A stranger. A girl bleeding in a hospital bed. My daughter’s friend.
But my body doesn’t care about the rules I spent a lifetime building.
Clearing my throat, I step closer, forcing control back into my voice. Even through the haze of pain, she doesn’t look away from me. Fear hums under her gaze—anyone with sense would be afraid of a man like me—but beneath it is something steadier.
Grit.
Strength.
Fire.
“You must be the girl who took a bullet for my daughter,” I say.
And for the first time since the chaos began, my voice is not cold or controlled. It’s rough. Low. Affected. Because standing this close to her I feel something I should never feel for anyone. Especially her.
Her lips twitch into a faint, wry smile. “That’s me. Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Conti.”
The way she says my name does something strange to me. It’s sharp and low, like a spark in my chest and it turns me on so fucking much.
“Brave thing you did,” I murmur. “Stupid, but brave.”
She lets out a weak laugh, wincing as the sound catches. “Story of my life.”
Before I can respond, Sienna pipes up from the foot of the bed. “Dad, I was telling Birdie that she’s coming home with us.”
Birdie. What a childish name for a woman. Elizabeth suits her so much better.
Elizabeth shakes her head immediately. “It’s really okay. I’ll be fine here.”
“It’s not,” I say, cutting her off before Sienna can. My tone leaves no room for argument. “Sienna is right. You’re coming home with us until this matter is settled.”
Elizabeth presses her bottom lip between her teeth, eyes flickering from me to Sienna and back again. She doesn’t argue, but I can see the resistance written all over her face. She’s smart enough to know she’s stepped into something deeper than a random shooting and smart enough not to ask about it.
I hold her gaze for a moment longer, then nod once. “Get some rest, Elizabeth. We’ll leave when the doctor clears you.”
Her lips part like she might protest, but she doesn’t. She just watches me warily as I turn to leave. She has questions. I can see them in her eyes. But she’s not getting any answers from me. Not yet.
Out in the hallway, I pull my phone from my coat pocket. The screen lights up with a string of messages from my Capo, Cesaro.
Cesaro
Found several rats at the KC property. In the process of taking care of them.
No word yet on where the infestation started.
My jaw tightens.Rats.Always more of them scurrying out of the dark.
I want this handled before we leave town.
It will be.
How is S?
Shaken.
The friend?
Fine, but she’s coming home with us until the apartment’s rodent-free.
