Page 69 of Secret Mafia Daddy

We see a few cars parked outside an abandoned warehouse, and I know in my gut that’s where they are.

We surround the building, me and Nico going in quietly, toward the back.

Soon there are bullets rushing all around us. I don’t care. I keep my course, knowing my girls are back there. Waiting for me.

I don’t care if I get shot, as long as I get to see them again.

28

CATARINA

This is exactly what I’ve been terrified of happening my whole life, and especially since I’ve had Chelsea. She’s becoming more and more traumatized, trembling on my lap, and I hate it.

I can’t even talk to her, sing to her, calm her down. I mumble against the gag and finally, Anastasia rips it off. The pain makes me gasp.

“Water,” I ask in a croak, and she brings me a bottle, pouring it into my mouth and then handing it to Chelsea, who drinks it greedily.

Everything’s fine until Chelsea begins to scream.

“Shh, baby, it’s okay—” I start, and then Dmitri comes out of the shadows and smacks me across the face. It hurts and feels like my brain is shaking against my skull.

“Keep her quiet or next time, it'll be her."

“Chelsea," I say. "Fairy princess. Just keep your faith and everything will be okay.”

Chelsea looks at me, her brown eyes full of tears, shaking all over and hyperventilating.

“Papa will save us,” she says quietly, brokenly, and I nod slowly, not knowing what else to say. She quietens and sticks her thumb into her mouth, regressing, and nuzzles against my neck.

I rest my chin on the top of her head and look fiercely at Dmitri.

“My husband is going to make you hurt for hours,” I warn.

He scoffs but then the sound of bullets whizzing has me shouting and ducking my head as far as I can.

“Stay down, Chelsea, right against me,” I tell her, and thank God, she listens.

Dmitri curses and runs off, but Anastasia stays right there, looking down at me and biting her lip, smiling.

“This is when the fun begins," she says.

I squeeze my eyes shut against the screaming and the bullets and I hear a thud or two next to me and I can only hope it’s Dmitri and his men.

Finally, there’s a hand on my shoulder and I scream.

“It’s me, kitten. It’s okay, it’s me,” Angelo says, and I burst into tears, gesturing for him to take Chelsea.

“I knew you’d come, Papa,” she whispers, and Angelo crushes her into his arms, tears rolling down his face.

He looks heartbroken, and I can relate. I’ve been so worried about Chelsea. Someone unties me and my arms fall heavy onto the ground, having lost all feeling.

Angelo’s next to me in a second, reluctantly giving Chelsea to Nico. He rubs my arms down, kisses along the side of my face.

Angelo picks me up, carrying me out, and when he gets me into the car, he braces his hand against the car door, breaking down in sobs.

“It’s okay,” I say softly. “Chelsea’s okay.”

“Your lip is bloody,” he says brokenly. “They hurt you.”

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