He got her because of me.
I tried to keep him on the phone as long as possible, but the bastard is too smart—he soon realized I was stalling.
We were on the call for no more than a minute, and I pray it was enough to save her life, because then the line went dead.
I jump into my car, and as soon as I start it, the security team calls to tell me they’ve found her and send me the location.
I drive like a maniac toward the site of the ambush after confirming she’s not hurt.
An accident blocking the road today of all days kept the bodyguards from reaching Argyros’s car sooner, giving that miserable bastard Jonathan just enough of an edge to get to them.
My phone rings, and for a second, I hesitate to answer.
“I’m with them,” Blood says.
“Tell me she’s okay.”
“She’s fine. But the friend was shot trying to protect her.” There’s a tone of regret in his voice like I’ve never heard before.
“Is he going to make it?” I ask, already thinking about what this will do to Lilly if something happens to Theodoro.
“Yeah. The bullet just grazed his shoulder. The kid’s a little suicidal, if you ask me. He could’ve been killed.” Blood doesn’t sound like himself. Usually, nothing shakes him. “Get here fast. I need to get Jonathan out of here if you still want him, because once the police take him into custody, it’ll be like opening Pandora’s box. No doubt accusations will start flying from every direction. I’ll stage a getaway—make it look like he escaped after shooting Theodoro, but I need your go-ahead to leave Lilly in our guys’ care.”
“You have it. Get that son of a bitch out of there, but don’t do anything, Blood. Jonathan is mine.”
Theodoro was taken to the hospital with a bullet graze to his arm. I got a message from Blood saying my target was secured and that whenever I was ready, he’d be mine.
It’s what I’ve waited for my entire adult life—but now, I’m in no rush. I need to take care of my woman first.
When I finally get my hands on Jonathan, he’ll wish he were dead.
My head is spinning from everything that’s happened.
Lilly is in the shower in her suite while I pace back and forth like a caged animal.
No matter how hard I try to stay balanced, I can’t process how crazy our lives have become in such a short time.
As soon as I got to the scene and made sure Theodoro wasn’t in danger, I got her out of there. She tried to fight me on it, insisted on going with him to the hospital. but I didn’t budge.
Only after I guaranteed Theo would be protected by a team and promised no harm would come to him did she finally give in.
Lilly hasn’t said much since we reunited. She hasn’t asked any questions either. I know she’s waiting for me to explain, but I’m not ready yet. I just want to hold her for a while. Make sure she’s really okay.
“Amos.”
In a split second, I open the shower door. “Are you okay?” I ask.
She looks at me—like a goddess of the water. Pure. Clean. More different from me than ever. “Come,” she says, making space. “I need you here with me.”
I strip and join her, pulling her into my arms.
“I love you,” she says, and I feel more and more like an addict whose doses need to be constantly increased. “It’s okay. I’m okay. Don’t blame yourself.”
“How do you know I’m blaming myself?”
“He called you son,” she says. “That man . . . was he one of your foster parents?”
“Yes. And one of the people responsible for hurting Bruno.”
