Page 51 of Midnight Salvation

Lucrezia smiled and shook her head. “We both married for love,” she confirmed. “Even if he took a minute to convince since he was trying to save me from his dad.”

“Well, I’m going to stay here and look after you since one of my sons finally gave me the daughter I always wanted. Ash can sort out whatever mess Matteus has created this time while you get better.”

I tipped Lucrezia’s head back so that I could look into her eyes. “I’ll fix this, I promise.”

A tear escaped and I wiped it away with my thumb. I knew that she was starting to break inside. That expression in her eyes spoke of her terror at what was happening to her. Another tear escaped and she dashed it away.

“You make sure you stay away from that fake fiancée of yours,” she said in an attempt to divert my attention. It wasn’t going to work. “I’ve read the romance novels about them falling in love in the end.”

“Not going to happen, Angel. You’re stuck with me.” I kissed the end of her nose and her eyes fluttered shut. “You’ll have to put up with me until we’re both old and grey.”

She wrinkled her nose at me. “Speak for yourself. I have no intention of going grey.”

I laughed and hugged her. “You need anything, ring me. Mum will stay with you until I get back.”

“What if I need you?”

I pressed my forehead to hers. “You need me, call,” I said. “I won’t be far away.”

She burrowed into me and I just held her for a few minutes.

The room door opened and our doctor walked in. “Jordan’s just been on the phone and requested an unusual blood panel be run immediately.”

I settled Lucrezia on the bed. “I swear I’m turning into a pin cushion,” she moaned, obediently holding her arm out.

The beast that lived inside me started to pace restlessly at the sight of his mate hurt. He wanted to draw blood and slowly tear this world apart until he found answers. It should have occurred to me if Dad was involved that he would have ensured that she wasn’t just shot. If he had wanted her assassinated, then he would have sent an entire kill squad, not one lone shooter. He had enough children to sacrifice some on his route to victory.

It was time to shake this family tree up and see what nuts fell free.

Aaron and Oliver were both on my side, so the best place to start was with my cousins. I texted Xavier and Jordan with my plan and sat with Lucrezia while the doctor took blood.

“I’ve taken some extra to test against other toxins since Jordan thinks Lucrezia may have been poisoned. I’ll have them pushed through in the lab and start her on steroids in the interim,” Paul said. “She’s a better patient than you are.”

My eyebrows shot up at the insult and Lucrezia giggled.

“I’m being well looked after here,” Lucrezia said. “Go and fight your war and come back to me.”

Her bossy attitude made me grin even as I leant down to kiss her pouty lips. “Be a good girl,” I taunted her.

She narrowed her eyes in a silent warning.

“Okay, ladies,” I said as I straightened. “Stay here. There are guards outside and an emergency button at the side of the bed. You are both officially on lockdown until I say otherwise.”

“Is he always this bossy?” Mum asked.

“You have no idea.” Lucrezia rolled her eyes at me and pouted.

“Behave,” I warned her on my way to the door.

“Stay away from your fiancée,” she retaliated.

I bounced my eyebrows at her and grinned.

As the door closed behind me, the cold, ruthless killer in me emerged. I no longer cared about trying to delicately sort out the clues left by Cassandra’s dad twenty years ago. Sometimes a sledgehammer worked better than a toothpick.

I sped out of the carpark and hid my car in one of our warehouses, grabbing a bike to ride across London. Xavier and Jordan were already waiting for me, Lucas stood solemnly with his back straight.

“How is she?” he asked.

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