28. Summer #2
Rico’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Ma’am, the exterior is bulletproof, but if we stay here, we become sitting ducks. It’s my job to ensure your safety, and right now, that means we have to find cover. I’ve already called for backup. They should be here soon.”
That meant Matteo was on his way, and he’d promised he would never let anything happen to me.
Clinging to that promise like a lifeline, I watched as Rico maneuvered his massive body over the center console and into the backseat.
Holding a gun, he shoved the back door open and stuck his head out to survey the area.
Deciding the coast was clear, he ducked back inside, extending his free hand for me to take.
“I need you to listen very carefully.” I nodded, so he continued, “Forget everything you know about personal space. I’m going to be stuck to you like glue, my body a shield for yours, until I can find a location where you’ll be safe until reinforcements arrive. ”
Hauling in a shaky breath, I replied, “Okay.”
“On my count. One, two, three.” He pulled me out of the car, curling his large frame over my much smaller one. I’m sure we looked ridiculous to the passersby on the street, but I didn’t give a fuck. They didn’t get to have an opinion unless they’d been shot at on a random Wednesday afternoon.
“Almost there,” Rico encouraged, and I lifted my head to see that we were headed toward an alley between buildings, lined with dumpsters.
I breathed a sigh of relief that was knocked from my lungs when a sharp crack rang out, and my body hit the pavement, crushed beneath a heavy weight.
Everyone on the sidewalk began screaming, and frantic footsteps raced away from where I lay.
It took a full minute to realize that Rico was on top of me, pinning me face-down against the concrete.
Grunting, I tried to turn over, and when I accomplished that feat, I regretted it instantly.
A blood-curdling scream tore up my throat when I was met with the unseeing eyes of my bodyguard, a bullet hole through the center of his forehead.
Panic surged, and all of a sudden, I couldn’t breathe. My chest heaved, only able to rise enough to suck in the shallowest of breaths, and black spots danced in my vision. Rico’s lifeless body was slowly crushing me.
Sobbing silently, I cried for the two little girls who would lose a second mother in the span of a year.
Then I was struck with overwhelming grief for Matteo, the man who had been so terrified of surrendering to love, afraid of losing the one person he’d bestowed his heart upon, only to have his worst fears realized.
Finally, I allowed myself to mourn the future I would be robbed of—watching Bianca and Serafina grow up, experiencing the beautiful life we would have built as a family, traveling the world and moving into old age with Matteo.
Each inhale became more of a struggle, the darkness creeping in from all sides. And just when I thought it was going to drag me under, the weight was lifted, and I sucked in a greedy gasp.
Coughing and wheezing, I turned onto my side and attempted to crawl away, only to be wrenched back by my hair, the agony tearing through my skull as sharp as the cry that passed my lips.
“Lookie what I found. None other than Bellini’s little bitch,” a heavily accented voice sneered in my ear.
“Pl-please,” I stammered, struggling against his hold.
The pockmarked face of the man twisted into a salacious grin. “Well, shit. Didn’t realize what a hot, young thing he was sticking his dick into. Maybe we’ll just have a little fun before I send you back to him in pieces.”
My stomach lurched, and I began to dry heave.
Apparently, this murderer/rapist was squeamish when it came to vomit because he dropped me like a hot potato, muttering, “Fucking disgusting.”
Well, if that’s all it took to keep him far away from me . . .
I proceeded to put on an award-winning performance, clutching my stomach and making loud retching noises. From my periphery, I could see his feet moving further away.
That’s right. Keep backing up, buddy.
Once the distance between us grew great enough that I liked my chances of making it inside one of the nearby storefronts before he caught me, I pushed off on my palms and made a break for it.
Pumping my legs wildly, I got within three feet of the door to a bakery when an arm looped around my waist and I was lifted off the ground. “Stupid cunt. You can’t run and you can’t hide.”
Shrieking, I thrashed violently, desperately trying to get him to drop me. Tears streaked freely down my face as I continued to struggle, even when I realized my efforts were useless. My assailant outmuscled me with ease, hauling me toward wherever he planned to violate me before taking my life.
I tried, Matteo. Please know I went down fighting.
“Will you shut the fuck up,” he hissed in my ear.
That only made me yell louder, calling for help, praying that someone would do the right thing and alert the authorities.
A dirty hand was clamped over my mouth in an attempt to muffle me, and though my stomach revolted at the idea, I bit down on that grime-coated flesh and ripped a chunk out of it.
There was an inhuman wail, and I was released so suddenly that I barely managed to break my fall when I crashed to the sidewalk.
The minute I rose to my feet, I was knocked off them again in a move that had me spinning around to where I landed on my back.
My head cracked against the concrete so hard that I saw stars.
My attacker took advantage of my temporarily stunned state, straddling my waist and curling his fingers around my neck. He increased the pressure, cutting off my air supply. I clawed at his hands, but it was no use as he slowly choked the life out of me.
“More trouble than you’re worth, you little whor—“
A spray of something warm hit my face a split second before the man atop me disappeared from view. My lungs expanded with great heaving gasps, and I frantically searched to see where he’d gone, only to be met with the sight of him lying beside me, half of his face missing.
Recoiling in horror, I scrambled to get away, but with my vision swimming, my movements were sluggish. Dizzy, I turned onto my side and purged the contents of my stomach before collapsing, too weak to continue.
“Summer!” I was vaguely aware of my name being roared in the distance. Or maybe it was closer; I couldn’t really tell. All the sounds around me were distorted, almost as if I was underwater.
Warm hands touched my face, and I screamed, slapping them away with what little strength I had left.
Eventually, my eyes focused enough that I was able to recognize the man who came into view, backlit by the setting sun.
Matteo. I knew he’d come for me.
That thought brought comfort as my world went dark.