Page 59 of Sinful Sacrifice

“What happened?” he asks.

“Two guys …” I inhale breaths. “They’re in my apartment.”

“Stay here,” he orders, storming past me into my building.

I scurry behind him. He flies up the stairs, taking two at a time, and I’m about ten behind him as I follow. When I reach my apartment, the door is open. I peek inside to find Emilio punching BO guy in the face. Red-Eyes attempts to charge toward him, and Emilio stabs him in the stomach. The man doubles over, wrapping his arms around his torso, and falls to his knees.

Oh my God.

Emilio snatches BO guy around the throat, rams him into the wall, and stabs him next.

Jesus, I am definitely not getting my deposit back.

Once both men are on the ground, bleeding and not moving, Emilio spins around to face me. “Damien is on his way. Stay in the hallway.”

20

For the past few weeks, I’ve had Julian or Emilio watch Pippa’s every move when I’m unavailable. Her day-to-day life is mundane, and they’ve complained about being bored as fuck, but I always want eyes on her. Pippa might believe she’s safe, but she’s wrong. Cernach and her piece-of-shit father make her a target.

My point was proven when Emilio called fifteen minutes ago and told me Pippa fled her building like a goddamn serial killer was chasing her.

I swerve into the no-parking zone in front of Pippa’s building and sprint up the stairs. When I reach her floor, she’s standing by the door, back to the wall, body trembling. She runs into my arms the second she sees me.

I hate that she’s in danger, but love that it drags her to me.

That she knows I’m her security blanket.

That she needs me.

“Baby.” I clutch her tightly, running my hand down her back.

Her breaths are ragged as she shoves her face against my chest.

“Let’s get you out of here.” I press a soft kiss to the top of her head and inch away from her. Running my hands down her sides, I make sure she’s good to walk before guiding her toward the stairway and collecting her purse from the floor before handing it to her.

“What about my apartment?” she asks, stopping me. “Emilio is in there with the men.”

“Emilio will make sure your apartment is cleaned.” He’ll do a lot more, but I don’t tell her that. Mainly because I’ll join him in that activity. For now, I’ll take her to my office so she’s safe.

She chews on her lip. “Should I pack a bag?”

“Wait here.” I hate that I have to separate from her.

I rap my knuckles against her apartment door twice, and Emilio steps into the doorway. He nods, and I enter. Both men are alive. Bleeding yet alive.

“What should I do with them?” Emilio asks.

I immediately recognize the Razzo brothers. “They’re useless bookies.”

I kneel so I’m at Fred, the eldest’s, level. “You come near Pippa again, and you’ll deal with me.” I stand and shove the heel of my loafer into his stab wound.

“Sorry,” Fred sputters. “I didn’t know she was yours. We just wanted our money.”

“Now, you do.” I lift my foot to shove it into his face.

He cries out, cowering in pain, while his brother whimpers beside him. They’re bleeding all over Pippa’s floor. I’ll pay her landlord to fix it as well as approve her to break her lease. She’s not sleeping another night in this dangerous shithole.

I leave the apartment, capture Pippa’s hand, and lead her out of the building. Later, I’ll have her write out a list of belongings to grab from her apartment and pack them for her. I help her into the Range Rover before joining her.

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