Twisted Bonds (The Camorra Chronicles 4)

“All right,” he said slowly. His expression turned pained when he saw we were heading to the gynecologist. “Seriously?”

I gave him a pointed look and set Alessio’s carrier down on the reception desk of the practice. Savio looked around with a frown as if he was worried one of his friends could catch him in a place like this, or maybe one of the girls he slept with.

I told the receptionist, “I need to see the doctor.”

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked, barely glancing up from her computer screen.

“No, I—”

“How long have you lived in Vegas?” Savio asked coldly.

The woman’s head shot up with a frown. “What?”

He leaned on the counter and stretched out his arm with the tattoo, a smile on his face that raised the little hairs on my neck. “The name is Falcone, Kiara Falcone. Now tell the doctor to hurry, we don’t have all day.”

She looked clueless. The other receptionist stood at once. “I’ll ask her to see you right away.”

“Was that necessary?” I whispered.

Savio shrugged. “I didn’t like the tone she used on you.”

Savio waited outside the door while the doctor did her check-up, and afterward I couldn’t get the smile off my face.

I walked out, causing Savio to straighten at once from where he leaned against the wall.

“Is he the father?” the doctor asked.

Savio’s eyes widened in alarm.

“No,” I said quickly, then smiled and we took our leave.

Savio waited until we were in elevator before he asked, “You’re pregnant?”

I nodded as I took Alessio from the carrier because he’d started crying. The moment I pressed him to my chest, he quieted as usual. Savio grabbed the carrier.

“Fuck, the mansion will be overrun with these little monsters soon.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“If one of them turns out to be like Nevio, we’re doomed, that’s all I’m saying.”

I chuckled. Nevio was a very active, very loud child, the complete opposite from his sister.

“If you tell Nino, he’ll return right away, and I don’t think he’ll leave again. If you tell him you don’t want him to go, he won’t. You know you’ve got him wrapped around your little finger.”

The elevator came to a stop and we headed toward the Porsche Panamera. Since we had three kids in the family, some of the sports cars had been exchanged for vehicles with a bit more room.

“I know he would have stayed if I’d asked him but he needed to do this.”

“Maybe Leona is right, you know?” Savio murmured. “Maybe it’s for the best that she just disappeared, so neither of us has to kill her. With a little luck, she ends her own life.”

Savio’s gaze darted away from me, searching the parked cars to our right, and he became tense.

“Get in the car!”

He was about to pull his gun when five men jumped out from behind the other cars. Two of them gripped him from behind, stopping him from drawing the weapon. I stumbled back when Savio rammed the back of his head against the face of one of his attackers, who released him with grunt. Savio did a high kick against the chin of another, causing his head to fly back with a sickening crunch. The man dropped to the ground unmoving.

I whirled around, pressing Alessio to my chest and ran back to the elevator. The sounds of fighting followed me and then steps. What was I supposed to do? Calling the police was out of the question, but I needed to get help for Savio. Fabiano was the only option but he couldn’t leave Fina and the twins alone. My mind stumbled over each thought, not able to hold on to one. I didn’t dare look back and suddenly I was doused in liquid. It dripped down my hair, my neck, onto Alessio’s head and his romper. He began to wail.

“Stop!” A woman ordered. “Stop or you’ll burn.” It was a melodic, soft voice. One meant for soothing words and lullabies.

I sucked in a sharp breath, and then the stench of gasoline clogged my nose and I froze, staring down at Alessio in horror. He, too, was covered in gas. Slowly I turned around to stare into gray eyes. Like Nino’s, but unlike his, they didn’t give me a sense of calm.

Mrs. Falcone had a half-empty bottle in one hand and a lighter in the other.

“Stop the shit or the baby and the girl will burn!” one of the attackers snarled.

Savio was holding another man by the collar. His eyes darted to me, then his mother, and slowly he released the man, sliding his knife out of his chest. The man dropped to the ground, eyes wide and lifeless, and soon blood spread around him. Only three men were still standing, two of them bleeding, the third now pointing a gun at Savio. The man with the gun hit Savio over the head, causing him to fold into himself and fall to the ground.