Page 518 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

“You know, you’re my best friend, Lily, and I love you,” Chloe says, her head falling into Bruno’s lap. “Even if you wouldn’t hook me up with your brother.”

My brother.

Shit, I need to get in touch with him and my parents.

If this attack isn’t just some random occurrence of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I can’t believe that it was, then I’m not the only one who’s at risk. Nobody in my family is safe. Neither are the Severinovs. Our enemies don’t just believe in an eye for an eye. They go for the whole body and then ravage it, limb by limb, leaving a giant bloody carcass in their wake.

Charming thoughts to top off this horrific night.

“Are you going to tell me—?” Zeno starts, but I put up my hand, shaking my head.

“No questions, okay?” I snap. “I’m going to drive my friend home and put her to bed. Then, I have to figure out where the hell I can go to hide out until I decide what to do next.”

“What makes you think that drive-by was directed at you?” he mutters, turning up the stereo volume and raising the bass.

I open my mouth to reply and then my brow furrows. “Why do you say that?”

“I think there’s a possibility we might have gotten caught in each other’s crosshairs,” he says, raking a hand through his thick hair.

“So someone wants you dead, too?”

He shrugs. “Someone always wants me dead.”

“This isn’t a joke,” I whisper-shout.

“Yeah, no shit,” he mumbles. “Look, until we figure out what the hell is happening, you shouldn’t be alone anywhere.”

“Well, since I have no family here, and my only friend is obliterated beyond belief, I think I’ll have to take my chances. I can go to the animal shelter until morning and then figure this all out.” Nobody will look for me there, and I’d wanted to check on Vito, anyway. Then I can call Kat. She’ll know what to do. I let out a deep breath. Everything will be fine. I can take care of myself. I did it tonight with that handsy jackass, and I will do it again.

I may not look like much of a threat, but I’m no delicate flower.

I have thorns, dammit. Sharp and deadly ones that will tear the shit out of anyone who gets too close.

That’s how I got away from the kidnappers the first time.

They never saw it coming, either.

I can be unexpected, too.

I pull up to the curb in front of Chloe’s apartment and put the car in park. I reach over to open the door and Zeno’s hand closes around my wrist. His grip is not too hard, just enough where the sensation of his fingertips on my bare skin send tingles up my arm.

“Wait,” he grunts before getting out of the passenger-side door. With a quick look around, he opens my door and shuttles me out of the car and over to the entrance of the building with Bruno carrying Chloe behind us.

I grab her purse and fumble around inside until I find her key. I stick it in the lock and we hurry into the building, darting for the elevator. The entire bottom floor is glass-enclosed and I’d really rather not be trapped in a fishbowl if another ambush is imminent.

As the elevator creeps up to Chloe’s floor, I take the few seconds to mull over Zeno’s question.

What makes you think that drive-by was directed at you?

He had…has…a gun, too. Was it to protect himself or to launch an attack of his own?

Out of the corner of my eye, I see him staring at my profile.

Illicit pasts.

I guess you really never know by looking at someone what skeletons are hiding in their closet….and exactly how deadly they may be.

And judging by the fact that Zeno is friends with Kazimir Severinov, it doesn’t shock me that his closet may be full, too.

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