“I think Dmitri is desperate enough to try anything. And I’m not taking chances with Savannah and the baby.”
“Understood. I’ll get it started.”
I hang up and stand there for a moment, staring at my phone. The screen shows three missed calls from Alexi. I call him back.
“Dad.” His voice is tight. “I just saw the news. They’re saying there was a shooting at Marelli’s. That’s where?—”
“Savannah’s fine. She’s here with me.”
“What the hell happened?”
“She went to meet Mason without security. The Kozlovs were waiting. They tried to take her.”
“Jesus Christ.” He exhales hard. “Is she hurt?”
“No. Shaken up, but physically fine. The baby’s fine.”
“And Mason?”
“Shot. He’s in surgery.” I walk to the window and look out at the city. “He tried to help her. Threw himself at one of the Kozlov men. That’s the only reason I got to her in time.”
“So he’s not completely worthless.”
“No. Just stupid. And desperate. They paid him twenty thousand dollars to bring her to that restaurant.”
Alexi curses. “You’re going after them.”
“I’m going after all of them. Dmitri, his men, and anyone associated with the Kozlov family. This ends now.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Stay at the house. I’m implementing full security protocols. No one leaves without clearance. No one comes in without being vetted.”
“For how long?”
“Until I’ve eliminated the threat.” I turn away from the window. “I need to go. Savannah needs me.”
“Dad?” He pauses. “Be careful. They’re not playing games anymore.”
“Neither am I.”
I hang up and return to the living room. Savannah hasn’t moved. She’s still staring at her hands, at the blood on her sleeve.
I sit beside her. “Savannah.”
She doesn’t respond.
“Look at me.”
Slowly, she turns her head. Her eyes are red-rimmed but dry like she’s too shocked to cry.
“Mason’s in surgery,” I say. “He’s alive. They’re doing everything they can.”
“He got shot because of me.”
“He got shot because he made a deal with the Kozlovs. Because he was stupid and desperate and thought he could play both sides.”
“He tried to save me. At the end, he tried to help.”
