Page 104 of Ruthless Guardian

“Ah, I just received it yesterday.”

I nod, but there’s something about the pinch of his expression and unnaturally hurried gait that has my hackles raised.

Raf’s paranoia is clearly rubbing off on me. Why would I ever suspect my professor of anything nefarious?

We reach the corner, and Massimo points down a quiet alley where a small red Fiat is parked. He motions for me to go first, but I spin around and find Alberto’s eyes narrowed. “Albie, I’m just going to get a letter from the professor’s car.” My gaze dips down to the gun at his hip.

The stern guard traces the movement then nods. “I’ll be right behind you,signorina.”

I’m being crazy, that’s all. Not having Raf glued to my side has me off.Dio, I hadn’t realized how much I relied on him.

Massimo slows as he reaches the car, and it’s as if each remaining step is painful. He pulls out the car FOB and the trunk pops open. A man leaps up, firing off a round at Alberto before a gasp escapes from my gaping jaw.

From the corner of my eye, I see my guard fall, the thud of his body against the cement sending my pulse skyrocketing. “No!”

I try to run, but a sharp pain explodes across the back of my skull and darkness invades my vision.

CHAPTER 51

FOOL ME TWICE

Raffaele

“Come on, Enrico, is this really necessary?” I struggle against the ropes binding me to the chair. Despite the fact that no fire crackles in the massive fireplace in front of me, sweat trickles down my spine. The moment thecoglioneadmitted he was the one who’d tried to kill me, his guards tackled me. I may be good but five against one with no weapons is hardly fair. Now all I can do is glare up at the man whose hatred I completely deserve.

He trusted me with his daughter, and I fucked everything up.

I deserve to die. It should have been me all those years ago, not Laura.

Enrico looms over me, his silk robe brushing my knees, and his revolver pressed at my forehead. “I’ll make it quick, Raffa, for Laura’s sake, that’s the best I can offer.”

“I deserve death,” I grit out. “And I would have gladly given my life for hers a hundred times over. I relive the torture of thatday every fucking night, Enrico. No punishment you could ever inflict could be worse than that.”

He presses the muzzle more firmly to my skull, the hard metal digging into my skin. The most fucked up part is that I’m ready to die. I don’t fear death… heaven or hell, whatever it may be. Sometimes, I long for the quiet, for the stillness.

But I can’t leave Isabella.

I won’t leave her unprotected.

“Wait,” I grit out. Locking my gaze to Enrico’s, I prepare to grovel, to fight, to burn down this whole damned house if that’s what it takes to walk out of here alive. Not for me, but forher. “My client. Swear to me that once I’m dead no harm will come to her.”

“I have no quarrel with the Valentinos or the Kings, and I intend to keep it that way. If the past few months have been any indication, it seems we will be seeing much more of them in Italy. I will bide my time, watching and waiting. If the need arises, I will strike, but not before then.” He cocks the trigger, the ominous click ratcheting up my pulse.

Isabella fills my vision, those intense blue irises, full pouty lips, the way the corners of her eyes crinkle when she smiles. No… I was wrong. I’m not ready to die, not when there’s still so much to do, to say to her. “Enrico, there must be another way. Please. I—I can’t leave her.” I strain against the ropes, the rough twine burrowing into my skin until it rubs it raw. “I’ll do anything you want. Just let me get Isabella out of Rome and safely back to New York with her family. I swear to you I’ll come back and shoot myself in the head if that’s what you want. I just need to know for certain she’s out of harm’s way…”

A harsh chuckle spills from the hard slant of his lips. “Cazzo, Raffa, don’t tell me you’ve done it again? You’ve fallen in love with your client?” He still looms over me, but the pressure on my skull relents a notch. “I thought you were smarter than that.”

“No,” I hiss. The lie tastes so bitter I can barely swallow it down. But the last thing I need is one of the most powerful men in Rome knowing myprincipessais my ultimate weakness.

“Bugiardo,” he growls. “You’re lying through your teeth, Raffaele.” He steps back and swings his gun around, pointing at the very living room we sat in over ten years ago. “You know, the only reason why I didn’t kill you back then was that I knew you loved my Laura. I could see it then just as clearly as I see it now.” He draws in a breath then expels it with a curse. “Merda.”

“My father clearly wants her dead, too.” The words bubble out, a part of me just wanting this to be over with already.

“Too?” His eyes narrow and he stalks closer, his focus zeroing in on that one word that could change everything.

I hold my tongue for an endless moment, mulling over the series of life-changing events I’m about to unleash.

“Raffa?” He hinges at the waist and traps me in that murderous, weathered glare. “What do you mean too?”

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