Page 10 of Runaway Queen

I spun the chamber of the gun and then pressed the tip point-blank against his forehead. “Tell me something I don’t know about your capo.”

Bob wet his lips. “He prefers cognac to scotch.”

“Very good, but not enough to skip a turn. Don’t fuck with me. You know what I want.” I pulled the trigger, and it clicked against his head.

He was shaking so hard I had to press the barrel tightly against his skin to keep contact.

“I can’t tell you the details of Antonio’s routine. If you hurt him, if he finds out I told, he’ll kill me and my family.”

“So, you’d rather die here. You think I won’t kill your family?”

He swallowed hard. “I don’t know if you will. I’m certain he would.”

I blew out a breath. “That puts me in a tricky position. I guess we’re done here, and you know what that means.”

I pulled the trigger again. The click was deafening.

Mr. Accountant was openly crying now. I almost pitied him, but not quite. He was part of Antonio’s inner circle and had no doubt been witness to the way his boss had treated his only daughter all her life. He deserved everything he got.

“Wait! I know something.” His sudden cry broke through his sobs.

“If it isn’t about Antonio, I’m not interested. I don’t want him investigated by the IRS.”

“Not Antonio. Sofia. It’s about Sofia.”

I stilled, everything inside me contracting to a point of controlled violence. “I don’t want to hear you say her name. You’re not worthy of it.” I ground the barrel against his forehead. I wanted to end him now, but I had to find out what he was going to say.

“What about her?”

“She… she…”

Bob was stuttering so hard now he was hard to make out. Still, it felt like the world had slowed for a moment. Like every pivotal moment in my life, I felt the weight of the seconds pass.

“Spit it out, for fuck’s sake,” I growled at him.

The world stopped turning as he spoke.

Bob looked up and finally met my eyes. “She’s not dead. Sofia De Sanctis didn’t die. She’s alive.”

5

SOPHIE ROSSI

“Ms. Rossi, we’re ready for you.”

The voice tugged at the edge of my consciousness.

“That’s you,” a voice reminded me.

I jerked my head up and focused on the nurse standing in the doorway.

Right. Sophie Rossi. That was my name. That was me. Sometimes, it was hard to remember.

I stood on shaky legs. “Yes, that’s me.”

“The doctor is ready to see you now.” The nurse turned around and bustled up the hallway, leaving the door to the consultant’s room gaping wide behind her. Everything would change when I walked through that door. Every single thing.

“Come on, we’ve got this,” Chiara muttered in my ear and tugged me forward.

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