Chapter 36
LORENZO
The moment Gina’s call comes through, I’m already moving.
Luckily, the video monitor had shown her enough of whatever was in that box to make her scream. I’d never heard Gina scream like that before.
Now, as I burst through the restaurant door, I have my hand on my gun by instinct.
Emily lies motionless on the cold floor, her face turned to one side. Her red hair has come loose from her updo and has spread out beneath her head like a halo.
Biscotti has pressed himself into the curve of her stomach, whimpering in a way that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
I gently touch Emily and she blinks awake. “Are you okay?” I ask, running my eyes over her body. I’m relieved there’s no blood, no outward injury.
I feel an overwhelming sense of relief. Little more than a week ago, I didn’t even know this woman.
Now, I’m very close to not being able to live without her.
I check her pupils, her breathing, mostly to keep my sense of control.
“I’m fine,” she says, her voice weak.
Relief hits harder than it should.
I help her up and guide her to one of the new sofas in the bar area.
“Tell me everything that happened.”
I listen as Emily tells me about the DHL delivery and opening the box.
“Who would do such a thing?” she asks. “What did it mean?”
I hesitate.
I could give her a bullshit story so she wouldn’t worry.
But Emily’s too sharp to believe anything but the truth.
I begin slowly.
“You know we’re at war with the Petrovs.”
“I’ve never heard it expressed exactly that way,” she says, as Biscotti comes trotting over to her. She embraces him and looks me in the eye. “Tell me more.”
“The bottom line is that the Petrovs are trying to get our casino. Its operating license, specifically. To force the issue, they’re attacking the things that we hold dear. Tonight, that happened to be you.”
Emily looks into my eyes.
“You’re saying you hold me dear?” she says, her firm gaze demanding honesty.
There it is.
The urge to back away from the truth is strong. Even after tonight, it’s difficult to commit.
“Of course,” I say.
Once I utter the words, I feel an overwhelming sense of relief.
I’ve said it.
I reach out to stroke her silky red hair.
“You’re precious to me. More than you know.”
I struggle to maintain my usual composure.
Emily throws her arms around me and I hold her close.
Girls have been crushing on me since kindergarten.
And the harder they threw themselves at me, the easier it was to push them away.
Until Emily.
She stands, still holding Biscotti.
“I want to believe that, Lorenzo. Given what we’ve experienced together the last few days, I almost do.”
“Then believe it, because it’s true.”
I stand to hug her. Biscotti, squeezed between us, yips.
We both laugh and break apart.
“I’m going to take you and Biscotti home. Take a bath. Relax. I’ll have my crew come over and scrub this place down. When Mike and Paul come in tomorrow, they won’t notice a thing amiss.”
She nods.
“Okay. Let’s go.”