Page 44 of Unbroken (Russo Mafia)

“Morning, baby. How did you sleep?”

He slowly looks up at me, the expression never leaving. “When were you going to tell me?”

Raising an eyebrow, I’m confused. “Tell you what?”

He throws the paper on the table. I read the headline and I freeze.

VINCENT BURATTI’S ACCOUNTANT SELLS HIM OUT.

My name is listed as his accountant.

Numbness creeps into my body, blood rushes to my ears. How the hell did this happen? The air in my lungs evaporates. If my name is out there, that means he’s going to be coming after me. My body wobbles when my knees threaten to quit. I reach out with a shaky hand for something to hold on to.

Oh, my God. I can’t breathe. I rub my chest. I’m going to fucking die. I drop to my knees; strong arms wrap about my body.

“Charlie, breathe.”

The mafia is going to feed me to the fishes. The last thing I remember seeing is Lucca’s worried face before I pass out.

When I woke up, it was to a warm body tangled with mine. Running my hand along her arm, she doesn’t even stir. I slip out of bed pulling on a pair of sweatpants. When I enter the kitchen, Anna already has my morning coffee set out, along with my newspaper. Something on the front pages catches my eye. This can’t be right.

VINCCENT BURATTI’S ACCOUNTANT SELLS HIM OUT

CHARLOTTE HOLMES TOLD THE TORONTO TIMES YESTERDAY HER CLIENT HAS BEEN EMBEZZLING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE TAXPAYERS.

What the fuck is this. She would never do this. She knows what would happen if she went behind a mafia boss’ back.

“Morning, baby. How did you sleep?” I hear Charlie ask me.

I slowly look up at her. “When were you going to tell me?”

She raises an eyebrow. “Tell you what?” she asked, confused.

I throw the paper on the table. She reads it, then her entire body freezes. She braces herself on the table. The next thing I know her knees buckle. I quickly reach for her.

“Charlie, breathe.”

She looks into my eyes before they roll in the back of her head.Shit.I carefully pick her up laying her on the couch. Anna comes rushing in.

“Oh, dear, what happened?”

“She passed out. She must’ve suffered an anxiety attack.” I brush the hair away from her face.

“I’ll grab some water for when she wakes.”

I grab my phone from my sweats pocket and dial Rett. He’ll be able to figure this out.

“This better be good. It’s only six in the morning.”

“I need you to come by the house. Bring your laptop. We have shit hitting the fucking fan.”

“Fuck, okay. I’ll be there soon.”

Father must not have seen the paper yet, or he would be blowing up my phone. All I know is Charlotte is not safe going outside today. Whoever leaked this shit must’ve known that Vincent was a client of Charlie’s I need to get her records of clients.

Rett comes barging through the door, looking out of sorts. I would be too after the call I made.

“I’m here. Lay it on me. What the fuck is happening? Oh, shit.” He stops when he sees Charlie. “What is going on?”

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