Page 47 of The Capo

“I’ll prove it to you that we’re perfectly safe here.” And to myself. I managed to make it to the doorway, reaching around and finding the switch. As soon as it was flicked on, light flooded the massive space. “See, girl. There’s nothing.” I noticed a bright red Corvette and laughed. I’d been right about the sports car.

Woof!

Sadie’s hackles continued to be raised and I glanced from one side of the garage to the other, finally settling my eyes on my rental car, which had been parked in the last bay. There was something on the hood. What the hell? “Just stay here. There’s no one in the garage.” Maybe not, but after finding the courage to ease down the two steps, I moved toward the workbench.My father had enjoyed working on his own cars over the years, including the vintage Mustang that remained in the first and most prized bay. I grabbed the first thing I could get my hands on, a crowbar. Then I headed toward my car.

I was ten feet away before I realized it was something wrapped in red tissue paper. Oh, Jesus. My throat tightened, my eyes stinging as tears formed. This was just some gesture left by my father. Right? I chewed on my bottom lip, fighting the trickles of fear swirling through every muscle, holding the crowbar directly in front of me with both hands.

Sadie started barking and my nerves were past being shot, they were radioactive. I took another step then another, finally reaching out to touch the edge of the paper. When nothing went boom, I inched closer, using a single finger to rip the tissue away. Roses. A huge bouquet of very dead white roses. Even worse, the edges appeared to have been doused in blood.

White roses.

Oh, God. The monster had followed me from LA. I’d been watched. I was the target.

That meant the asshole knew about Francois and what happened and we’d both be killed and I was his weakness and… Words tumbled in my mind, my heart thudding to the point I was certain I was having a panic attack. Oh, this wasn’t good.

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, and for a few seconds couldn’t move. Finally, the fight or flight instinct rushed in. I backed away, scanning the perimeter before bounding toward the door leading into the house, Sadie quickly following. Once inside, I slammed and locked the door, trying to put myself together and think about what was best. I rushed toward the front door,purposely keeping the security system on as I threw it open, rushing outside, praying to God one of the soldiers was just outside.

There was no one in sight.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

With the crowbar firmly planted in my hands and Sadie rushing after me, I raced around the corner of the house, ugly sounds erupting from my throat.

A cracking sound drew my attention and I spun around, ready to fight the attacker. There was nothing there, but Sadie continued to bark, bolting in front of me and into the trees. I lunged forward, tripping on something.

And straight into something rock hard.

“No!”

CHAPTER 15

Francois

“You’re safe. You’re okay, beautiful doll. I got you.” I wrapped my arms around Delaney’s shaking body, pulling her close. What in God’s name had happened? Her terror was evident, my anger bridging the surface, enough so I started to reach for my weapon as I scanned the area. Seeing no one didn’t mean there wasn’t immediate danger. I’d been given notification the security system had gone off seconds before, immediately racing toward the house.

Sadie continuously barked, as if trying to warn me of something.

“I thought… You… Someone was in the… house,” she sputtered.

“What?” I pulled her away by a few inches, studying her eyes. She was serious.

“What the fuck is going on?” Rocco huffed as he bounded toward me, one of the other guards as well.

I shook my head, my hand already yanking my weapon from behind my back where I’d shoved it into the waistband of my jeans. “I don’t fucking know. Delaney. You need to talk to me. Try and calm down. I’m right here. Tell me what happened.” I pulled her away, her ashen face terrifying and angering me. What in God’s name had she been trying to do?

She took several gasping breaths then raked her shaking hand through her hair. “Someone was… inside the garage. Maybe the house. I’m not certain if they got in.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I kept my eyes on the dense forest, furious with myself for not following my usual protocol in protecting a member of my family, extended or otherwise. I should have taken her to my estate, which was much more secure. There were too many places for someone to hide around Brandon’s property, any would-be assassin easily finding a vantage point that would allow for a horrific and unforeseen attack.

“Roses… Dead white roses dipped in blood. On my car in the garage.” Delaney started shaking more violently, reaching for me once again. When she threw her arms around me, my need to possess and protect her shifted to an entirely different level.

She was mine to care for and someone had purposely tried to terrify her.

Because of me, my family.

That wasn’t going to happen again. I would hunt the fucker down and tear him limb from limb.

“Whew. I’ll check it out, boss,” Daniel said as he flanked Rocco’s side. He’d yet to leave from his nightly shift.

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