Chapter 6 #3
“Discussing what life will be like with the newlyweds,” I say slowly. “I might be needed here longer than Eivor expected.”
This could be for a variety of reasons, so I let it hang in the air.
“I agree,” Carmine tells me. “Especially with the current threat…having someone specific to keep an eye on them would be ideal…but let’s not talk about that tonight. You have delicious food to eat, don’t you, Brothers?”
“Mhmm,” Tiberi says as he takes a small bite.
Tommaso looks annoyed as he shoves a bite of food into his mouth.
Cassian just sighs and takes a drink before speaking. “I told them.”
“I’m sure you did,” Carmine mumbles. He gives us a nod before heading back to his seat beside Soren—who is glancing over at the table with a curious look.
The two of them…they give power couple more than anyone else in the room. Every move they make, they make together. I’m beginning to wonder what they keep to themselves. What secrets I could pry from them. From the Dresvanni estate. Both for Eivor’s sake, and for the sake of their safety.
The Tulos were already kept from me for the sake of not tipping them off, who or what else might I not know about?
I think about this as I chew each bite of my food; at the same time, I keep an eye on Rosalie and Alessio.
Alessio looks more and more disinterested in whatever conversation is happening at the table by the minute.
He seems to excuse himself, and I can guess he’s going to either get a stiff drink or to smoke once again. He’s already drank several glasses of champagne over dinner, and I don’t imagine that going well with whatever drug he took.
My eyes follow him, but then Rosalie is walking up behind him. Her face is scrunched in displeasure. I try to read her lips but she’s too far away.
Alessio’s shoulders slump with a sigh but then he glances around and seems to remember to compose himself. To put back on the mask of a loving and doting, confident man. He steps closer to Rosalie and places a hand on her arm, gently rubbing it as he talks to her.
She tugs away from him just slightly and then reaches out for his hand, as if catching her mistake.
For a moment or two, this is all they do, and there’s nothing for me to be concerned about…but then, out of the window to the side of them I watch as a car drives by slowly down the road that leads from the parking lot.
All the guests have arrived. None have left. Dinner just ended, so there’s no reason for anyone to have left. I’m certain of it.
I watch the car in what feels like slow motion.
Each tire rolls forward steady and precise. The car has tinted windows but is otherwise unimpressive and not in the least memorable. Black with silver details. No customized paint job. I can’t see from this distance if there’s any stickers on the windshield.
The window begins to roll down.
Instinct kicks in and I’m out of my chair before my next breath.
“Get down!” I yell toward Alessio and Rosalie.
They’re not fast enough. Just like the kid answering the door several days ago.
Several large strides take me from the table to them and I spread my arms out to reach them.
My hands curl around both of their bodies and I pull them back and down to the floor with me.
My legs slide out from underneath my body in a swift motion.
Just as the tops of Alessio and Rosalie’s heads clear the window several shots break through the glass.
Chaos breaks out in the dining hall, but none of the screaming and gasping of the other guests matters to me.
The two people in my arms on the floor are the only two people those bullets were meant for. I’m positive of that.
A third shot hits the window, a fourth breaks through, and the glass explodes to the ground. The sound of tires squealing on the icy road are heard as the fifth shot goes into the brick wall below the window.
“Go! Follow that car now!” Eivor shouts at the other guards in the room. A scrambling of feet towards the door is heard behind me.
“Oh my God,” Rosalie gasps. She and Alessio sit up from the floor slowly.
“Are you alright?” I ask them, but it’s Alessio I turn to first.
He looks dizzy, and his hair is a mess all around his head. Several of Rosalie’s hairpins are on the floor too, but I still haven’t looked at her.
Alessio nods. Looks down at his legs then his arms and pats his chest. “Yes. I believe so.”
Relief washes over me. I look to Rosalie finally.
“You saved us,” she whispers. “Those fuckers.” Anger is hot in her eyes.
“Let me see your arms,” I tell her, suddenly smelling iron. Hot and rich.
“I’m okay,” she insists.
I grab her arms and look at them anyway. There’s blood along the sleeve of her dress.
“You’re injured,” I tell her. I roll her sleeve up, and see that it’s not a bullet wound, but rather a scrap from hitting the floor so violently. “Just a scratch.”
“I told you,” Rosalie huffs. She puts her hands on my broad shoulder to push herself up from the floor and then puts a hand on her head.
“Rose! Are you alright? My God, you could’ve been killed,” Soren is saying as he rushes to her side.
Carmine is there as well, helping Alessio up off the floor. I push up beside him and brush my hands down the front of my suit.
“Whoever it was intended to kill both of them,” I say.
“Really? Not just Rosalie?” Carmine asks curiously.
I shake my head. “No. If they intended to kill just her, they’d have waited. It was clearly meant for both of them.”
“Fucking Carvels, it has to be them,” Alessio growls out. The sound of his voice so intense and gravely sends a shiver up my spine that I do my best to ignore.
“They’ll get the car, and we’ll find out,” Soren insists. “We’ve got two cars after it.”
“They won’t get away with this,” Carmine agrees.
“No, they won’t,” Rosalie huffs. “This will not happen at my wedding, or so help me…” She folds her arms. “I’m ready to get my hands around someone’s neck.
” She grits her teeth. Her face is flushed pink.
Despite her small stature and feminine appearance, especially at the moment in her dress, I don’t find myself doubting her abilities at all.
I look around at everyone else in the room, talking to each other, looking over at the newlywed couple with anxiety, some people leaving and others trying to fight their way over to talk to them, but Eivor is keeping people away.
“I think the two of you should lay low until the wedding,” I suggest. “Is there somewhere else I can take you until then?”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Carmine says. He looks to Soren who purses his lips.
“There’s a safe apartment downtown. We acquired it recently, after the previous one was compromise. Whoever is behind this won’t suspect it,” Soren says.
I nod. “Good.” I look to Alessio who’s hands are balled into fists. “Let’s get you out of here.”