Page 10 of Savage Hearts

“There.” He froze, the screen snapping an image. “You see that?” He pointed to something on the screen, but it looked like a blob to me.

“Not really.”

“Miss Anastasi, that,”—he pointed to the 3D picture—“is your daughter.”

Until he uttered that word, I hadn’t cared what I was having.

“A girl,” I whispered as my eyes filled with tears staring at the screen.

“Congratulations, Cee.” Michael squeezed my hand. “She’s going to be spoiled just like Gia. This family isn’t going to know what to do with girls. Boys… yeah, we know how to handle them. But a daughter will have every Anastasi wrapped around her finger before she even speaks her first word.”

Evan printed out several copies of the images, so I could share them with my family. He also made a CD of the scan, so I could watch it again at home and share with the father. Too bad he had no idea thefatherwasn’t in the picture. Thanking him for everything, Michael and I headed out.

“You hungry?”

As if on cue, my stomach rumbled. “Err… I would say so.”

Michael leaned his head back and bellowed with laughter.

“Let’s go. Anywhere in particular?”

“I want a burger.”

“Burger it is.” Michael pulled out onto the street. “Gino’s work for you?”

“Oh my God, yes.” My mouth watered at the thought of Gino’s bacon double cheeseburger.

Michael glanced into the rearview mirror and stiffened.

“You got your seatbelt on?”

I glanced over at him, confused as to why he would ask a stupid question like that.

“Yeah. What’s wrong?”

“We’ve got a tail.” He flicked the Bluetooth activator on his steering wheel, filling the inside with ringing.

“Hey, babe. How’d—”

Michael cut off Antonio before he could finish. “We’ve got a tail.”

“Fuck. Where are you?”

“Just left the doctor’s office. Headed toward Gino’s.”

“Hang on,” Antonio growled. We could hear a muffled conversation. “I got Vin on Rachel’s phone. He said head to Bellissimo. He’s waiting for you.”

“Shit.” Michael pressed down on the accelerator as the car behind us edged closer. “They’re going to make a move to force us off the road. I don’t think we’ll make it to him.”

“You hear that, Vin?” More mumbling. “Michael, keep them off your ass. Vin is going to be coming in hot on his bike.”

Just as he said the words, the black SUV rammed us from behind.

“Oh my God,” I cried out, bracing my hands on the dashboard as Michael fought to keep the car on the road. “Antonio…” My voice cracked as I whimpered his name.

“It’s going to be ok Cee. Vin will be here.”

“Cee,” Michael tapped my leg. “Open the glove box, sweetheart, and grab my gun.”

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