Page 18 of His Broken Queen

“Luciana,” the man who I assumed was the doctor said. “I’m Brett.”

I scooted closer to Romero.

“I’m a friend of your husband, and I’d like to help you. How are you feeling?” Brett asked as he set a black bag on the bed.

“Not good,” I said. “My head hurts, I’m sick to my stomach, and I’m really cold.”

“I can give you something to relax you.” He reached into his bag and took out a syringe. “It’s mild and it will help you sleep.”

“I don’t need anything.” I looked at Romero. “Can we go see Stella?”

“No, baby.” He nodded at the doctor.

“Romero, we have to go,” Gio said. “We’ve waited too long already.”

“Too long for what?” I asked.

“We have to have someone come for Stella now.” He held me close. “Just relax, okay?”

I glanced over my shoulder as Brett came toward me with the needle.

“I don’t need that.” I held up my hand, but Romero took it in his. “I want to see Stella. I have to say goodbye. I have to tell her goodbye.” I sobbed. “Please, I don’t want to leave her. She’s all alone down there.”

“No.” Romero wrapped his arms around me, pinning mine against my body. “She’s not alone, but we have to get her back to her family now.”

“Oh, God!” I screamed out. “She’s not going home. She won’t be able to see her girls ever again. They lost their mom.” I couldn’t catch my breath. “You have to fix this.”

“I will.” He stroked my hair. “Close your eyes now.”

The needle pierced my skin as I rested my head on Romero’s chest. My eyes fluttered and my breathing slowed. It was like the time I had gotten my wisdom teeth out. I was drowsy and weightless. I tried to fight it because I didn’t want to leave here, but if I slept for a bit, maybe when I woke up this would all be just a nightmare.

“Let’s get her to the car,” Gio said.

“What the fuck, Gio.” Romero carried me down the hall. “How did this happen?”

I struggled to stay awake, but the drug was strong. Romero looked down at me as he took me down the stairs. “I love you, Lu.”

Chapter 6

Romero

Gio handed me a glass of vodka as I stared out the penthouse windows. The city lit up the skyline, but the mood here was dark. I was no stranger to death. I’d killed before. Out of revenge, retaliation, betrayal. I’d lost people close to me. The loss of Stella cut deep.

“This is my fault.” I sipped the vodka. “I brought her into my house.”

“She knew who you were when she agreed to work for you.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I set the glass on the coffee table. “She would still be alive if she wasn’t working for me. Lu blames herself, but it’s not on her.”

“No, it’s on the scum who would take out an innocent woman.”

“I need to know who did this.”

“No one has taken responsibility for it.” Gio ran his hand through his hair. “Maybe it was a message gone wrong. Stella wasn’t supposed to be in the house.”

“I don’t care if they weren’t supposed to kill her,” I shouted. “They fucking did and I’m going to make them suffer.”

Stella had been a friend for years. She was loyal and kind. Her devotion and friendship to Luciana would never be forgotten. Her death would not go unanswered.

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