“I know, cara mia, but Stefano isn’t good at fending for himself. He’s complained every day that the cook isn’t making what he likes.” She rolls her eyes in mock annoyance. “Imagine if you were away from Kostas for a few days? Or a week?”
I laugh at the thought. Kostas would never let that happen. He’d be all growly and then demand he either goes with me or I don’t go. “I get it. So how much longer do I get you?”
“Stefano found a flight for next week. So we have a little more time together.” She gives me a soft smile.
“Okay, I’ll take it.”
Zoe stops banging on the piano and turns to me. Her eyes well up with tears and she shoves her tiny fist into her mouth. Fowler should be back by now with her medicine.
“I’m going to go see if Fowler is back with Zoe’s medicine yet. Can you hold her?”
“Of course,” Mom says, taking Zoe into her arms. “You know, when you and Phoenix were babies, we just rubbed whiskey on your gums.”
I bark out a laugh. “I think we’ll stick to good old Tylenol.”
I run downstairs and spot one of the men on the phone in the kitchen. Not wanting to interrupt him, I head out the front door. The vehicle Fowler uses is parked in the driveway, so I go in search of him. I find him standing on the side of the house. I’m about to call out his name when I see he has his phone pressed up to his ear. Instead, I walk forward a few steps so I can listen.
“The plane is totaled,” he says then stays quiet, listening to whoever is on the other line. I’m curious as to who he’s speaking to since all of Kostas’s men already know the plane is totaled.
“The bitch and the baby? That’s going to cost you big time. Last time I checked you don’t have that kind of money. If you want me to grab them, I’m going to need to see the money first.”
Oh my God! The bitch and the baby? There’s only one bitch around here with a baby, and that’s me. I consider sticking around to hear whatever else he’s going to say, but decide I’ve heard enough to know this guy is bad fucking news. It’s why he doesn’t give a shit about anything Phoenix or Kostas threaten. He’s not working for them… He’s working for Aris. He’s a damn rat!
Needing to get to my daughter and mom to make sure they’re safe, I turn and run back into the house and up the stairs. The first thing I need is my gun. There’s no way I’m chancing that asshole kidnapping Zoe and me and bringing us back to Aris.
Since my bedroom is before Zoe’s, I pop in there to grab my gun from the nightstand. But as I’m grabbing it, I hear footsteps behind me, and a chill runs up my spine. Somehow Fowler knows I heard him.
Not chancing him either killing or kidnapping me, I quickly flip the safety off and turn around with the gun aimed directly at him. He has his aimed at me as well.
“Easy, girl,” he starts, an evil glint in his eye as he steps forward.
Pop!
I choke on a gasp as the blood swells, blooming like a flower. Holy shit. His eyes widen as he grabs his side. He wasn’t expecting me to be packing and he sure as hell didn’t expect me to shoot. He should’ve, though. I’m married to the most powerful mob boss in the country. Of course he’s going to make sure I can defend myself.
Pop!
I waste no time squeezing on the trigger again. This bullet goes through his arm and he drops the gun.
We both go after it at the same time, but as I’m diving down to grab it, Fowler drops to the ground. When I look up, I find Phoenix standing in the doorway with a gun in his hand.
“Thank you,” I breathe. I glance over at Fowler and he’s knocked out, the side of his head bleeding. Phoenix must’ve hit him with the butt of his gun.
“I’ll always have your back, sis,” he says, reaching his hand out to help me up.
“How did you know?” I ask, standing and handing him the gun.
“Overheard him talking on the phone. Saw you listening as well, but I didn’t want to draw attention to you. As soon as you ran, he turned around, and I knew he saw you.” He kicks Fowler in the stomach so he rolls over onto his back. He’s bleeding heavily onto my carpet. Great, I’ll probably never get that stain out.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” I run into Phoenix’s arms.
“Eh, looks like you were handling yourself just fine.” He kisses the top of my head.