Page 79 of Stolen Vows

“What number?”I demand.

He screams an answer.

I bury a bullet in his brain, turn, and stalk out of the apartment.

As I take the stairs three at a time with Noah on my heels, I reload my pistol and pull out my knife.With only one thought replaying in my mind, I don’t feel the agony in my hip or the pain in my arm.

I must find my wife.

Valentina’s knife was in her pocket, not her purse, but it wasn’t hidden well.I prepare for the worst while demanding the best outcome.My wife will be fine.I will love and cherishmia paperottafor decades to come.

I burst through the door to the appropriate floor, check the sign, and rush down the hall.

A gaggle of kids sits in the hall playing cards, but they scurry into an apartment and shut the door behind them when I turn the corner.

With one furious kick, I break the door down and duck into the apartment.

Valentina hisses through her gag and catches herself with her bound hands on the counter before her father tugs her in front of him and presses his muzzle against her temple.Thepezzo di merdauses her as a shield.

“Drop the gun,” he demands.

I toss it aside.Blood streams down my arm from both my new graze and yesterday’s injury.

Valentina’s eyes burn a deep cerulean as she studies the crimson staining my sleeve and hip.

“Be still, baby,” he murmurs into her ear.

Disgust fills her expression.

She flicks her gaze toward the back of the apartment.

Pietro’s friend.

Noah stands vigil in the hall.He no doubt called for help already.

“Sit in the chair,” Pietro demands.

I lock eyes with Valentina and follow his demand.

He tosses a pair of handcuffs onto the floor at my feet.

“Through the bars behind you,” Pietro hisses.

He waits until the cuffs click closed around my wrists before he calls out to Noah.

“Toss your weapons on the floor and come in with hands up.One wrong move and they both die,” he hisses.

Noah throws two pistols and a knife through the doorway.

Pure hatred fuels me as I stare at my ex-best-friend.The evil mania in his eyes only makes me hate him more.

He ruined everything, starting with stealing Valentina’s journal and lying about her confession.

As Noah ducks through the shattered door, a massive frame fills the back hallway.

I curl my hands into fists.

My brother points his gun at Noah’s head.