CHAPTER 39
Ace
Warmth and grogginessweigh me down, but I listen for any sounds. Did I really walk into my living room and see a bunch of guys with guns? Luciano was here, too. Did something happen?
Sitting straight, I blink open my eyes and look around, but the room is pitch black and cool. Just how I like it when I’m having a migraine. Kian must have done that.
Daddy.
I want him.
His comfort.
The only thing I wanted to do when my eye started throbbing earlier was call him, but he runs a multi-billion-dollar company, and we’ve been dating for a week.
I throw my legs over the edge of the bed and slowly get to my feet, holding onto the edge of the mattress until I’m steady enough. As I approach the living room, voices get louder. It sounds like Kian and Luciano are talking.
Slowing as I get closer, I tiptoe the rest of the way down the hall, stopping just before it opens up to the living room. Maybe it’s a good sign that they’re not shouting.
“Would someone try to set you up, to make it look like you?” Kian asks.
“I’m the number two in the Italian mafia in the States. I have enemies everywhere,” Luciano answers. “But why her?”
What the hell?
With three more steps, I make my presence known and meet both their gazes. As soon as they see me, they rise. I offer a weak smile, then hug Luciano quickly before I go to Kian and soak in his warmth as he wraps his arms around me.
“How’s your head, angel?” he asks quietly.
“It’s better. What’s going on? What are you guys talking about?”
Kian tenses and then leads me over to the couch where they were sitting a moment ago. “Sit down and let me get you comfortable, and then we’ll talk.”
I refuse to move, shaking my head, then glance at Luciano. “No. Something’s going on, and I want to know. Tell me what’s happening.”
Panic starts to set in, and as if he senses it, Kian strokes my arm.
“The guy I had looking into you found something off about your accident and started investigating,” Kian explains.
Blinking slowly, I try to understand, but I’m still groggy from my medication. “Something off about my accident? What do you mean?”
Luciano glances at Kian, and I don’t like it. Whatever is happening, they are tense. Men like them don’t get that way unless they’re worried.
“Hey,” I say, snapping my fingers at them to make them look at me.
Kian raises an eyebrow, and even though a slight thrill zips through me at his stern look, I force myself to ignore it as I stare at both of them, waiting.
CHAPTER 40
Kian
I’m goingto ignore her little finger-snapping thing for now, but I’ll definitely be reddening her ass later. Right now, she’s panicking, and the last thing I want to cause her is any sort of stress or anxiety. But fuck, I’m struggling to handle this very well myself. Especially since Luciano isn’t responsible for it, and I have no idea who is. Whoever wanted to hurt my girl is still out there, and that’s not acceptable.
After letting out a sigh, I tell her everything as quickly as I can while she stares up at me, her face paling the more I say. Luciano stands beside me, letting me speak, though the tension is radiating from him. He’s still processing this. I’ve had more time to come to terms with it, though now I have no fucking idea where to go from here.
When I finish talking, Ace stands, frozen, the light in her eyes dimming as she looks at Luciano. When I glance over at him, he’s staring back at her, his expression heavy with guilt. Not because he did anything. No. Luciano is blaming himself right now for the fact that someone got to Ace on his watch. Just like I’d be doing if I were him. This will haunt him for the rest of his life.
“What about my dad?” she asks. “Did you look into his death?”
