CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
RAINA
I open my eyes and see Kage sitting beside me, one of the last four people I’d want to see, as I wake up after being shot. He stares at me with an emotion filled expression, and I know it’s fake, because Kage has none. The man that murdered both my best friend, and mother, cannot possibly feel a damn thing.
“Baby,” he says, as he takes my hand and I pull it away.
I shut my eyes tight, so I don’t have to look at him, and whisper, “Get me some water, please. My throat hurts.”
He nods, and quickly runs out of the room like it’s on fire, coming back with a nurse. She hands me a cup of water with a straw in it.
“Slow sips, Ms. Abruzzo.”
I do as she says, but it’s challenging, because I want to gulp it. I’m so fucking thirsty, it feels like I haven’t had a drink in months, and makes me think about the people that have died in his cages. Is there more than one? If not, why his bedroom? Is it because watching people die gets him off? I stop drinking at that thought, because suddenly I feel sick.
The nurse checks my vitals and smiles at me.
“Dr. Michaels will be in to check on you soon.”
She leaves, and I do everything I can to avoid his stare.
“Raina, please look at me.”
“I can’t, Kage. It makes me sick when I do.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him put his face in his hands, revealing a Kage I’ve never seen, but at this point I’m detached. It’s all been too much.
“I’m sorry about your mom. I didn’t know when I threw the gun it’d discharge, and go through the fucking wall and hit her.”
“And Casey?”
He groans like it’s painful, but admits, “I meant to kill him.”
Exactly as I thought. There’s no remorse in his tone, but I didn’t expect there would be.
“I’m tired. Can you go? I can’t sleep with you here.”
He rises from his chair and leans down, kissing me on the forehead, and says, “This isn’t over, Raina. Somehow we’re going to get through this, because I need you.”
I look at him this time, but only to glare at him.
“I don’t need you, Kage.”
He turns and walks out of the room, and throws over his shoulder.
“I know you believe that right now, but it’s a lie. I’m going to check on my brother, but I’ll be back.”
As Kage walks out and disappears, I’m left with the question of why in the world Reaper jumped in front of me. Why he tried to take the bullet meant for me. That doesn’t make any sense. After all, he blames me, along with the rest of my family, for the death of his son, as well as the torture Bella went through.
Eventually thinking becomes too hard, and I close my eyes and fall asleep.
“Ms. Abruzzo,” a quiet voice speaks, sounding far away.
I open my eyes to a beautiful brunette staring at me.
“Yes?” I ask, without having a clue who she is.
“My name is Anastasia Crowne, and I think we can both help each other out.”
I roll my eyes at her.
“I don’t think I’m in the condition to help anyone right now.”
She hands me a card, and I hold it up with my hand that doesn’t have an IV in it.
I arch an eyebrow at her.
“ADA? Assistant District Attorney?”
She nods slowly and glances behind her, probably to make sure we’re still alone.
“I’m the new ADA, and I have every intention of taking the Bonettis down. I know you are not with Lorenzo Bonetti willingly. Help me. Give me what I need, and they’ll go to prison for life, and you’ll get your freedom.”
Now she has my attention. When I told Kage I’d destroy him, this is not what I meant, but also it works. Part of me feels bad for Reaper, since he tried to save my life for some unknown reason, but right now I have to put myself first.
“What do you need?”
She smiles softly.
“Whatever you have.”
I tell her the truth.
“I don’t know how much help I’ll be. They are a mafia family. I know they deal in drugs and trafficking.”
She stares at me in interest, like she’s hanging on my every word.
“Trafficking? Human trafficking?”
I can see that she thinks she hit the jackpot, but I shake my head.
“Weapons. I don’t think they are in the trafficking of people, or even prostitution.”
She glances behind herself again, before returning her gaze to me.
Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out a phone, and hands it to me.
“This is a burner phone. My number is speed dial one. I promise, I’ll get you out of this, and you’ll never have to worry about the Bonettis again.”
After she leaves, I smile for what feels like the first time in a long time. A glimmer of hope. That’s all I need to get through this.
I look around, trying to figure out where I can hide this phone. When I hear Kage talking to someone in the hallway, I quickly tuck it behind my back and close my eyes, so he thinks I’m still sleeping.