VICTOR
Taylor shook her head. “She’s in good hands with Maya. I can stay.”
Gregor nodded. “Of course.”
“First, how’s Lucas doing?” she asked.
“Okay. I’ll be praying for him,” Kena assured.
‘Kena was sweet,’ Victor thought with a smile. Other than his wife and mother, she was the closest woman in his world. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“All right, then, let’s get to it. The press is all over this attack on your family. The speculation is getting a bit out of control. Your opponent is trying to link your loose association with the Savellis to the attack on Lucas and the twins.
“This motherfucker!” Victor seethed.
To call Paul Langdon an asshole would be generous. Truth, dignity, and sportsmanship were foreign to his presidential opponent. He’d sell his children to win the election.
Victor blew out a frustrated breath. Contrary to Paul’s lies, he didn’t know the Savellis well. Because of his association with Jack Storm, he’d only met Luca Savelli a few times. But if Paul Langdon continued to drop their name, he would probably be making his acquaintance soon.
“Steven and Renee are working on a press release. And it seems you’ve risen in the polls due to a sympathetic country.”
“Yippee,” Victor muttered sarcastically. “Instead of issuing a press release, call a conference and have Renee give a statement. She can field the questions. Also, please let Nathan know that I’m suspending the campaign until Lucas is out of the woods.”
Kena eyes widened with a warning. “He’s not gonna like that.”
Lake Michigan could swell and sink all of Chicago, and his campaign manager would move the campaign to a barge. “He’ll have to live with it,” Victor replied with a shrug.
Kena nodded. “I’ll let him know. Also, your--”
Kena’s words were cut by a blood-curdling scream, coming from down the hall. As if the scream wasn’t disturbing enough, the voice was familiar.
“That sounds like your mom.”
Victor took off down the hall. Another scream led him directly to Lucas’ room.
Outside the door, he could hear sounds of a struggle.
He pushed his way inside and was horrified by the scene playing out before him.
His mother was screaming while riding the back of a large man, in black from head to toe, and punching the side of his face.
Victor’s heart nearly stopped at the sight of his mother in danger.
He’d walked in on a knock-down-dragged out brawl.
“Sir, let us handle this,” came from a secret serviceman before he grabbed Victor’s arm.
Victor yanked his arm away and sprinted toward his mom.
The man looked up in a panic and grabbed Mrs. Creed by the arm. Just before Victor could reach them, he pulled his mother from his back and tossed her in the corner like a sack of laundry.
Victor tackled the man in black and punched him in the face before he could catch his bearings.
He kept hitting him until the Secret Service stepped in and dragged him away.
Even then, he was able to connect his foot with the man’s head.
While being held by several members of the Secret Service, the man grabbed the windowsill, trying to pull himself to his feet.
But before he could make it to his feet, a shot rang out.
Because the secret servicemen piled on top of him, Victor was unable to see where the had shot came from or where it’d landed.
“My mom!” he screamed at the Secret Service.
“She’s fine,” s someone yelled from beneath the pile. “She’s okay.”
Victor struggled and pushed through the bodies. “Get the fuck off me!” he demanded.
One by one, they piled off. When he was finally free, Victor scanned the room for his mother. She was crouched down in a corner with one hand over her mouth and the other white knuckling the grip of a handgun.
Victor took long-legged steps to get to his mom. He grabbed the gun and handed it to one of the Secret Service agents. “You're okay,” he whispered as he lifted his mother from the floor.
She was hyperventilating and shaking uncontrollably. Victor pulled her into a hug. “It’s okay, Mom. Take a deep breath. It’s okay.”
She nodded. “O-okay,” she whispered on a shaky breath. “I’m okay,” she reassured, seemingly more to herself than her son.
Once she calmed, Victor finally looked around. The man in black was dead on the floor with a gunshot wound in the center of his torso. But to his complete shock, no more than two feet from him was Bella’s lifeless-like body. “Oh, my God!” Victor yelled. “Get help!”
Victor released his mother and dropped down to the floor. He grabbed Bella’s wrists to see if she had a pulse. He nearly panicked when he couldn't feel anything. “Oh, God! Somebody help!”
Seconds later, the agents allowed healthcare workers in the room.
Victor was pushed to the side when a nurse climbed over Bella and placed her fingers on the side of her neck.
She whipped around and yelled at another member of the staff.
“I got a pulse! We got blunt force trauma to the head! I need a portable CT! Page neurology and get a doctor in here!”
“You’re not a doctor?” Victor asked with a frown.
“Close. I’m a PA, but I’m still gonna need some help here!”