Page 54 of Game of Love
Giovanni was already casting a glance my way as he seated himself down with The Chameleon who looked exactly like the shots I’d seen of him - dark hair, sallow eyes that looked a little sunken and a gaunt appearance, tall and lanky with a cunning expression on his face.
It was always that cunning expression that got to me. Like he knew he couldn’t be caught.
Just like Balthazar. He knew he couldn’t be caught too.
The thing was, both men couldn’t have been more right.
Look at me here in this room, not a stone’s throw from him and I couldn’t do squat.
He smiled and took a drink of champagne from a passing waiter like he was just a random person here, not wanted for so many crimes. Yet, he’d had some hand or dealing in nearly all the terrorist crimes that had happened over the last decade.
That was the reality of the matter and I stood here playing secret agent to Ethan/ knight to Giovanni Marchesi.
“Welcome everyone, please take your seats,” Giovanni boomed. He stood but meant for the likes of me and Frankie to keep our stance, standing where we were on guard. He looked around the room. “Where are Armand and Vinny?” he asked.
“They should be joining us soon,” Frankie answered.
As he did, a man at the far end stood up.
“Giovanni, it wasn’t wise to come up here without the protection ofallyour knights,” the man stated.
His words threw me. It was due to being in the presence of so many bad guys that I couldn’t tell friend from foe. This guy though was definitely foe.
I saw the gun first. He pulled it from his jacket pocket and aimed to fire, but I stopped him with my own gun, ending him with a bullet to his neck.
It took him down but when I saw two more guys rise up and open fire, only one thing was on my mind.
One person who’d screamed when the first shot was fired.
Jia. She’d hidden behind the table but it wouldn’t be enough.
I went for her, shooting anything that moved and shielding her with my body while more shots sounded.
She clung to my shirt, burying her face in my chest and hanging on to me.
I chanced looking up and around. With her shaking against me, I saw five bodies spread out across the floor.
“Fuck!” Giovanni bellowed. “How the fuck did they get in here?” he cried.
“I don’t know Boss,” Frankie answered.
Vinny must have come in while Jia and I were crouched down in the corner.
Armand had only just arrived, gun at the ready, late to the party. His fucking face was red and his fly was undone.
Giovanni looked around the room frantically. “Where is my child!” he shouted.
I shuffled so he could see I had her and he came flying over, face looking as panicked as he’d sounded.
I stood with Jia who was crying and shaking. Giovanni took hold of her like she was indeed his child and hugged her hard first, then proceeded to check her over like he was inspecting her to make sure she’d come to no harm.
Hell, I wouldn’t have thought he was the same man from yesterday who hit her. Instead of the darkness that had filled his face I saw fear.
The fear of a father worried sick over his daughter.
“Please, tell me you’re okaybellezza,” he said, holding her face.
“I’m okay.” She nodded.
