“Doc, take care of her,” Morelli says, walking away.
I stride forward, pulling her back against my body.
“Don’t kill Kurt,” she gasps. “Please.”
I clap a hand over her mouth and the feel of her lips against my palm sends another hum through me.
Adriano drops Cooper onto all fours. He kneels, sputtering like a busted engine.
“Good evening, Kurt,” Morelli says as though the two of them are old friends.
Cooper’s face contracts. “You…?”
“Me. Welcome to Velvet House. You won’t be staying long.”
Cooper tries to scramble to his feet, but Adri puts a boot in his back.
January screams again into my hand. The sound is muffled but Cooper still hears her. His bloody face goes rigid. “January?” He looks at Morelli. “You took her.”
“We did.”
“Look, you can have her. You can do whatever you like, just let me go.”
January sags in my arms. Poor little Tesorina. Betrayed by the man who’s protected her half her life. Even I didn’t see that coming. I haul her upright. “It’s okay, baby. He’ll pay for saying that.”
But the little brat shakes her head. “Nuuuh. Pleaghs?”
I press my hand harder to her lips.
Morelli smiles at Cooper. “We expected security to be weakened by the handover, but you and your partner were an embarrassment. Drunk in broad daylight. And why were you hanging around the back of the cathedral? I assume you were calling your dealer?”
Cooper’s expression is pleading. “Mr. Morelli, you can have her. You can—”
Adri kicks him in the side. He collapses onto the carpet, spitting blood.
Morelli raises a furious hand. “Christ, Adriano! Where’s the tarp?”
“Shit. Here.” Basher rushes forward with the plastic wrap.
“Jesu Cristo.What’s the point now?” Morelli says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re supposed to lay it out beforehand.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“You think this is funny, Valente?”
“Obviously.” I take my hand off January’s mouth. “What about you, Tits? Do you think this is funny?”
“Please!Pleasedon’t kill Kurt.”
“Thank you, Janie,” Cooper slurs, dripping blood. “Thank you!”
Adriano kicks him again, and there’s an audible crack of ribs.
“Nice one,” I say.
January gives a yipping little scream. “Mr. Morelli, please let Kurt go!”
Eli frowns. “Bella, this man was assigned to protect you and not only did he fail miserably, he just betrayed you. He doesn’t deserve to live.”
