Page 1 of The Mafia's Omega Queen

The ominous click-clack of familiar heels rouses me from an impromptu nap that I never intended to take. Whatever happened is still fuzzy in my mind, and my head hurts like hell, but I refuse to acknowledge the bitch to find out why. I do know that if she’s here, it can’t be for anything good.

Every little tap, tap, tap feels like an icepick hammering away at my brain, and I would love nothing more than to snap the spikes off those things she calls shoes, but if she knew I was awake, I would hate to think what she would do to me. Again.

This whole situation screams her name. Just like every single one before it.

More times than I count, I’ve tried to warn Vincenzo about the vindictive ways of his so-called girlfriend, but they just fell on deaf ears. And I’m not the only one. Arden and Hunter have been victims to her whims, and even though they haven’t fallen prey to her bullshit, she hasn’t given up. It’s a surprise they haven’t moved out or killed her by now.

Call me an old asshole, but I prefer the latter.

Big Andoneli would have never stood for this type of manipulation happening around the estate, and he’s probably rolling over in his grave as he witnesses her getting away with it. Before he died, he entrusted me with the care of his sons. Because that’s what they all turned out to be. Arden may be his nephew, Hunter, his torturer’s son, and Gavin, the kid he took in after his mother died, but in the end, he loved them all like they were his own.

I can, without a doubt, say he would have loved Haylee, too. She’s precisely the kind of girl these boys need to keep them in line. She matches Vincenzo’s fire, Gavin’s heart, Arden’s intellect, and Hunter’s craziness.

Now if only Vincenzo could take off the blinders he wears and see that. He’s the only one impervious to how perfect she is for him.

The main door to the estate closes with a soft click, and I breathe a sigh of relief that she’s finally gone. Pushing up onto my hands and knees, a wave of dizziness washes over me, my arms shaking with the strain of holding myself up. Whatever she hit me with sure did pack one hell of a punch.

Once the haziness recedes, I sit back on my haunches and reach up, fingering the sore spot on the back of my head. My fingers come away wet, and I rub the fresh blood between my digits. Bitch. She’s going to pay for that.

I may be getting up there in my years, but Big Andoneli made sure I was trained so I could protect his heir if I needed to. Granted, I never had to, but those instincts are still there.

Tightly gripping the foyer table, I drag my exhausted body up until I stand on my own two feet. Who knew being knocked out zapped all the energy from your system. I’ve been with the family for most of my life, and this is definitely a first for me. Not something I want to repeat any time soon.

The metallic tang of fresh blood reaches my nose, heavily lacing the air. It’s too potent for it to be only mine. I turn toward the stairs, and I pale at the gruesome sight before my eyes.

No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening.

Adrenaline floods my system as I race across the foyer and fall to my knees beside an unresponsive Haylee. Her arm is bent at an odd angle, bruises are blossoming over almost every inch of her pale skin I can see, and a thick red liquid seeps from the numerous wounds littering her body, creating an ever-growing puddle on the marble floor.

My palm slams down on the worst cut, holding as much pressure as I can muster to try and slow the bleeding. The only silver lining is that I can see her chest rising and falling, but those breaths are starting to slow down and get choppy.

With a shaky hand, I rip my cell phone from my pocket, cursing under my breath at the crack in the screen. It lights up when I hit the home button, the damage not affecting it whatsoever. Thank God it’s still usable.

A quick scroll brings me to Doc’s number, and I hit the green call button, tucking the phone against my shoulder, and move my other hand to another wound, hoping the effort won’t be in vain.

The fear of going to voicemail makes me grit my teeth, and finally, after four rings, he picks up.

“Hey, Andre. Now’s not a good time. I’m getting rea—”

I cut him off before he can say any more. “Vincenzo’s mate is dying.” I refuse to sugarcoat the severity of the situation, and throwing out Vincenzo’s name will get him here quicker. “Numerous stab wounds to the abdomen, a broken arm, and who knows what else. Drop whatever you’re doing and get here immediately.”

The phone falls from my shoulder with a clatter as it hits the floor. Quickly wiping my fingers on my pants, I hit the end button and scroll till I find Arden’s number. I tap the speakerphone button as it starts to ring and return my hand back to the bleeding cut.

“Is everything okay, Andre?”

“No. Haylee doesn’t have long. Doc is on his way; you guys need to get here now.”

“What?” I hear the tell-tale sound of his fingers flying over the screen of his phone. “Where are you?” He sounds panicked, and he has every right to be.

“Foyer,” I grit out.

“Fuck! What the hell happened?” Is he seriously asking me this question right now? He yells at someone in the background, but it’s muffled, like he has his hand covering the receiver. “We’re on the way. I’m pulling up the back feed of the cameras now, but do you have any idea who did this?”

“It was that conniving bitch, Bianca.”

“This is the last straw. I’ll fucking kill the bitch,” he seethes into the phone, anger contorting his words in a way I’ve never heard before. “We’ll be there in twenty.”

“Better make it ten.” The line goes dead.

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