Page 24 of Omega in Hiding

I struggle to a sitting position, spitting grass out of my mouth. “What the hell?” I’m embarrassed that my reactions were so pathetic, and doubly humiliated themannyhad to cover my ass.

Connor doesn’t look at me. He just gets to his feet and runs to Baby Joeseph who’s wailing from beneath the park bench. Apparently, when the shooting started, Connor managed to get the baby out of the stroller, hiding him beneath the park bench. That was smart. The stroller was an easy target, and killing BabyJoesph would devastate Dario and Alessio. Something their enemies would relish.

Enzo reaches us. “Park time is over,” he rasps, looking around uneasily. “We need to get back to the house.” He gives Connor a funny look; half bewilderment and half respect. “Good shooting, kid.”

“Thanks.” Connor still won’t look at me.

We run back toward the car. My heart pounds and the hairs on the nape of my neck are stiff. There could be more shooters. We’re not safe yet. People are screaming and running around the park in mass confusion. In the distance I hear sirens and Enzo swears under his breath. I know what he’s thinking because I’m thinking the same thing. The last thing we need is to get detained and questioned by the cops.

We reach the SUV and Enzo opens the back door for Connor. “Get in.” When Connor pauses to try and put the baby in the car seat, Enzo growls, “Fuck the car seat, Connor.”

“Okay.” Connor immediately stops trying to strap the baby in the seat, and climbs in the SUV. His face is flushed, but he looks calmer than I feel. He just shot a guy and he looks cool as a cucumber.

Who the hell is this guy? Super Manny?

I get in on the other side of the car as Enzo jumps in and starts the car. We leave the stroller behind in the parking lot, tires squealing. It was a nice stroller, but strollers are a dime a dozen. What’s important is avoiding the cops, and getting back to the house in one piece.

“Do you know who those guys were?” I address the back of Enzo’s head.

Enzo nods. “I recognized one of them. The one Connor shot. He’s with the O’Sullivan clan.”

I scowl. “TheIrishmade a move? What the fuck? Why would they? I thought we had a truce with those bastards.”

Connor shifts uneasily beside me, but says nothing. He’s glancing out the back window every few seconds to make sure we’re not being followed.

“Things have been strained.” Enzo doesn’t elaborate.

“The guy was aiming right at me.” I swallow hard. “That felt personal.”

Connor shakes his head. “I hate this shit.”

I turn to Connor. His jaw is clenched and he’s staring down at the whimpering baby. “Why do you have a gun?” I demand. My pride is most definitely hurting. I should have been the hero, not Connor. Instead, I froze like a pussy.

He meets my gaze. “Because sometimes you need one.”

I scowl. “How often does amannyneed to shoot someone?”

He narrows his eyes. “Shouldn’t you be thanking me instead of looking pissed off that I have a gun?”

My face warms. “Thanks for saving my ass, but I still find it weird you carry.”

He pulls his gaze away. “I… uh… normally wouldn’t. But because of who Dario is, I knew that this job could potentially be dangerous. I decided it was a good idea to be prepared. Just in case things turned violent.”

“Do Dario and Alessio know you’re armed? I can’t imagine they’d love the idea of a gun around their baby,” I mutter.

He turns to me, his expression uneasy. “No. They didn’t know. I was hoping I’d never have to use it.”

I laugh gruffly. “You didn’t think you should ask permission to have a gun around theirbaby?”

“Like I said.” His voice is testy. “I hoped I’d never have to use it.”

I chuff. “Jesus. That’s so irresponsible.”

A muscle works in his jaw. “Paolo, why are you mad?”

“I’m not mad.”

“Yeah, you are,” he says quietly. “You know, if I hadn’t had a gun?”

---