Page 157

Cristian, Benny, Damien, and Antonio disappear into the bedroom.

“Jesus,” I hear.

We walk toward the stairway banister, looking down on the first floor, to find Derrick. A group of officers are behind him.

“I’ll assume Dima killed his men at the gate,” he comments, checking the pulse of the dead man in the foyer.

“That’s right,” I reply. “Everyone was dead when we arrived.”

He shakes his head, attempting to hide a grin.

“Come on, baby,” I say to Genesis. “Let’s get you home.”

“You take her,” Antonio says. “Damien and I will ride back with Marchetti.”

Benny exits the room, holding up a pair of Chanel flats. “Do these belong to you, Genesis?”

She nods.

He hands them to her.

“Thank you,” she says, holding on to my shoulder and slipping them on.

I can tell she’s still in shock. If dead bodies are in there, that means she’s been sitting with them.

“I want pictures of the bodies,” I tell Benny. “And their phones.”

He nods in response.

Genesis holds my hand as we walk down the stairs, and Derrick walks with us outside. Cop cars line the drive, and I hear one call for ambulances through his radio.

“I appreciate you not doingtoo muchdamage,” Derrick tells me before lowering his voice so only I can hear. “We will need to bring her in for questioning.”

“Not today you won’t,” I reply.

He nods. “But we will.”

“When she feels up to it.”

He nods again. “I’ll give you a police escort back so you can get her home faster.”

“Appreciate it.” I clap him on the back.

He smirks, sliding on his sunglasses. “See, isn’t it nice, somewhat obeying the law sometimes?”

“Sorry to break it to you, Derrick, but you sold half your soul to the dark side when you began working with me.”

He shrugs. “At least I didn’t sell all of it.”

I help Genesis into the SUV, buckling her in, and she grabs the sides of my face. Her hands tremble, and she stares up at me with shuttered eyes.

“Julian, I fucking love you,” she says, her tone urgent. “The entire time I sat there on the phone with 911, all I could think about was how I needed to tell you that. I had known I had to get rid of Dima because no other man would ever be my love, my husband, but you.”

Derrick steps away, giving us our moment, and I see the smile on his face.

I’ve never felt my heart warm.

Never felt a happiness beam inside me.