Page 55 of Maximum Bet

Attempting not to draw attention to myself, I slide from my chair and calmly walk past Adam into the dining room. Once we’re far enough not to be heard, I stop and turn to him.

“What’s going on?”

“Mr. Mancini just sent a text out to the organization.” He holds up his phone so I can read the message on the screen.

Threat at Vincent Tariello’s house. All available men report to the property immediately.

Ice runs down my spine as my breath hitches. Lucas wouldn’t send a text like that unless something were seriously wrong.

“Did he say anything else?”

Adam shakes his head. “We need to get you and the rest of the women into the safe room immediately.”

“Adam,” I hiss. “We have twenty people in there, at least half of whom know nothing about the Tariellos’ link to . . . well, you know. How are we going to not only fit them all in the safe room, but also explain a threat at a baby shower?”

“We can figure that out later. Right now, our main objective is to keep all of you safe.”

I sigh, glancing out the window as if the looming threat is in the yard waiting for me. “Fine.”

Trapping my lip between my teeth, I work to come up with a remotely believable excuse as to why we suddenly need to stop a baby shower to hide. But I don’t have to worry for long, because when I enter the room, Cecilia is coming back from conferring with her own guard.

“Ladies.” She claps her hands, drawing attention away from Sadie and her gifts. “I hate to interrupt the party, but there has been a breach of the perimeter. Unfortunately, with my husband’s status, we sometimes have, well, lunatics attempting to cause chaos. Not to worry, our guards will catch the perpetrator momentarily. However, until then, our security team is requesting we take shelter downstairs.”

A murmur runs through the group, while Sadie and Natalie share a wide-eyed look.

Slowly, the women begin to stand as Cecilia ushers them away, telling them to follow the waiting guards. Adam remains with me as I wait for Sadie and Natalie.

I take steps toward crossing the room to collect my purse, and the little gun which seems silly when compared to the weapons carried by the guards outside. I don’t care. I’m not waiting unprotected.

Struggling to get out of a plush armchair, Sadie scoots to the edge and braces a hand on the arm. Natalie reaches out to take Sadie’s other hand and pull her to her feet. As Sadie stands, her face contorts, and her eyes drop to the floor. A startled gasp escapes her before a panicked, “Oh, my God!”

“Sadie, are you okay?” Cecilia rushes over, taking Sadie’s free hand.

Halfway to the table holding my belongings, I freeze, because from where I stand, I can see exactly what has Sadie panicking. And truth is, it should have us all in a panic.

Sadie looks up, eyes watering. “I think my water broke.”

“Oh, God.” Natalie steps back, looking to the floor, color draining from her face.

“I think you’re right,” Cecilia says as she assesses the situation. I admire her ability to remain calm because I, for one, am freaking out.

“Holy shit.” I grasp at my hair as I cross the room and take over for Natalie, who looks like she’s about to vomit. “What do we do?”

“Well,” Cecilia says. “I think we need to get her to the hospital.”

Adam clears his throat. “Mrs. Tariello, that might be a problem.”

It’s then that we hear the unmistakable pops of gunfire outside.

Cecilia and I look out the window, spotting a man dressed in black, holding a rifle, and running through the back lawn. He only takes a few steps before an explosion of red surrounds his head, and he drops to the ground.

“Snipers,” Cecilia mutters.

“Right,” I say. Because how do you respond to that?

Cecilia turns to Adam, her mouth set in a firm line. “I know you have orders from my son and husband, but right now, I’m in charge, and I’m telling you we need to get this girl to a hospital.”

As if on cue, Sadie groans as a contraction hits her. “I’m too early,” she cries. “The baby isn’t due yet.”