Page 24 of Corrupted Empire

Before my knees touch the ground, Clara screams and bursts out of her chair with more speed than I would have given her credit for. She rugby tackles Felicity to the ground, giving Mirko and me the opening we need to take out her backup.

The small house fills with the sound of gunshots as Dom and his men start attacking the forces at the other side of the house. Only a moment after we have dispatched Felicity’s two thugs, more appear. I barely have time to wrench Clara away from where she is wrestling with Felicity on the ground and dart out the back door.

“Fall back!” I hear Mirko call from inside. “We got her!”

I load Clara into the back of my SUV and wait outside, gun drawn, in case I need to cover the retreat.

Men start to flood out of the house. Dom is propping up one of his men, who has received a bullet wound to the thigh, but otherwise they all seem more or less unhurt. We pile into our vehicles and hit the road, tires squealing against the pavement.

I look to the back seat as Mirko navigates the narrow streets. Clara is wedged between Gio and Peter, and she looks impossibly small.

“Are you hurt?” I ask.

Clara glares at me through narrowed green eyes. “I’m fine,” she mutters.

“You could at least pretend to be a little more grateful for the rescue,” I reply irritably.

“You could be a little more grateful for me saving your ass back there,” she snaps. “For the record, I wouldn’t have needed rescuing if you hadn’t pulled Alexis into this whole nightmare. She and the people she cares about are in danger every day because of you, and yet you’ve spent the last month moping around and refusing to talk to her because your feelings are hurt!”

My lips flatten. Next to me, Mirko’s mouth pricks up in a smile.

“I would watch how you speak to me,” I warn in a cold voice, though to be honest, I’m a little impressed at her feistiness. It makes sense that Alexis would choose someone like her as a best friend.

Clara huffs a sigh and leans back into the seat. “Whatever. Where are we going?”

“Alexis’ apartment building,” I tell her. “It’s the safest place for you to be right now, and she will want to see that you’re safe with her own eyes. A doctor will meet you there to check you out.”

“You’re not coming?” she asks, cocking a brow.

“No.” I untwist and face the front, indicating that the conversation is over. Not that Clara takes the hint.

“You should take me up yourself,” Clara says. “You’ll get loads of brownie points, and it could be a good way for you guys to start repairing the damage in your relationship.”

“I won’t be joining you.”

“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” Clara complains. “Just come in and see Alexis. See your son.”

I badly want to. I can picture Alexis’ face shining with relief, the gratitude that would send her crashing into my arms. She is going to be so happy to see that her best friend is safe. Clara is right; that moment could be the catalyst for us to reconcile.

But I can’t. Especially now that Clara has all but ordered me into the apartment. I can’t be seen being ordered around by anyone, never mind a recovering addict from outside the Family.

“Clara, if you know what’s good for you, you will shut the fuck up,” I growl in a way that makes it clear the matter is not up for discussion.

Blessedly, Clara doesn’t say another word.

10

Alexis

I have just finished putting Harry down for a nap and am about to grab a snack and head off for a nap myself when the two guards standing in my living room stiffen, listening intently to their earpieces.

I pause in front of Angelo, pleased that I demanded he be reassigned to my personal guard. I stare him down as he finishes listening to whatever orders are being piped into his ear. He waves me off like an annoying fly, mouth bent into a smile, but I simply wave back at him.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Shh!” he hisses.

“Don’t shh me!”

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