Page 143 of The Silence Lies

My phone rings on the desk, breaking me from my thoughts. I pick it up, answering, “Levi?”

“Ciao, Bellissima,” he purrs. “I just wanted to tell you everything is getting taken care of. The Torres family already started to clean up and inventory, so we’ll be home soon.”

Home. A smile lifts my lips, his words making my heart beat faster. “Good,” I reply. “I’m done here at Haze.”

“See you soon, Dolcezza!” I hear Luca shout over the speaker.

Rolling my eyes, I hang up the phone. Giovanni is already standing at the entrance to my office when I step out and he doesn’t need me to tell him what to do. He seems to always be on my wavelength, always in sync with me. It’s what makes him a great bodyguard—and an even better lover.

Giovanni opens the door to the SUV for me, but I skip past him, opening the passenger door to take up residence in the seat. He chuckles to himself as he walks around the car, sliding in beside me. “You never cease to surprise me,” he comments, lacing his fingers with mine.

“Would you have me any other way?” I ask playfully, tilting my head.

“Of course not.”

Giovanni peels us away from the sidewalk almost immediately. His cautious driving lulls me into a calmness as I watch the buildings swish by us. It doesn’t feel like long before my eyes close and my exhaustion takes over. My body relaxes into the seat, and as I feel each bend of the road and soft swerve of the car, I know we’ll be home soon.

“CAZZO!”

Screeching tires wake me up, my whole body jolting forward and snapping back as my seatbelt kicks in. My chest constricts, my lungs burning as the tightness around me refuses to relent. I’m still hazy with sleep, but when the sun shines through the window and helps me focus, it’s no longer my lungs refusing to work, but my entire body.

“Run, Sera!” Giovanni barks, but my hands are too shaky to do anything.

The bodies in front of us are marching closer, more determined. Giovanni is already stepping out of the car, gun poised as he warns the tiny army off. “Gio!”

I push open my door, but bullets start to fly at me. One catches my wrist, the burn of speed searing my skin and reminding me I’m not as fucking untouchable as I think. I don’t have my gun, I don’t have any protection but this damn SUV.

“Sera! Run!” Giovanni shouts again, but the gunfire blocks out the sound of his voice.

Ignoring his order, I dive into the footwell, hearing the ping of metal, the smash of glass. There’s nowhere to escape, and as much as Giovanni barks at me to run, I can’t. The only safety I have is this car. And it might be strong, but I know it won’t hold up against bullets for long.

I slide my palms to my ears, blocking out the sounds of metal on metal. I suffocate myself in my knees, clenching my eyes shut and willing for this to be just a nightmare.

But I know it’s not, and I know who is outside this damn box on wheels, trying to get to me. I cry out for Giovanni, finally opening my eyes. But he’s gone.

The bullets have stopped and a sickening thud in my chest has my heart sinking as I pull myself up onto the seat slowly. “Gio?” I whisper.

Suddenly, the door behind me swings open and I’m yanked backwards onto the hard ground. The concrete digs into my side, winding me temporarily. I try to breathe through the pain but it’s too much. Black spots dance in front of my eyes as I crawl on all fours, but I can barely get away before I feel the impact in my ribs.

I roll sideways. It almost feels like I’m floating, but I’m pretty sure that’s the adrenaline coursing through my body to save me from the pain. I heave my body upright. I’m determined to use this damn chemical to get me through this, or at least fight.

My body apparently has other plans, and before I know it, I’m on my back, staring at the blue sky.

It’s all blue… until it’s black.

“Come on, Princess!”

“I told you to stop calling me that!” I snap, reaching for Enzo’s leg, but he’s just out of reach. He’s always one step ahead of me, even as kids he would taunt me but I could never catch him. He’s just too quick and smart.

Still, I push harder, even though my arms ache and my chest constricts.

Enzo laughs over his shoulder, dark eyes glancing down at me before he heaves himself up onto a branch. He reaches out, grabbing my hand to hoist me up onto the thick branch with him. I want to push further, I want to reach the very top–something I haven’t ever done–but Enzo is the person to keep me grounded. Not only in the physical sense, but he’s there to give me a reality check when I need it.

“You’re too easy to wind up,” he chuckles lightly, letting my hand go once I’ve settled onto the branch.

I narrow my eyes on him and I half contemplate nudging him just to scare the shit out of him. We’re high up in the trees, the valley below us sweeping, the branches around us swaying. I like it up here. It’s the only place I feel free.

At fifteen, it’s only a matter of time before I’m thrust into the life of La Cosa Nostra. My father has made these plans ever since I was born, when it was confirmed my mother couldn’t carry any more children. I’m the one and only heir to the Bianchi name now, and my father is hellbent on ensuring our position remains at the top.

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