Page 76 of Solace

“Yes, boss. Already on it.”

Chapter 37

DANIELLA aka Layla

My life had flashed before me, I honestly thought I was going to be gone. I had to find a way to get something to Antonio and have him murder this bastard before he did us. I knew there was no way I was leaving the house alive; I was a dead girl talking. I had to save myself and the man, I have fallen so deeply in love with.

Once I saw his throat sliced, that was it I saw my life disappearing, the horror, the gore, the evilness. His blood sprayed all over the place, leaving me close to vomiting. I huddled into a ball, covering my ears not wishing to hear the nightmare as I heard two gunshots and two thuds of bodies hitting the floor. Seconds later I had Antonio’s wrap around me. He held me tight to his strong frame. Only the hell I had just witnessed left a foul vision and taste in my mouth. All I could taste was blood.

“Daniella, are you okay? Answer me,” his voice was clouded.

Sobbing, this was exactly what I had feared, the sight, the smell it all brought those memories back.

“Daniella…answer me.” I heard. I had no idea what he was referring to, had I been hit and not aware? had he?

I huddled into his body, wrapping myself around me. I was pulled onto his lap, his arms wrapped so tight around me keeping me protected. He rocked me back and forth and kissed the top of my head.

“Daniella did that bullet hit you,” he asked. The truth was I had no idea if I had been hit. My entire body was numb, I couldn’t feel a damn thing. I stayed buried in his chest.

Carefully Antonio rose taking me with him, my entire body was lifeless. I couldn’t see for tears, but having Antonio holding me close was enough.

“Are you hurt?” he repeated.

“I don’t think so,” I said through the sobs.

Trying not to look at Ricco and his dead body. As I pulled out from his chest, I saw Antonio’s men already dragging his lifeless body away and there were only splatters of his blood left all over the place.

“Are you okay?” Antonio asked.

“Yeah, I think so. What the hell just happened?”

“Don’t think about it.”

He placed the palms of his hands on my cheeks and stroked softly gazing deeply into my eyes.

“You’re safe and with me. I’m taking you away for a few days, I think we both need time to think," he told me.

“Antonio, I love you.”

“I love you,” he said, placing his fingers through my hair.

“Now, come.”

We both headed to the back of the pool where the doors were open, and I felt the wind blowing my hair. I saw a lifeless body on the floor and tried not to look and act coy, but the truth was my stomach ached and I was so near to vomiting. Antonio held my hand tight and pulled me around the house until we were on the driveaway. We walked to a car, I closed my eyes and all I saw was Ricco’s throat being sliced open.

Antonio opened the car door, and I climbed in. I swallowed not wishing to look at anything. Everything turned into a daze, I couldn’t think straight, my heart ached, and I had no idea what the hell happened tonight. My father wasn’t my father. My mamma and real father were murdered by an evil man and Ricco was nothing but a gutless coward who deserved everything he got. The events that unfolded were…I needed time to get my head around it all.

Antonio ran around the car and jumped in as Carlo appeared, I heard a few words being spoken but all muffled.

“No problem, boss. See you in a few days.” He closed the door.

Antonio put the car in motion and off we drove from the house that I had called home.

No words graced me. My head was like a tornado full of so many things that occurred, but it all wasn’t ringing true.

After hours of daydreaming and piecing it all together I had to ask, “Where are we going?”

“Trust me, you’ll love it. So romantic. You get some rest; trust me you will need it with all the lovemaking I will be doing to you.”

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