Ice spread through my veins. This wasn't just business for him. This was pleasure.
"Vittorio will kill you," I said, voice steady despite the terror crawling up my spine. "He'll make it slow."
Falco laughed. "Vittorio Ricci's gone soft. Word is he's been distracted, making mistakes. All because of you." He leaned in close. "What's your secret, hmm? What kind of magic pussy you got that's worth ten million?"
I headbutted him.
The crack of his nose breaking was the most satisfying sound I'd heard all day. He stumbled back, blood pouring between his fingers as he clutched his face.
"You fucking cunt!" he screamed. "I'm going to—"
The distant pop of gunfire cut him off.
My heart leapt. Vittorio.
Falco's head snapped toward the sound. "Check it out," he barked at his men. "Now!"
The two thugs rushed out, leaving me alone with Falco, who was still cursing and dabbing at his bleeding nose.
More gunshots, closer now. Shouts. The heavy thud of boots on concrete.
Hope surged through me. I began rocking my chair, trying to make noise. The metal legs scraped against the concrete floor, creating a harsh grating sound.
"Vittorio!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "In here!"
Falco lunged forward, clamping his hand over my mouth. "Shut up!" he hissed, his eyes wild with panic.
I bit down on his fingers. Hard.
He yelped, jerking his hand away. I toppled my chair sideways, crashing to the floor. Pain exploded through my shoulder, but I kept screaming.
"Vittorio! Warehouse floor! I'm here!"
Falco kicked me in the side. Not hard enough to do serious damage, but enough to knock the wind from my lungs. I gasped, fighting for breath, terror for my baby overwhelming everything else.
No, no, no. Please be okay.
The gunfire intensified. Something exploded outside, the concussion rattling the warehouse windows. Falco pulled a gun from his waistband, his movements jerky with fear.
"Shut up, or I'll shoot you right now," he threatened, pointing the weapon at my head.
"Then you'll have nothing to bargain with," I wheezed.
His face contorted with rage. He raised the gun to pistol-whip me—
A commotion erupted from deeper in the warehouse. Angry voices, shouting in Italian. Then a gunshot—close, inside the building.
"What the hell—" Falco started, turning toward the sound.
Jonah stumbled into view, clutching his side. Blood seeped between his fingers, staining his tactical vest dark red. His young face was pale with shock and pain, but there was something else there, too—desperate fear.
"Boss, they're everywhere," he gasped. "Ricci's men, they're—"
"Shut up!" Falco snarled, raising his weapon. "You led them right to us, you worthless piece of shit!"
"No, I did everything you said! I gave you all the information—"
"And now they're here anyway!" Falco's finger tightened on the trigger. "You're a liability."
