrs Rossi,” he says, “but I have to come in.”
“You’re Matt, yes?” When he nods, she snaps, “Then you have no business—”
“Mom!” I walk over to them, trying to keep my voice steady and not let all the emotion from last night wash over me. Be strong. Folding my arms, I look at Matt. “I told you—”
“The situation has changed,” he cuts in. “They know where you live.”
“Who’s they?” Mom hisses.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I really am. I wish I could treat you with the respect you deserve, but you have to come with me now. All of you. We’ll have time for answers after.”
Mom turns to me with her mouth hanging open. After a pause, she hisses, “Can we believe anything this man says? We have to call the police.”
Matt takes a small step into the room, his hands hanging at his sides like he’s ready to use them. There’s something different about him. It’s not just that his hands are scraped up from apparent violence. It’s not just the fire in his eyes. His whole aura has changed like he’s an instrument out of tune.
“Please don’t do that,” he says darkly.
“Or what? You’ll stop us by force? Is that it?”
“All I want is to keep you all safe,” he says in the most emotional voice I’ve ever heard from him yet—husky and genuine. It draws me closer.
“Safe from what?” I ask curiously.
Mom begins to move in front of me as if she’s going to block me.
“There’s a man tied up in the alleyway outside. He had a gun. He was going to kill me.”