Page 144 of Bad Bishop

Our vans arrived at the warehouse twenty minutes later. We went through the first and second lines of guards fairly quickly, seeing as I dragged a half-butchered Alex out of the vehicle, pointing a loaded gun to his head and threatening to blow it off if they didn’t let us through.

Once inside, Camorra and Irish soldiers started unpacking and sifting through Bratva weapons to see what we could take. They raided every corner of the two floors, top to bottom, peeling the floors and stripping the walls to ensure everything was inspected.

“Find the brothers and bring them to me,” I ordered Luca and Achilles, pushing Alex up the metal stairway. “Alive.”

They went to hunt for Jeremie and Slava while I led Alex to his second-story office. He cooperated, cool and composed even as his broken arm began swelling and the gash in his forehead reopened.

I sat him in a chair, tied him to it, and ripped the tape from his mouth.

“Happy to see me?” I used the tip of my gun to tilt his chin up so our gazes locked.

He smiled a genuine smile, teeth bloodied, face busted.

“Always,Koshchei.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

LILA

“Thanks for coming to my OB-GYN appointment.” I reached to clasp Tierney’s hand in the back seat of the Mercedes. We were driven by my driver, with an Irish soldier in the passenger seat.

Tierney squeezed my hand back. “Of course. We’re family now, and I love you. Besides, Tiernan’s not here. I figured you could use the support.”

“Actually, he’s only been to my first appointment,” I confessed, feeling the tips of my ears pinking. “His emblematic middle finger to me, since he didn’t want me to keep the baby.”

“What an asshole.” Tierney frowned, surprised. “Wait, so who did you go with up until now? I know you’re not on speaking terms with your mom.”

“I went by myself, mostly.” Enzo managed to come twice, and Luca once. “Well, with my harem of bodyguards. It’s fine, though. I had my Kindle. When you have your books, you’re never really alone.”

But Ifeltalone since he’d left. Not to mention, I couldn’t sleep at all. I didn’t even try his stupid vibrator. What made me fall asleep weren’t the orgasms—it was him holding me after sex. Knowing he was in the apartment with me. That he’d keep me safe even if it cost him his own life.

“You look worried,” she said.

“I am worried,” I admitted.

“Spill it, little moon,” Tierney knew Tiernan called meGealach. For some reason, that filled my chest with warm pride. “I know you want to ask me something.”

“Do you think he’ll be okay?”

“I grew up with Alex and Tiernan, and all I can say is that they’re both unkillable. I also can’t envision either of them pulling the trigger on the other. I mean, accidents happen, but…” She sighed. “I don’t know. I think Tiernan will get out of it.”

We stopped at an intersection merging with a highway.

“Do you think he’ll ever warm up to the idea of the baby?” I asked. “You know him better than I do. Is there hope for us?”

Tierney’s eyes softened, and a small smile tugged at her mouth. The light turned green and our vehicle slid into the intersection.

“I think—”

Our car jerked sideways suddenly, careening in circles and crashing into another vehicle. My body slammed against Tierney.

Hot metal seared the side of my torso, and I arched, hugging my belly with a pained scream.

We were hit. Another car sped into the intersection on a full red light, crashing into us.

The airbags were activated, and I spotted my bodyguard sitting in the passenger seat unbuckling himself and crawling toward the back seat. Tierney was covered in blood—warm, thick, coppery liquid all over her beautiful face—but she didn’t even care. She was trying to unbuckle me first.

My heart beat so fast and so hard I could actually hear it between my ears. It was the first sound I ever heard, and one I already wanted to forget.