Page 42 of Killer Love

I aim at his left bicep and pull the trigger, firing a round through the outer flesh of his arm. He cringes and stumbles back as he reaches for the crimson wound.

“Let it bleed,” I say, knocking his hand away.

His blood drips down his pale skin and taps against the floor beneath us. He watches it for several moments and the pain leaves his eyes quickly.

“You’ve been shot before,” I note.

“I have,” he confirms.

“You take a bullet well.”

He narrows his eyes. “Thanks.”

I flick the safety back on as I slide my gun into my belt and glance up at Yuri’s shocked face. I’ll explain it to him later.

“How long before this extraction team comes looking?” I ask Fox.

“A few hours, at most,” he answers. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d rather be out of Italy by then.”

I nod. “You say someone hired Snake Eyes to kill me?”

“Yeah.”

“Who?”

He looks up from his wound. “Giovani Zappia.”

Chapter 14

Sofia

The house is quiet. Too quiet.

Granted, this house isn’t usually surging with activity but there’s something different in the air today… and it’s not just because of what happened with Luka.

I won’t lie and say his offer didn’t tempt me, but leaving with Luka would only prove his guilt. No, if I ever flee from this place, it will be alone — with Lucian, of course. I’d rather die than leave him here to be brainwashed by the Zappia cult.

I enter the kitchen, expecting to find the staff inside, chatting amongst themselves and preparing dinner, but the entire place is empty and spotless as if they all vanished into thin air.

A cold dread stirs within me. I step out into the hall and make eye contact with a guard standing near the front entrance. He says nothing and merely gives me a firm nod as I pass by. His gaze lingers on me for far longer than usual before he opens the front door and walks outside. I slink away, feeling even worse than before.

I pick up my speed and rush back toward the bedrooms across the house. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not too keen to track down answers at the moment. There’s little else I’d rather do right now than take my son in my arms and hold him as tight as possible.

I twist the doorknob and throw it open, eager to see his perfect, little face staring up at me from his crib.

“Lucian?”

My eyes jerk back and forth in my skull while the rest of me stays frozen. He’s not here. He’s supposed to be here.

“Lucian!”

My voice echoes down the hall but no one answers me.

“Rosalie?” I call.

Still nothing.

I make my way toward Gio’s study, taking deep, slow breaths that don’t quite satisfy my lungs.

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