Chapter 3 - Shadows in the Estate
The warning about enemies outside hung heavy in the air long after Leo left the room.
I stood by the window,
peering through the heavy velvet drapes down at the rain-slicked courtyard.
A sleek black sedan had parked just outside the iron gates,
its headlights cutting twin beams through the misty morning.
Two men in dark trench coats stood smoking near the hood,
watching the main entrance with predatory patience.
They weren't police; police didn't linger outside a mafia boss's fortress with that kind of arrogant confidence.
"They're waiting for me to die,
" Dominic's voice murmured from behind me.
I turned around quickly to see him sitting upright against the headboard,
looking significantly stronger than last night.
"You shouldn't be sitting up without help,
" I scolded,
walking over to check his IV drip.
"My body,
my rules,
nurse,
" he replied dryly,
though he allowed me to adjust his pillows.
He nodded toward the window with a bitter,
humorless smile.
"That's Vince's crew out there.
"
"Vince is my second-in-command,
or at least he used to be before he decided my position in the syndicate was vacant.
"
"Let me guess,
" I said,
mixing a fresh saline bag.
"He's the one who put that bullet in your shoulder?"
Dominic's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.
"Vince lacks the courage to face me eye-to-eye,
" he growled.
"He hired a sniper while I was inspecting our docks in Sicily last week.
"
"Yet here you are,
bleeding in a bed while he waits for a death certificate,
" I noted bluntly.
"Pride kept me alive long enough to crawl back to this house,
" Dominic said,
his voice dropping an octave.
"And you keep me breathing when every instinct tells my body to give up.
"
"Don't flatter yourself,
Mr.
Rossi,
" I retorted,
smoothing down his sheets.
"I'm here for my paycheck on Monday morning,
nothing more and nothing less.
"
A low chuckle rumbled in his chest,
making him wince slightly as his shoulder pulled.
"Money is a remarkably honest motivation,
Nora,
" he said,
tasting my first name on his tongue for the very first time.
"Far more reliable than loyalty in my world.
"
Before I could respond,
a sharp buzz echoed from the bedside intercom.
Leo's urgent voice filled the room.
"Boss,
May you like
we have an uninvited guest trying to breach the north gate.
"
