Page 66 of Blood Money

At that, she dropped her head back down, and I was sure she could hear how fast my heart was beating. My hand on her back, I slowly stroked her soft skin in what I hoped was a reassuring manner.

“You don’t have to—”

“I was in a car accident. I’d literally hung up with Nonna right before that. I was crying or maybe I would’ve seen that the truck behind me wasn’t stopping.” She spoke so softly, I barely heard her—yet I did. She told me about being pushed into the intersection. The impact. The scar on her leg. All of it. I was sick to my stomach at the thought of what she went through—and worse, that she’d felt alone.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. I never told her I didn’t want anything to do with you and the baby. I swear I didn’t know.” I couldn’t tell her that enough. The pain was a gaping chasm in my chest. I could only imagine what it had been like for her.

“I believe you,” she whispered.

I tightened my arm briefly and lifted my head to kiss the crown of hers.

“The one good thing was that right after the accident, a man stopped and held my hand. I was upside down and so damn scared. But Mario didn’t let go until the paramedics got there.”

My heart stuttered as I froze, and my blood ran cold. “What?” The word came out sounding like it had been dragged over hot coals.

She raised her head again, and a sad smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “Yeah. I never saw him again. But he witnessed the accident and was the first on the scene to check on me. I always wished I could’ve thanked him.”

“What did he look like? Maybe I could help you try to find him. It’s a long shot, but you never know.” Trying to force my voice to sound casual was a feat of astronomical proportions.

Before the words left her mouth, I knew. I already knew exactly how she would describe him, and I wanted to vomit. When she confirmed my worst imaginings, I wanted to destroy something. But I remained with her because I knew she needed me present in that moment.

After I shoved my rage down into the deepest, darkest part of my soul, I pulled her up and kissed her. Slow and full of all the love I had for her and the baby we’d lost. A baby I hadn’t known about until tonight.

I held her.

I didn’t ever want to let her go.

But I had something to do.

When her breathing fell into an even and steady rate, I carefully extracted myself from her warmth. She fussed a bit and reached toward where I’d been, but I held her hand, and she settled. When her hand relaxed, I gently let go.

Then I sent a message to Dario.

As quickly and as quietly as I could, I dressed while I rummaged around in the kitchen for something to write with. As I tucked in my shirt, I saw the small grocery list notepad on the fridge. I ripped a piece of paper from it and scrawled a quick note.

Baby,

I had some things to take care of. I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can.

I still love you.

Vittorio

Then I folded my jacket over my arm and quietly let myself out. I made a mental note to chew her ass out for not using the alarm system. Then I decided to get her a better one. Hell, maybe I’d just move her in with me.

At the bottom of the metal stairs, I saw Dario and Santino waiting by the car. Santino gave me a chin lift, stepped to the side, and took a seat at one of the bistro chairs outside the bakery.

Tension coiled in my shoulders as we pulled away from the curb. Dario handed me my shoulder holster, and I verified it had what I needed in it. Then I put it on and shrugged into my jacket.

“Got some bad news,” Dario began.

I groaned. How much more could we take? “What?” I asked as I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Your girl’s date? Konstantin Woodsman isn’t his name.”

My hand fell to my side. “Come again?”

“You heard right,” he grimly confirmed.

---