Page 35 of My Sweetest Obsession
“Help... please,” the man begged. “They’ll kill them...”
“Who are you?” I demanded.
“He has my family,” he said as he sobbed.
“Who?”
Between sobs, he managed, “The Puppet Master.”
I stilled at his words. “What’s the message?”
“This is just the beginning.” Tears and snot streamed down his face. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly opened his jacket.
My eyes widened as he revealed a bomb strapped across his chest and a remote control clutched tightly in his shaky grip.
“Fuck,” Luca breathed.
“Take the shot!” Lo urged.
“I can’t,” I growled. “The trigger’s in his hand. If I kill him, he’ll lose the switch, and we’re all fucking dead.”
“We’re going to be dead if we keep standing here,” Luca muttered.
“Please,” the man pleaded, his eyes wide and frantic. “Save my family.”
Before I could direct my men on their next move, the bomb began to beep ominously.
“No!” the man screamed, terror etched on his face.
“RUN!” I barked. I turned and sprinted toward the back of the church with my men following.
The bomb detonated, a deafening roar that ripped through the building. The ground shook violently beneath our feet, and I was thrown forward, crashing against my mother’s coffin. The impact sent her body tumbling out.
“Nico!” Enzo’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, dragging my gaze upward. I was perched on the rear cab of the ambulance.
Enzo wasn’t alone.
“Nico,” Stone greeted me flatly.
“Stone,” I replied, my tone equally cool.
“What the hell happened?” Enzo’s eyes darted around, absorbing the devastation that surrounded us.
“What does it look like?” Matteo snapped. “Some crazy fucker decided to ram his car into the funeral home with a fucking bomb strapped to his chest!”
But all I could think about was the moment my mother’s cold body tumbled out of the casket, the horror forever scarred into my mind.
“Did you recognize the bomber?” Enzo pressed.
“No,” I replied.
“Did he say anything to you before he blew himself up?” Stone’s gaze was sharp, dissecting every flicker of emotion on my face.
A low chuckle escaped me, laced with bitterness. “Detective, there are always those who wish to send us messages. It’s part of the game.”
I didn’t trust this fucker as far as I could throw him. If they caught the Puppet Master, they’d just lock him up, which meant I wouldn’t get to Gigi in time. I had my own plans for justice.
Stone crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. “Do you think it’s a power play? A rival family trying to take you out?”
