Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
But now that she’s pregnant with the little bean it’s time to tell her the truth. The thought of my pregnant wife brings a foolish smile to my lips, but I quickly push her out of my mind so I can concentrate on the task at hand.
“This will work,” Roberto says. “But I must say, neutralizing Sal will mean our last obstacle will be gone. I’ll miss having an enemy.”
“There’ll be more,” I assure him. “Make no mistakes. We can never be without enemies, so you can’t relax. That’s when you get attacked the most.”
Roberto is about to respond when the door flies open, and Vance hurries in, looking like a madman.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“We should go now, Boss,” he says urgently. “La Signore Barone has just been in a fatal road accident. She has been rushed to the hospital. I have the address.”
I don’t respond immediately because I’m too stunned. I blink at Vance, trying to understand what he’s saying.
“We have to go,” he repeats.
“Boss!” he yells, breaking me out of my daze.
I rush to my feet and run after him, sweat breaking from my skin. “Is she all right?”
“I believe her injuries are not significant.”
“Who found her? Where was she going? Who was the fucking driver?”
“Romero was the driver, Boss.” We rush into a waiting car. My door is barely closed when Vance steps on the gas and the car screeches away.
“But it wasn’t his fault. It was an attack,” Vance says.
“I want to hear the whole truth later, but for now, keep your foot on the fucking gas and take me to my wife.”
Francesca has been taken to a hospital that I am a patron of, so as soon as I rush in, they know exactly why I am there. A doctor appears before me.
“Mr. Barone, you don’t have to worry—”
“Get this moron out of my face. My wife has had a fucking accident, and this imbecile tells me not to worry. Get him out of my face.”
His eyes fill with fear as he is pushed away and another doctor quickly appears. Thankfully chooses to stay mute. He leads me up the first flight of steps and into a room where Francesca is lying on the bed. She looks frail and weak. I run to her, only breathing in relief when I see the steady rise and fall of her chest.
“Oh, thank God.” I kiss her forehead and entwine my fingers with her small ones.
Calmer, I turn to the doctor who stands at the door, an unsure expression on his face.
“Why is she unconscious?”
“She’s not unconscious,” the doctor says. “She’s asleep. I gave her a heavy dose of sedatives because she was in pain.”
Anger surges in my blood, but I stay calm. There will be many opportunities for vengeance later. “What about her baby?”
The doctor purses his lips and gently shakes his head. “By the time she was brought in, she had already lost it. I’m so sorry, Mr. Barone.”
The baby is gone. Our child is dead. A strange coldness moves into my chest. I take a deep breath and turn to Vance. “Call Francesca’s mom. There’s something I have to do, but I must make sure there’s someone here with her.”
“Yes, Boss.” He walks outside to make the call.
In twenty minutes, Louisa, Franco Barbieri, and Francesca’s mother rush into the room. Francesca’s eyes are still shut, and except for the steady rise and fall of her chest, she looks lifeless.
“Oh, God.” Her mother breaks into tears when she sees the state her daughter is in.
“Senora, don’t cry. She’s going to be okay.”
She glances at me with swollen eyes. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost her.”
Me too. But I don’t say this aloud. Instead, I promise, “You won’t have to find out.”
I plant a gentle kiss on Francesca’s forehead and pull away. While she sleeps, I’m going to exact vengeance on those who did this to her and be back before she’s awake.
“There’s something urgent I must do now,” I tell her mother. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. If there’s any change, call me immediately.”
“Yes,” she whispers, taking my place by Francesca’s bedside. As I head towards the door with my men, Franco Barbieri follows me.
“Where are you going?”
“Stay with your granddaughter.”
“I know what you’re planning,” he says. “I want to be involved.”
“No. This is Barone's business. You can’t—”
“Please,” he rasps. “She’s my granddaughter.”
I hold his gaze briefly before nodding and exiting the room. The further I walk away from Francesca, the heavier my heart becomes, but I know this is a journey I must take for her. I was wrong to think I could come to an agreement with Sal. Until I wipe him off the face of this earth, Francesca cannot be safe.
The hospital's underground garage is deserted.
“Vance, give me everything you have.”