Page 117 of Shattered Hearts

I’m still sitting here, holding the phone to my ear, even though the call ended several minutes ago.

“No one.” I drop my arm. “Listening to messages.”

Resolve drips through my chest like wet cement, hardening me on the inside and steeling meagainst what I’m about to do.

I give Rory a long look.

He blinks at me. “What?”

“Where’s my discharge paperwork?”

He waves the folder in his other hand. “Right here.”

“Let’s get the hell out of here.” I wince as I swing my leg over the edge of the bed.

After being stabbed multiple times in my lower abdomen, my whole right side is a little sore. Stretching an arm or a leg causes my torso to extend the smallest bit, which makes the stitches in my side ache.

I can feel that, even through the haze of the drugs…which means once the painkillers wear off, these stitches are going to be screaming. Can’t say I’m looking forward to that. I’m sure I’ll like it even lessonce the De Lucas have me where they want me.

Rory helps me change into the spare clothes he and Cian brought from home. In case this gamble doesn’t pay off, I want to tell him to protect Riley. But if I arouse Rory’s suspicions, I won’t be able to trick him, and I need to in order to escape. I consider telling him about the call with Enzo and how, even now, we’re being watched.

But the fact that Rory, with his razor-sharp awareness, hasn’t detected the assassin following him around the hospital means that whoever Enzo sent to tail him is good. Maybe even good enough to kill Rory before I can explain the situation.

My best chance of survival is keeping Rory in the dark. If I keep him safe, he’ll report my absence to the Gallaghers the moment he realizes I’m gone. And if I can stay alive long enough to buy them some time…

Well, there might be a future for me after all. A future possibly not as bleak as I used to think.

Rory glances back at me from the open doorway. “Ready?”

Discreetly, I hide my phone in the thin hospital covers and follow him out into the hall bustling with nurses and doctors in turquoise scrubs and rubber sneakers. Green and white tiles checker the floor beneath our feet. I scan the corridor for the plant, the assassin Enzo sent to deal with Rory in the event of my defiance.

Haven’t identified anyone by the time Rory clears his throat.

“So…you and Riley Brennan, huh?” Though I feel his gaze on me, I don’t meet it. “I know you two were thrown together, but I have to say, I think she’s good for you.”

My heart squeezes at the thought of Riley. “How so?”

“Well, for starters, you’ve been way less of a grumpy asshole than normal.”

I shoot him a wry grin but don’t reply.

We step into the second floor elevator and turn around to face the doors. Standing by a countertop twenty paces away, a male nurse loiters. I recognize him. Neat eyebrows, well-coiffed hair, clean shaven. Pleasant smile. Dead eyes.

His biceps give him away. The toned tendons in his arm are the kind only achieved by lots of stabbing.

A faraway bell rings in the back of my mind.

Stiletto.

Famous freelance assassin.

He works almost exclusively in Italy, which explains why Rory didn’t clock him. Matteo kept him as a bodyguard for a while after his son went to jail. So long as Stiletto flanked him, Dad and I knew getting close to Matteo would be impossible. It wasn’t until their contract ended and Stiletto returned to the motherland that I had a shot at murdering his boss.

As the elevator doors slide closed, Stiletto’s eyes lock on mine.

A vengeful smile plays at his lips.

Bile spurts up inside me, but I clench my fists.

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