Page 59 of Mafia King's Forbidden Obsession

“Sopravviverò(I’ll live),” I respond and hang up, stuffing the phone back in my pocket.

I tuck the gun in the band of my pants and clutch the wound with my other arm before heading out of the office to the front porch.

With small grunts, I retrace my steps, slipping through the shadows like a ghost. In no time, I’m in my car, one hand on the steering wheel and the other still applying pressure on my arm.

My vision blurs as familiar lightheadedness washes over me. Still, I ignite the engine and step on the accelerator like my life depends on it. Well, it does.

Chapter nineteen

Raven

I stumbled upon the library earlier in the afternoon, and since then, I’ve been in here. When I look up from a book, it’s already night, and the lights have turned on.

I ignore the three men patrolling the library, discreetly following my every move. As much as I love to read alone, their presence brings me a silent comfort. I feel protected.

I’m nestled in an egg chair, suspended by a single rope from the ceiling and surrounded by tall brown wooden shelves, each column stocked with first editions of a variety of book genres.

The Rhythm of Usby Sophie Caldera soon got me hooked. Two hundred and fifty pages in, and I’m a blushing and giggling mess. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this relaxed.

I shift in my seat when I hear the door creak open. One of the patrols is talking to a guard who had just walked in, their sibilant whispers punctuating the silence. Something about the guard’s wide eyes throws me off.

The guard nods in my direction, and I wonder if it’s time for my curfew. I lift my eyes to the large wall clock hung above a shelf. 11:54 p.m.

Before I bring my attention to them, the guard is before me in quick strides. “Your attention is needed in the stitch room right now.”

I breathe as I close the book and rise to my feet.

Just what I needed to end an almost perfect day.

“Let’s go,” I say flatly.

Who is hurt again this time?

We exit the room, the guard leading the way. We round a corner and my feet carry me down the flight of stairs, moving faster than my thoughts.

I can’t think about anything else except for worst-case scenarios. Maybe he’s cut someone’s finger and wants me to stitch it back up, or he’s beaten a poor man to a pulp and requires that I nurse him back to life. Or even he himself needs attention.

My steps falter when I reach the ground floor and take in the sight before me. The man, whom I’ve heard Ezra call Elio, is supporting Ezra on his shoulder. His firm hands around Ezra’s torso support a staggering and barely conscious Ezra. What?!

“Ezra…?” I whisper, though I doubt he heard me.

My steps instantly quicken as I follow them to the stitch room, my heart hammering in my ears. Ezra’s sleeve is soaked through with blood. His suit jacket is roughly tied around his left arm, the dark cloth is completely soaked and dripping onto the floor with each step. His olive skin is now pale white, and his lips are pressed tight in pain.

A wave of panic slowly rises in me, but I force it down, my chest tightening as I try to stay composed. I won’t lie, though, seeing him like this shakes me to my core.

When we arrive at the stitch room, Elio eases his boss down onto a recovery bed. Ezra grunts in pain as his body hits the mattress, his breathing shallow and ragged. His eyes are barely open, glaze over with exhaustion.

“What happened to him?” I ask, hurrying to grab the necessary equipment. Although I can guess what it is.

“Bullet to the arm,” Elio responds.

Oh, for fuck’s sake. I curse, fastening a face mask over my nose.

“I’ll take it from here,” I tell Elio. He hesitates for a moment, shooting me a worried glance before stepping out. Two guards stay behind, one stationed at the entrance, and the other stands by the sink.

Swinging into action, I slap on gloves and gather gauze, disinfectant, and stitching supplies from the cabinets.

For a brief moment, I note Ezra ensured to stock up on more supplies than just the essentials like in the old mansion. The only difference is there are no painkillers or anesthesia in sight.