“Hardly kidnapped,” Joseph drawled. “The child is mine by law. As for Nicoletta, she saw the error of her ways and came to her senses.”
“What?” My gaze fixed on Nicky.
Her lips trembled. “I had no choice. Joseph got my number through the church daycare and told me if I didn’t meet him, he’d kill Zaza.
My fists clenched at the sight of the smugly smirking piece of shit. “Aren’t you a fucking prize? Threating your own kid.”
“My family is not your concern,” Joseph replied.
“Family?” I snorted. “That’s priceless, coming from a wife-beating asshole.” Yeah, I goaded him on purpose, wanting his attention on me. Wanting that gun away from Nicky’s temple.
Joseph didn’t fall for the bait and kept the muzzle pressed. “Perhaps in America husbands allow their wives to disrespect them, but not here. Here, a woman is expected to know her place and when she steps out of line, it is a husband’s duty to correct her. Speaking of which, it is time for Nicky’s next lesson.”
“Don’t you fucking hurt her,” I snarled.
Joseph’s left brow arched. “You are not giving the orders here. I am. Put down your weapons.”
If I relinquished the guns, I’d die, as Nicky and Zaza might. Without me protecting them, they’d most definitely end up hurt.
“Why don’t you come and take it, or are you only capable of threatening women and children?”
“Your tactic won’t work. Drop the weapons now, or I scramble her brains,” barked Joseph, pressing the barrel hard enough against Nicky’s head it tilted sideways.
In that moment, I knew he would do it—and without another warning—leaving me no choice. I knelt to place the revolver on the floor and tugged the strap for the rifle, sliding it from my back to lie beside the gun.
“I doubt that’s everything. Empty your pockets.”
All I had left was the knife and a single chance to still make things right.
My hand slid into my pocket slowly, but it emerged lightning fast. I flung the blade, watching it spin end over end, the distance between me and Joseph mere paces.
Joseph must have suspected what I’d do, that or he had great reflexes, because he jerked sideways and the blade missed him, clattering to the floor instead of embedding into his chest.
I’d missed and had no more tricks up my sleeves or in my pockets.
“I’m sorry,” I said to Nicky. I’d failed to rescue her and would never have a chance to show her what real love looked and felt like.
“No, I’m sorry,” Nicky sobbed.
“You were both stupid for thinking you could outwit me,” Joseph snapped. The gun finally moved from Nicky’s head and pointed at me. I stared down the barrel of death and pondered the irony that I finally found myself on the killing end.
“Look away,” I pleaded. Don’t let Nicky’s last view of me be of my brains exploding.
“No, I want her to watch. Your death, after all, is her fault.” Joseph’s smile widened, but before his finger could fully pull the trigger, something slammed into the window, shattering it!
Not a rock or a bullet.
I blinked as Percy landed with a slight stumble and said, “Unhand my servants at once.”
Chapter Nineteen
I’m sure you’re wondering how I ended up coming to the rescue. We’ll need to rewind a tiny bit to the hotel room where I attempted to nap and failed because Nicky kept pacing and muttering to herself.
I thought about taking her to task. I mean, hello, I needed to rest! However, her agitation did prove founded. I, too, worried about the little human even as I had faith Bruce would bring her back safely.
A faith that found itself tested when Nicky exclaimed, “Joseph just texted me.”
“Are you sure it’s him?” I questioned. “I thought no one but Bruce had your number.”
