Page 28

Katie

Nobody has actually asked me for my version of events yet. Maybe they don’t want to upset me, or maybe they think it won’t be of any value.

Starting at the beginning, I explain how the police raided Jax’s house.

How two men broke into his home, and I had to escape through next door’s loft.

I told them about the police, how that guy had been outside the salon, and how Jax had treated me since getting on the plane back to England.

When I relive the details of my kidnapping, my body shakes; I can’t hold in the sobs when I explain the terror I felt, the pain they inflicted.

Leo’s temper builds. He stands, fists clenched, before reining it in to sit back down beside me, comforting me.

“The Martelés wanted something from Jax. Whatever it was, he had hidden it in my bear.” Sadness comes over me as I think of my Snuggly. “Guessing, I’d say it was a memory card of some description. ”

Josh is taking down notes while I speak. “Describe it to me.”

“It was only small. About three or four centimetres and blue, I think.”

“Good, Katie, you’re doing really well. Carry on,” Leo encourages, squeezing my hand.

“The Martelés wanted what Jax had hidden. In return, Jax wanted them to do something for him. I don’t know what. But whatever it was, they had no intention of doing it.”

“How do you know?”

“I heard them talking. They were going to take it, then kill Jax and me.”

“And Jax didn’t hear them say this?”

“They spoke in Italian.”

Leo’s attention pricks up.

Damien notices this. “Katie is fluent in Italian. Did you not know, Guerra?”

Both Damien and Josh smirk at Leo's furious reaction. Feeling bad, I look at him to explain, but he just kisses me.

“My Katie is full of surprises.”

Although I can tell it is killing him inside, he lets it go. My heart swells for him in that moment.

“I tried to warn Jax, but he didn’t believe me. That’s when I got this.” I lift my hand to the swelling on my face that surrounds my broken cheekbone.

Leo hisses in anger. “Why would they take Katie? I saw Martelé’s face when I arrived. He wasn’t expecting me. He had no idea I even knew Katie.”

“That we don’t know, but I’d guess Jaxon knew exactly who you were. He probably took Katie as insurance.”

That’s right, Jax knew who Leo was on the beach when they meet the first time. I was so surprised Leo knew who Jax was, it hadn’t even registered.

Leo

Marco, the stubborn sod who refuses to die, is adamant he is discharging himself the day Katie is released.

It’s been less than a week, but he insists he is fine.

Bullet number twelve. I really thought this was the one that had finally defeated him.

However, I should have known. Not that I’d ever tell him, but I’m really glad he didn’t die that day.

I’ve rented a house on the outskirts of London.

Damien has sorted the best care team around to ensure they’re both fit and well as quickly as possible, which is good, as I need Marco.

I have an idea, and he has work to do. Marco is unhappy about my plans but goes along with them all the same.

The arrangements in Italy are beginning.

Part two of the plan is to get Katherine—Katie—to actually agree to be my wife.

I’m in love with her. From the moment we first met when she was the quiet, teenage Katherine I first knew to now, the feisty Katie I grow more in love with every day.

Making her happy is what I need to do. She will be my wife, but under her terms.

Both patients have their blood pressure checked by nurses.

The pair sit side by side. Katie is telling Marco all about some Netflix series she is watching about the mafia.

She makes me laugh, suggesting things to Marco about how we could do things.

At least she is taking an interest in the family business.

I laugh at Marco when he catches my line of sight.

He’s less than amused and furious he can’t get up to leave.

Katie continues twittering on regardless.

Damien, Bella, and their little daughter, Daisy, arrive to see Katie.

Damien leaves Bella to talk but lingers in the hallway, texting on his phone.

“Does he always follow you around like a lost puppy?” Marco asks Bella.

She laughs.

“A Rottweiler, more like." I add.

"Yes, he’s never far from us. Heaven forbid Daisy and I are apart; he doesn’t know where to be.”

Marco tuts and leaves the room. He doesn’t understand love and relationships. In his opinion, men who put women before themselves are soft. Up until I found Katie again, I had similar thoughts.

Leaving the girls to chat, I make some calls.

It seems the news of the recent deaths has made it back to Italy.

Now that the Guerras have murdered the Martelé leaders, we have just declared war.

It was an unavoidable situation but one I could do without.

Although we have some time while the Martelés appoint their new leader, we must get back to Italy and sort out the situation.

The fact that neither I nor Marco are in the country doesn’t bode well.

Katie

“Any idea when you will be coming back to work, Katie? No pressure, obviously; you take as much time as you need. Just so I can make sure everything is ready for you, that’s all. Plus, I really miss you.”

“I’ve really missed you too.”

And I have; I meant it. But not enough that I want to go back to work.

When I look to my future now, I don’t see myself here.

I’m in a hot country living by the sea with Leo.

There’s nothing keeping here. I love my parents, but we don’t live in each other’s pockets.

We go for months without seeing each other. And anyway, Italy isn’t so far away.

I watch Bella with Daisy so happy and content.

“I think it’s time for a nappy change.” Bella laughs when we both get a whiff of Daisy.

“I’ll change her. You stay with Katie,” Damien insists, entering the room and taking Daisy from Bella.

The love in Bella’s eyes when she looks at them both is moving. That’s what I want. To love and to be loved. I’m moving to Italy.

When our guests leave, I hobble around the house, looking for Leo. Finding him in the dining room, his makeshift office, I wait quietly while he is on the phone.

“Van! You are part of the Guerra mafia! Not the Boy fucking Scouts! Now get out there and sort it!” He throws his phone onto the table, then looks up at me. “Hello, what are you doing there? You should be in bed, resting.”

Before I can protest, Leo has picked me up and is carrying me to our bedroom.

“Will you lie with me while I go to sleep?”

“Anything for you.” Leo gets in bed beside me, still fully clothed, so I know he will be slipping away once I’m asleep. There is trouble back in Italy, and I know he is eager to get back. Tomorrow I will speak to him about leaving for home .

Just as I am falling asleep, I hear Leo whisper, “Ti amo.” I love you.

My heart is full as I drift into a much-needed sleep.

Something disturbs my rest. The time is 3:00 am.

The room is dark other than a crack of light coming from under the door.

Hearing voices, I go and investigate. My feet freeze to the spot when I observe the situation in the kitchen.

Two men are tied to dining chairs with what look like extension cables. Their faces are bloodied and battered.

“Get here right now, Damien!” Leo walks around the room, talking on the phone.

“You sort this out now before I make all this even more of your business. No police! They will either lose their heads or their legs; that depends on how quickly you get here!” Leo sees me in the doorway and ends the call.

“I’m sorry, my love. Come.” He ushers me out of the room, closing the door behind him.

“What’s going on?”

“Everything is okay; you are safe. These chancers just broke in, looking for something worth stealing. Marco and I caught them. It’s all over.

“Leo, I know those two men. They’re the ones who broke into Jax’s house that night. One of them came to the salon looking for me.”

He takes me into the utility room, switches on the light, and makes a comfortable seat on the bench out of towels and bedding. “You sit here until I come back, okay? Here.” He passes me a gun. “You point that at the door; anyone you don’t know, you shoot. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have your phone?” Leo holds his hand out.

Taking it out of my dressing gown pocket, I place it in his palm.

"He must be tracking your phone somehow. Stay put.”

With shaky hands, I wait. The room must be soundproof, as I hear nothing until Leo opens the door about ten minutes later.

As soon as he does, I hear a lot of people in the house.

Damien and Josh are here. The men on the chairs in the kitchen have gone and are now replaced with who I can only assume are Damien’s security team, as they all wear earpieces and black jackets.

“I can’t protect her here. We are going back to Italy tonight.” Leo looks at me for approval.

Seeing the hope in his eyes, how could I say no.

“I’m ready when you are.”