Page 530 of One More Kiss

“No,” I whispered, horrified, but everyone heard me.

My father’s men stood straighter; the women’s eyes filled with sorrow and understanding.

“Don’t do it,” I pleaded with my father.

“I’ll trade myself for my daughter.” My father’s words were clear. There was no denying the determination in his voice.

My heart clenched, and my stomach dropped. If he went with Joe, there was no way that Frank would let my father survive. He wanted to take him down and this was the perfect opportunity.

Joe hit the gun against my head; pain exploded through my skull. “Don’t do anything funny, bitch. You’ll exchange with your father and that’s it.”

I gritted my teeth and tried to stop myself from telling him to go fuck himself. He was deluded if he thought that he would be able to leave this house with my father. No matter what happened, if he shot my father or not, Joe wouldn’t leave here alive.

Joe pulled the gun from my head. I took in a steadying breath as I stepped away.

The sound of a gunshot echoed, followed by another bang, and then another. The women and children screamed. I shuddered, trying to breathe.

Before I could even glance around the room to see what happened, hands pulled on me. I shrunk back from the touch. My head pounded as blood continued to drop from my temple.

“Babe,” Paolo said as he lowered his gun. Paolo saved me with the single shot. I wasn’t sure where the other shot came from. All I needed was to be in his arms.

I rushed into his arms as he surrounded me and bit back a sob. Now wasn’t the time nor the place to break down. “Let me see, princess,” he said as he nudged me back from him.

I shivered, missing the warmth that his body provided. I swallowed back the fear, tears, and anxiousness. I gazed into Paolo’s worried eyes.

“It’s not too bad,” he said as he assessed the cut. “It doesn’t need stitches.”

My tongue swiped across my bottom lip as I glanced at where Arlo and Hunter pulled a whimpering Joe from the room. A trail of blood was left on the white marble floor.

“Will they kill him?” I asked.

“They can’t.” Paolo’s words were laced with anger. “I want him dead, but that’s not how my world works. I’m going to have to go stop your father if he tries to kill him, but I don’t want to leave your side.”

A throat cleared, and I took a step back.

“No one was hurt,” Marco said as he stepped between Paolo and me, my father at his side. “You did good, Paolo.”

My father nodded. “I’m in your debt.”

I stared at him in surprise. My father never said that to anyone; he believed that it made him weak.

“There’s no chance I was going to let him hurt either of you. That’s why I’m here,” Paolo said.

My back went ramrod straight. This was all for his job.

“I should get cleaned up,” I said, glad that my voice didn’t betray the fear and shock that I felt. I turned to my father. “You have business to attend to. Once I’m cleaned up, I’ll make sure that everyone is okay.”

My father narrowed his eyes at the streak of blood on my face, and then pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said. “It’s not too bad. It doesn’t need stitches.”

“Call if you need me.” He sighed and turned on his feet. Marco followed right behind him.

“Fuck,” Paolo growled when they’d left. “I have to go with your father, but I don’t want to leave you right now. I know I said something to piss you off.”

I shrugged. “It’s your job.”

He shook his head.

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