Page 60 of Hawk's Sapphire

“You’re supposed to be one of those secrets, yet you continue to defy me and let others know of your presence here.”Vincenzo argues, his voice is steady, but the air of a threat is there.“Perhaps you should do as your told and let the good doctor do what I pay him to do while keeping yourself scarce so I can continue to protect you.Or are you bent on getting my men killed, Gattina?”

“I’m no such threat to your men.You just don’t want anyone looking at what you deem to be yours, which by the way, I amnot.”I have to give her credit for standing her ground.She’s brave.Stupid, but brave.

Vincenzo shrugs.“Agree to disagree.You are meant to remain hidden from anyone who could identify you.My men will protect you becauseyou are mineand because I order them to, but given the situation, we don’t want too many people, including my men who are not of the highest ranking, knowing my business.Youare currently part of my business.”

The doctor clears his throat, doing a horrible job of hiding his amusement.“Yes, well, I best be on my way.You know how to reach me if you need anything, but it appears you are in capable hands.I’ll see my way out.”He doesn’t elaborate or wait for anyone else to respond.He makes his way out of the room and out of sight without glancing back.

“We’ll discuss your outburst and your futile denial later,Gattina.”Vincenzo raises a threatening brow at the woman.“For now, since you want to be useful, go check on Miss Jenkins.See that she has something to eat.”The woman slits her eyes and glares, seemingly pissed.I’m certain her anger has more to do with Vincenzo’s claim on her rather than the fact she’s getting exactly what she wanted…to take care of the patient.She doesn’t utter so much as one word, just tips her head and storms out of the room.

“That’s going to be fun to watch play out.”Matteo mutters.Vincenzo cuts him a glare.

“Where’s Sadie?”I ask.The pain in my ribs sucks, but it’s nothing compared to the rage I’m feeling after seeing her the way she was last night and now knowing why- I’m out for blood and I don’t care if it means I’ll have to take a bullet for real this time.The last time I saw her she was wandering in her bra and panties, and definitely high on something.I need to see my woman and make sure she is all right, with my own eyes.

“She’s resting in another room down the hall.”Matteo supplies.

“How is she?”She seemed so lost last night.So fragile.

“Doc says she’ll be okay.Might feel woozy for a bit, but she wasn’t harmed in any way.I’ll let her know you’re awake.”Matteo offers.

Vincenzo throws his hand up halting Matteo’s movements.“Not yet.We have some things to discuss.”

“You mean like what the hellhewas doing at an auction party with Sadie in the first place?Or how about why she didn’t have a guard when she came out of that bathroom in only her bra and panties?I know you have one for her.I saw him at the gala.Or wait—and this is my personal favorite—why the fuckMatteo shot me?”Shouting makes the throbbing in my head hurt worse.I must’ve hit the floor pretty hard when I went down.

“Matteo took Sadie into that shark’s den knowing full well what was about to take place.Men were making deals in the back room, negotiating prices, and which girls they wanted to sample for the night.”I have to grit my teeth against to pain radiating through in my body as I shake with anger now.“Based on the state I found Sadie in, I’d say someone had decided they were going to sample her for the night,and where the fuck were you!”

“I was coming to get her when I saw you moving her through the crowd in your jacket.Sadie had been gone a long time and Sergio wasn’t answering his comms link.”Matteo replies, his voice tight with his own anger and frustration.“One of my other men found Sergio in the floor of a storage closet, bleeding out from a stab wound to the back.”

“How did someone get the drop on him?”Vincenzo turns his attention from me to Matteo.

“Doc said someone attacked him with chloroform, which explains how they were able to stab him from behind.”Matteo supplies.“Sergio would never have been taken down otherwise, nor would he leave Miss Jenkins unattended.She was his primary concern.I had other men watching my back for the night.”

“Well, she was left unattended and by the time she got to me, she thought she was hallucinating she was so fucking high.I’m not sure we share the same definition when it comes to priorities, because she never should have been in that state in the first place.”

“Did you see anyone else with her?”Vincenzo looks to both of us.

“Sadie said something about a woman, but I didn’t see anyone besides her come through the doorway.”

“Sergio was the only one sent to stand guard.”Matteo adds.“Maybe the woman is the one who stabbed him?”

“Sergio could overpower a woman, even being accosted from behind.”Vincenzo surmises.

“Not if the chloroform had already taken effect, boss.She could’ve disoriented him enough then stabbed him before she went in to get Sadie.”

“But how would she have gotten him into the closet without anyone knowing?He’s not a small man?”Vincenzo sounds increasingly frustrated.“She would have had to have help.”

“No one else was seen going back there.You think someone was already there waiting.”They go back and forth discussing scenarios, meanwhile all I fucking want is to see Sadie.

I move off the bed and head for the bathroom to take a piss and then I’m going to find my woman.Then something Vincenzo says catches my attention.“Were there any offers made for Miss Jenkins?”

“You son of a bitch!You were there to auction her off!You were going to sell her to the highest bidder and forwhat?” I turn and lunge for Vincenzo only to have Matteo’s meaty arm slam into my torso causing me to lose my breath from the pain and bruising of my chest and ribs.“You already had me and Galina working the party to find you any leads.Why would you risk Sadie too?What the hell debt does she owe that you’d sell her to pay it off?”

Vincenzo doesn’t blink, doesn’t flinch, merely sizes me up rubbing his stubbled chin.“I admire your loyalty to your friend, but I am struggling with the level of stupidity you’ve shown while in my presence.You two seem unevenly matched, and you certainly have no self-preservation about you, which leads me to believe Miss Jenkins could do better.”He turns to Matteo.“I’m not sure I can approve of this one.”

“Fuck you.”

“See, there.Disrespectful, even now when you’re in my home, under my roof, with my doctor seeing to your care and my men keeping you alive…you’re still so ungrateful.”

“It wasyour manwho fucking shot me!Why should I show you respect?Huh, Vincenzo?You took my woman and flaunted her around like a pierce of fucking meat to be sold to the highest bidder, and for what exactly?Who were you hoping to sell her to?A new business partner?A politician you need to blackmail.What’s your angle in all this?”

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