I don’t get a chance to reply because Desmond walks into the room. He doesn’t look well. Pale as a ghost, actually.
“Desmond?” Gianni sounds concerned. Desmond doesn’t verbally respond, just reaches inside his crumpled jacket.
“Gun!” Bull shouts and chaos ensues.
Desmond opens fire, shooting up the room. We all hit the floor as the bullets fly, shattering glass, destroying dishes, and obliterating breakfast. I scramble under the table. Baz and Audie are too far away for me to reach. Gianna is screaming, Bull and Gun are using their bodies as human shields, all while Desmond creates havoc.
Without thinking, I reach up onto the tabletop and feel around for a piece of flatware. I grab a handle and yank, producing a knife. It’s dull, but it will do. I just need a distraction. Sucking in a breath, I raise up onto my knees and fling the heavy sterling silver knife across the room. Then I duck. I hear a pained sound, and the shooting stops. That’s my window. As fast as a cat, I climb onto the table and leap across the room, tackling Desmond onto the floor. Bull and Gun pounce as I wail on Desmond’s face until it’s bloody. It all happens so fast, it takes my mind a second to catch up with my body.
“Baz!” Terror grips me as I fly across the floor to my husband and infant daughter. No, God. Please no, God. No.
The rocker is sideways, and there’s a red stain on Baz’s side. He’s curled in the fetal position with Audie screaming in his arms.
“Baz!” I screech as I pull on him. He pops his head up, guarding Audie even from me. “You’re bleeding.” I pull his T-shirt up, frantically searching for the wound. But nothing’s there. I pull his shirt down again, and the red stain is clearly visible.
“Is it her?” I look at Audie, but she seems fine. Thank God.
“I think it’s ketchup.” He dabs his finger against the stain and takes a lick. “Definitely ketchup.”
My body sags. I just lost three years of my fucking life.
“Get him out of here!” Gianni bellows as Gun and Bull subdue Desmond on the floor.
“No, wait.” A sensation I haven’t felt in a long time rushes through me. The urge to kill. Everyone in the room pauses to look at me. “Take Audie and Gianna upstairs,” I instruct Baz.
“Stevie—”
“No,” I shut him down at once. “Take our daughter upstairs.”
Baz’s eyes widen. Not from fear or intimidation, but from recognition.
He doesn’t say a word as he stands, clutching Audie. I give her a kiss as she squirms and cries in his big arms. Turning to watch him leave, I find Frederick beside himself at the door. My heart breaks for the old man. His world was just shattered. His son turned. That’s the ultimate betrayal.
Several other guards have entered the room at this point, assessing the damage, but I just want to be alone. Alone with Desmond.
“Everyone get out,” I announce, and Gianni’s gaze bores into mine. We have an unspoken conversation. He knows what I need. Who I am. And what I’m capable of.
“You heard her,” he backs me up.
“Put him in a chair,” I direct Bull and Gun. “We’re gonna talk.”
The other guards vacate the room, taking Frederick with them. The look in his eyes . . . It’s devastating. I feel for him. My heart imploding.
Once it’s just the five of us, Bull and Gun slam Desmond into the seat at the head of the table.
“I’m anxious to see you work.” Gianni gives me complete carte blanche. “I’d like to know what rumors are true.”
“All of them.” I sit on the edge of the table, directly in front of Desmond. “You’re a shitty shot,” I insult him. “And you just utterly destroyed your father.Why?”
Desmond looks away, his long, dark, messy hair falling into his face. That’s when I’m struck with recognition.
“You.”I clutch his chin and jerk his head forward. “I knew I recognized you. You’re one of Regina’s boy toys.” He was the guy in her study the day she sent me after Baz.
“I’m not a fucking boy toy. We’re in love.”
He’s delusional. Regina doesn’t love anyone but herself.
“Jesus Christ. Regina and her fucking golden snatch. She brainwashed another one.” I laugh. “She doesn’t love you,” I set him straight. “She’s using you. She sent you on a fucking suicide mission. That’s not love. That’s manipulation.”
