Page 1 of Capone (Sinful Warriors MC #6)
GIOVANNA
“ R eally, Gabi? You couldn’t wait until I paid?
” I ask my beautiful baby girl with a smile.
With a mouth full of crackers, Gabrielle shook her head from side to side, causing her curly locks to flop all over her face.
I looked around to make sure there were no employees around us.
Most of the time when Gabi decides to indulge in a little snack before I’ve paid for groceries, people are understanding.
Then there are some who are miserable and want to make a big deal out of it.
Luckily, no one seems to be paying attention to us, so I push the cart forward and finish getting all the items I need to make my baby girl’s favorite meal. When I pick up a pack of ground beef, Gabi’s eyes brighten.
“Ghetti and meatballs?” she asks in her sweet little voice.
“Yes, sweetheart. I’m thinking we could also make some cannoli for dessert.”
Just like I knew she would, Gabi throws her arms in the air, cheering in sheer excitement. Since Gabi was a little baby, I always had her in the kitchen with me while I baked.
Baking was my passion that soon fell on the back burner when I got married and pregnant with my daughter. I don’t regret either though. Meeting Derek and having Gabrielle was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
Just the thought of my husband sends a pang through my chest. Tomorrow marks one year since he was killed. The past year was one of the hardest of my life. I thought I would have Derek forever, but I guess it wasn’t written in the stars for us.
I’ll never forget the call I got from his boss, Mercury, in the middle of the night.
Derek had gone out for drinks after work with a few of his buddies.
After they went their separate ways to head home, gunshots rang out.
His friends found him near his car, unresponsive.
By the time the ambulance got there, he was gone, taking a piece of me with him.
What was even worse, his killer was still out there. I thought with Derek working for a secret government agency called STF, they would have his killer behind bars within twenty-four hours. But again, the universe was working against me. There was no evidence to lead them to the killer.
Not. One. Single. Thing.
The case went cold and so did my heart. The only thing that makes me smile is my daughter. She is the light of my day. I honestly don’t know where I would be if she wasn’t here. Believe it or not, this little lady gives me strength.
“I thought that would make your day. Let's get this stuff paid for so we can relax for a little before dinner. We’ve had a long day.”
On cue, Gabi produces a long yawn, stretching her arms. She was due for a nap an hour ago. I know the second she’s in her car seat, she’ll be out like a light.
When we finally make it back to the car, I put Gabi inside with the air conditioner turned on before unloading the groceries into my trunk.
Just as I’m finishing up, a car stops directly behind me.
I turn around just as someone emerges from the black Toyota wearing all-black clothing and a ski mask.
I go to grab my pepper spray from my purse, but I’m not fast enough.
Bolts of electricity shoot through my back, rendering me speechless. My body convulses as my limbs weaken. My eyelids grow heavy, and before I know it, the world goes black.