Page 5 of Coerced Queen

“He has minor injuries.”

I look him over.“You?”

“Got lucky.I kicked over the communion table and took cover behind it.I got away with just a few scratches.”

“No gunshot wounds?”

“I rolled under the pew and leopard crawled my way to the attackers, but they threw the first grenade before I could get to them.”

“You kicked away that grenade.If not for you?—”

“I did what anyone would’ve done.”

I sink deeper into the pillow, scrutinizing my arms.They’re bruised and covered in scrapes, but no bones feel broken.

“You have some contusions but nothing serious,” Dante says.

Because Saverio took the bullets and absorbed the blast.He covered my head and my body with his to save my baby and me.

“Saverio…” I swallow back tears.“He could’ve gotten out.He could’ve taken cover.Like you.If he didn’t?—”

“Saverio acted the way he saw best,” Dante says harshly.“He protected you because he wanted to.That’s all there is to it.You’re not going to help him by going on a guilt trip.”

I look away.

“The feds are questioning everyone,” he says.“They’ll interrogate you too.”

I turn my face back to him quickly.

“We take care of our own justice.”He crosses his arms.“You know what to say.”

“That I don’t know anything.”

“I’ll be right here if you need me.”

Gnashing my teeth, I say, “I know who did it.”

He only watches me, his dark eyes gleaming with rage.

“Raphael Morelli,” I spit out.

The family don’t shed blood at weddings.Only one man is dishonorable enough to disregard the most sacred rule of their kind.Raphael and Elena should’ve been there, but they cancelled at the last minute.It’s no secret that Raphael and Saverio are enemies.Raphael has always been keen on taking over Luigi’s territory.Since the day he arm-wrestled Luigi into letting him manage Obsidian, their second biggest nightclub, he’s been out for blood.He manipulated Luigi and undermined Saverio at every chance he got.War isn’t only evident in bloodshed.It’s mapped out in an organization’s accounting if you know how to read the books.And if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s interpreting the numbers.

“What happened?”I ask.“Howcould that happen?”

Dante glances at the closed door.“They ambushed Sav’s men outside like fucki—” He clears his throat.“Like guerrilla fighters.Knifed them down.That’s why we didn’t hear anything.”

Just as I thought.“It was a well-planned attack.”

“He put considerable effort into it, using the element of surprise to his advantage.”

“Violatingthe rules to his advantage,” I say with loathing.“He knew Luigi’s men were unarmed.”

“The coward played dirty.We were sitting ducks.”

Of course.Our wedding was the perfect opportunity for him to strike.

Hatred and vengeance push up inside me.I open my heart and let those sentiments in.They not only become a part of me.They define me.As I embrace their darkness, a new person is born.I welcome her with open arms because it’s easier to operate when you have a purpose than when you’re helpless with paralyzing fear and devastating guilt.

---