Page 139 of Wicked Rivals

“You brought him here?” she croaked.

Fire flashed in her eyes, and I didn’t have a chance to say anything before she shouted at me.

“You brought my son into this hell? With this madman? You gave him a weapon? He’s a child!”

Val raised her hand as if she meant to strike me, but then her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed.

I caught her in my arms before her body slumped against the chains.

My men rushed down into the basement, shouting questions, asking for orders.

“Get these fucking chains off her now,” I said.

“Is Mama alive?” Enzo whispered, his eyes wide and glossy.

My boy. My heart. Thoughts of my own mother’s death.

Goddamn it, I could only give him a reassuring nod.

“She’s alive, son,” I said. “Let’s get her to the doctor.”

While Tony removed the second iron cuff, I craned my neck around to see into the hole.

Cozza’s shallow grave.

A pile of bloody flesh.

I rushed up the stairs with Val in my arms, shouldering past the men as they pressed themselves against the staircase wall.

Enzo stayed close on my heels.

I shouted at Tony.

“Tell the doctor she needs blood.”

A lot of blood.

Then I ran to the car, her body dangling over my arms.

Praying it wasn’t too late.

CHAPTER 30

VAL

My body trembled with cold. So much cold.

We were moving.

A smooth ride this time, no musty stench, no confinement.

Strong arms cradled me, warming me like a familiar security blanket I never wanted to give up.

I opened my eyes.

Beautiful eyes stared back at me. Not one pair of beautiful eyes but two pairs, so much the same and yet so different.

Dark blue, worried, hardened.

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