“Call a medic,” I shout as I approach the sidewalk.
“Our doc is already on his way,” Franco says, approaching with a blanket and a bottle of water. “Hello, Serena.” He deliberately softens his voice. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
I help Rena up into the van, setting her on a seat with the blanket draped over her shoulders while I brush matted strands of hair out of her soot-streaked face. Ripping a strip off the bottom of my shirt, I wet it with some water and use it to clean her face. “Sweetheart. Talk to me. How do you feel?”
“Gross,” she croaks, and I cringe at the hoarse sound of her voice. “But I’m okay. You got here in the nick of time.”
“Drink this.” I hand her the water, and she brings it to her dry lips, taking measured sips.
“Serena.” Ben’s voice exudes relief as he comes up alongside me. “It’s good to see you. We were so worried. Are you all right?”
She gulps back a mouthful of water before removing the bottle from her lips. “I’m fine,” she says before dissolving in a coughing fit.
“Where’s the doc?” I snarl in a gritted voice, vastly running out of patience.
“ETA in three minutes,” Franco confirms.
“Where is DeLuca?” Ben asks, examining Serena’s face to ensure she’s okay. “We can’t get into the church because all the pews are on fire and the smoke is too thick. We need to find him and end the bastard.”
Rena’s lips tip up at the corner. “I beat you to it.” A full smile lets loose on her mouth as she lifts up the gold necklace from around her neck. “This contains poison, and I put some in the communal wine, knowing he’d drink it before me. It took away his motor functions, but he was still breathing, so I put a bullet in his skull. Trust me, he’s ended.”
Ben grins and leans in to gently hug her. “My sister-in-law is a bona fide badass.” He straightens up, and I can almost see the stress leave his shoulders. “Good job, Rena.”
I wrap my arms around my woman in a tender hug. “I fucking love you.” Softly, I cup her gorgeous face. “And I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m proud of me,” she rasps as a car sounds in the distance. She runs her fingers through my hair. “I didn’t fall apart even though I was terrified. I made a plan, and it worked. Well, right up until the end.”
I dot kisses all over her face. “You’re my hero, babe.” My lips brush against hers. “Always so brave and so strong. I’m in awe of you.” I hold her carefully against my chest as I squeeze my eyes shut and offer up thanks to God or whomever was looking out for my angel today. I know the doc still has to check her out, and I hope her lungs are okay and there isn’t any permanent damage from smoke inhalation. She appears fine, and I’m going to trust in that.
“Visualizing your face and remembering our happy times helped to keep me grounded.” She slides her hands up my chest. “Your love helped to pull me through.”
“I’m never letting you go,” I murmur into her hair. “I hope you know you’re stuck with me now.”
“I have never been happier to hear those words.” Tears glisten in her eyes. “And I think it’s over now. I feel it in my bones. This won’t be hanging over us anymore.”
“Itisover.” Or it will be, as soon as we get the rest of our plan into play. “I have lots to update you on,” I say, reluctantly stepping back as I spy a tall, thin man with a mass of ginger hair approaching, carrying a medical bag. “But first we need to let the doc take a look at you.”
42
ALESSO
“Sierra was so relieved to hear Serena is okay she burst out crying on the phone,” Ben admits after we have dropped Serena and Chelsea at Georgia’s house. At the same time we were rescuing Rena from the church, Outfitsoldatiattacked DeLuca’s house and dealt with the men guarding it. Chelsea was found drugged and tied naked to a bed as that degenerate who accosted Rena in the boutique was raping her.
Dominic’s men blew his brains out before untying the poor woman. She was only coming to when we were leaving Georgia’s after showering and changing. We can’t show up to the meeting Dom and Franco have set up looking anything less than composed and in control.
It’s all hinging on this next hour.
“This has been hard on all of us but especially Sierra,” I say. The stress cannot have been good for the baby, so I’m glad it was short-lived. The doc has checked Serena out and given her some oxygen. He wants to monitor her for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours to ensure there is no permanent damage from the smoke inhalation, but she seems to be doing fine. Thank fuck.
“It’s been a stressful couple days.” Leo stifles a yawn. None of us have slept, adrenaline fueling our bodies so we could do what needed to be done.
“When does Saverio land?” I ask the boss.
“I just spoke with him.” Ben leans his head back, briefly closing his eyes. “They are already in Chicago and en route to the ambush his spies have set up.”
Predictably, Saverio wasn’t pleased when Ben retracted on the deal before it was sealed. However, the boss managed to present him with a proposal he couldn’t turn down. “I still can’t believe you called in your favor to claim dibs on me.” I shoot him a filthy look, even though I’m thrilled that noose around my neck is gone.
“I was always going to do it, and you know it.” Ben smirks. “You can just say thank you.”
