Page 85 of Mafia Darling

More shots nearby and then they laid me down on a cool leather seat. Someone threw a blanket over me.

“Dai, andiamo!”

A car door slammed. Dio, was I really going to get out of this place? It seemed too good to be true. I tried to listen to what was going on, catching pieces here and there.

“Wait!”

“What is it?”

“The shots have been reported and the carabinieri are on the way. They’ll approach from the north, so you must head south to avoid them.”

“Grazie. We couldn’t have done this without your help.”

“Just make sure he knows when he wakes up. I want a promise that my family will be safe.”

Ah, so this was Fausto’s man, the one who had helped me bring down the Ravazzani empire. While he’d been useful to me over the last year, I had to wonder why he didn’t tip me off about the attack on my beach house. Had he wanted Fausto to capture me?

“Of course, of course,” my soldier said. “Now, let us leave.”

More doors slammed, and then the tires squealed as the car drove off. They held me down to keep me from tumbling about, but with every bump and twist I fought to remain conscious.

“Should we take him to the nearest hospital?”

“No. To the docks, as we discussed.”

“But—”

“We just need to get him on the ship. The doctor can attend to him there.”

“I think he needs more than a doctor.”

“No . . . hospital,” I wheezed.

It was hardly more than a breath, but they heard me. We had to get as far away from Siderno as possible—and quickly.

If I was right, then all hell was about to break loose.

* * *

Fausto

When I licked gelato off my lips, Francesca gave me a sly grin. “You want some now, don’t you? I can see it in your eyes.”

“And what is it you think I want, amore?” I asked, leaning close.

“Stop. You’re not getting that until we get home.” She glanced back at the gelato shop. “I’m kind of regretting not getting the chocolate, though.”

“Cioccolato,” I corrected.

Her eyes glazed over, like she did when I talked dirty Italian to her in bed. “God, I love the way you say that.”

I kissed her forehead. “Go back to the car with Marco. I’ll go get you some for later.”

“You will?” She fed me another spoonful of mint chocolate chip gelato. “You are the best husband I’ve ever had.”

I playfully slapped her ass right there on the walk. “The only husband you’ll ever have.”

Spinning toward the store, I suddenly felt a hard punch to my side, but saw no one close enough to hit me. Cazzo, that hurt. The impact threw me back a step, then I dropped to one knee. I couldn’t control my body, the pain was so great.

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