Page 29 of Blood Money

“Thank you.”

“How far back do you want me to go?” he asked.

“That’s good enough. I only wanted to know where things sat now.” I didn’t want a list of the men she’d been with because I’d be tempted to put out a hit on every one of them, and that was fucked-up. At least I was sane enough to recognize it.

We ended the call, and I sent payment for the information Facet had gathered.

The look on Dario’s face told me he wanted to ask me about the conversation, but he wouldn’t dare with the driver present.

When I arrived at the bakery, I fully expected to find Mrs. Romano up in her apartment resting. Instead, I found all the lights on in the bakery, an unlocked door, and a seemingly vacant business. Instantly on edge, I silently pulled out the small pistol I kept under my jacket. Dario did the same, then gently turned the lock on the door so no one could come in after us.

Warily, we tread on noiseless feet across the small seating area toward the part of the counter that was open to allow staff access from the back for orders. Two more steps and I froze momentarily before I cursed under my breath, “Fuck.”

Red hair spread like flames, obscuring the face I knew I’d recognize the second I brushed it away. I’d prayed it wasn’t her who had been threatened by my incompetent soldier. Now it was as good as confirmed, and I hated it.So help me God, if this was him taking shit in his own hands again, he’s as good as dead.I prayed Mrs. Romano was upstairs and not in the bakery somewhere.

Briefly, I crouched, then expelled the breath I’d been holding when I felt Kendall’s pulse beating steadily in her neck. That little sign of life was more a relief than I could’ve ever imagined.

Though I hated to leave her, I needed to make sure there wasn’t anyone remaining in the store—good or bad.

While Dario could do it on his own, after the ambush in our warehouse, I wasn’t taking chances.

As quickly as we could, we cleared the first floor, then went up the staircase in the office to the apartment upstairs. Torn, I knocked. I hated to worry Mrs. Romano needlessly, but it was necessary to ensure she was safe.

Several attempts gave us no reply, so I tried the knob, which turned easily in my hand. Dario and I glanced at each other and quietly entered the apartment.

As we went room to room, I was more relieved with each one she wasn’t in. At least we didn’t find Mrs. Romano’s body. Still, I was concerned and confused, because I was sure Mrs. Romano would’ve been home by then. Once we were sure every room was clear, I left Dario to check the cameras in the office, and I rushed back to Kendall.

“Motherfucker,” I grumbled when I crouched and moved her curls off her face. The cut on her temple and the blood that had trickled along her face sent rage shooting through my veins.

Dario arrived and looked at her. “Is she dead?”

“No,” I answered, keeping my face an expressionless mask. It took everything in me not to let the emotion show in my tone—those words had ripped my soul in half.

As gently as I could, I felt around her head and found a lump already forming where she must’ve landed when she fell. My fingers came away sticky, and I was furious.

Uncaring that I’d be ruining a three-thousand-dollar suit, I dropped to my ass and carefully lifted her head to my lap. Slowly, I smoothed my fingers over her face. I traced the arch of her soft brows and trailed them along her jawline until I could brush my thumb over her full lower lip. My heart cried at having her so close yet still not mine. My body ached to pick her up and cradle her to my chest. It had been damn near ten years, but it felt like yesterday. If only things had been different back then.

“Christ, Kendall, please wake up,” I begged in a whisper as I pulled my phone out of my inside jacket pocket. Completely out of character, I dialed 9-1-1. We didn’t call for help like that—we handled everything ourselves. But this was different.

Before I could hit Call, her thick lashes fluttered, and her eyes opened. I’d convinced myself that my memory was faulty and that there was no way her eyes were as vivid as I remembered them. I was certain I’d built her features up in my mind. Yet like the deep and endless green of the forest, I got lost in them, making me forget about the call I had started.

She started to sit up, but she winced at the movement, and I gently held her down.

“Don’t get up. We need to get you to the hospital,” I said, hiding the fact that my heart was in my throat.

“No,” she groaned and pressed a hand to her head.

“You could have internal bleeding,” I argued. The thought of this being worse than it seemed was nearly crippling. Even though I couldn’t have her, no matter how much my mind screamed she was mine, the thought of her being gone forever nearly sent me spiraling.

“I’m fine. I just need some Tylenol. There should be some in the first aid kit,” she mumbled as she made to get up.

Again, I pressed my hand to her chest to keep her still. I ignored how close my fingers were to her breast.

She huffed in annoyance, and I wanted to laugh despite my fears. The woman was obviously stubborn as hell, just like the girl had been.

“I still think you should go in. Let me call EMS.”

“No.”

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