Page 90 of The Red Queen

He laughed and rubbed his arm. “You love it.”

She sighed and laid her head against his shoulder.

The flight was a long one and despite napping on and off, Desi was exhausted by the time they landed. She picked up her coat and followed Giovanni, who made his way to the front of the airplane.

Dino went first, followed by two of their men, then Desi and Giovanni, then the rest. Dino checked his weapon, and the others did the same, including Giovanni. Desi didn’t have a gun on her, so she stood waiting while they prepared to leave the plane.

Giovanni was far more careful with their safety than Nico had ever been with his own or anyone else’s. Now that Desi had a comparison, she realized exactly how reckless Nico had been with their lives. He’d often used bravado and machismo rather than good sense.

Stupid, really, considering the world they’d lived and worked in. Giovanni had the correct attitude. It was better to be over prepared and overprotected than dead. A lesson Nico would never learn.

The flight attendant opened the door and stepped to the side.

The group filed out, Dino leading the way. His eyes scanned the tarmac as he descended the steps to the ground. Giovanni took Desi’s arm and together they made their way from the airplane to a waiting limo.

Dino opened the door and stood alert as Giovanni and Desi slid inside. Dino took the seat next to the driver, while the rest of their men climbed into the SUV behind them.

“I can’t wait to get home.” Desi closed her eyes and laid her head back against the seat. Giovanni grunted his agreement as he pulled her seatbelt across her chest and buckled it.

“Our new housekeeper sent a message saying she left soup warming on the stove and a loaf of bread on the counter.”

“God bless that woman,” Desi murmured, meaning it with every fiber of her being. She was once again hungry, having finished her tortillas several hours earlier.

“I think I’m more tired than hungry,” Giovanni admitted.

Desi cracked an eyelid, looking at him from beneath her lashes. He appeared as handsome and in control as ever, but a little drawn.

“Can’t hack the pace, old man?” she asked.

A smothered laugh drifted back from the front seat, telling Desi that Dino appreciated her humour.

“Keep talking like that and I’ll take you to the mats again, woman.”

“Anytime, anywhere,” she taunted. “Even pregnant, I’ll hand your ass to you.”

He chuckled. “Didn’t mean fighting.”

It took her a moment, but his lascivious expression tipped her off. She laughed. “If you think you can keep up with these pregnancy hormones, you’re welcome to try.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but something caught Desi’s eye past Giovanni’s shoulder, out the window.

“Drive!” she screamed, sitting up straight and reaching for Giovanni.

Chapter Forty

The driver jammed his foot down on the gas, sending them hurtling forward. It wasn’t enough to move them out of the path of the car careening toward them, but it was enough to lessen the impact. If they hadn’t moved, the car would have hit full force into Giovanni’s side, crushing him.

The car hit their trunk with a thunderous metal screech. It spun the limo around and sent it sideways. Desi’s terrified gaze stayed on Giovanni as they were flung around the back seat. As the car came to a shuddering stop, Giovanni reached into his jacket, pulling two guns.

Desi was about to ask him for one when the car was struck again, this time full force into Giovanni’s side. He’d taken his seatbelt off and was sent hurtling into Desi. His head struck the window and he slumped in her lap.

“Gio!” she screamed, then looked frantically to the front of the car. The driver was slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious. “Dino, help, Gio is hurt!”

Sobs crept up her throat as she gripped Giovanni and tried to sit him up. Blood trickled down from his head and soaked into her blouse. Dino was struggling in the front seat, clearly stunned but attempting to right himself.

She looked up and saw someone walking toward the car on her side, a gun extended. Antonio!

Desi frantically smacked at her seatbelt until it released. Adrenalin rushed through her as she dragged Giovanni across the car and reached for the door. It was stuck when she tried to shove it open, crushed by the impact of the other car. She flipped around and slammed her feet into it over and over, looking frantically over her shoulder at Antonio as he approached.

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