“I disagree. I think love is for the very, very lucky. That, however, isn’t me,” I say sadly. My brother tilts his head, ebony eyes narrowing.
“You like someone else, don’t you? Oh, hell, that’s not going to go over well.”
“You have no idea,” I murmur, my nerves wracking.
“Who is the poor sucker that you’re going to have to dump?”
I squirm and ignore his question.
“Maybe he already dumped me.”
Gio leans forward. “Did he? Do you need me to go kick some poor fool’s ass?”
I grin and shake my head. “Thanks, but no. I think I’ve already hurt him enough.”
“Interesting.” Gio sits back, crosses a leg over his opposite knee and lays his large hands on top of his book.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just feel like there’s more to the story than you’re telling me.”
“Oh.” Damnit. My brother is way too smart for his own good. “Can I ask you something?”
He shrugs a noncommittal shoulder.
“Are you happy about taking over one day?”
“I already told you, I have no problem with it.”
“But what if something changed? What if…” I pull in a deep breath then ask, “What if you found out the family business isn’t what you thought. And it’s darker, more disturbing than you ever realized. And say you fell in love with someone who maybe didn’t approve of what you were doing?”
“I’m never falling in love with anyone, Trish. It clouds your vision and makes you do stupid shit. And I’m well aware of the dark side to the family business. When the time comes, I can
handle it.”
I nod. “Well, then, I guess that’s that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. You answered my question, that’s all.”
His dark eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn’t comment. With a sigh, I stand up. “I need to run some errands before it starts pouring.”
“Take a bodyguard with you,” Gio reminds me.
“I will,” I say absently then turn to walk out.
“Hey, Trish,” my brother calls.
I glance over my shoulder.
“Hmm?”
“Whoever the guy is, let him go. Especially if he doesn’t approve of our family.”
I pull in a low breath, but don’t comment. “See you later,” I finally say and walk out. Maybe talking to Gio was a mistake. Now he’s suspicious, but I can’t exactly tell him that I’ve been sneaking around with Connor Mennetti.
Covering my stomach with a hand, I think about how he didn’t use protection the last time we had sex. He took me bare, and I know he knew exactly what he was doing. Obviously, I’m already pregnant, so it didn’t matter. But he has no idea about the baby. Yet, he chose to risk it.
Why?
Is he hoping that I’ll get pregnant? Does he have some nefarious agenda?
My mind is swimming with unanswered questions, and I grab my purse and spot Johnny who is never very far away from me. He’s been accompanying me when I leave the brownstone, even though I think it’s silly. I’ve never run into any trouble and I’m beginning to wonder if Gio is
even right. Did Connor declare war on our family or is that just another exaggerated story to add to the others to continue this ridiculous rivalry.
There are a few stores I want to run to and all within walking distance. Johnny walks beside me as we head up the sidewalk. I’m thinking about so many things and not paying attention to my surroundings.
“Didn’t you want to go in here?” Johnny asks.
I abruptly stop walking and slap a hand against my forehead. “Oh, geez, yes. Sorry.” I read online about something called “pregnancy brain” and I’m pretty sure I have it because I’ve been forgetting things lately. I’m also under a lot of stress, too, and that isn’t helping.
All of a sudden, an SUV with blacked-out windows rolls up to the curb. I don’t pay much attention to it, and I turn to walk into the store when I hear a POP POP POP fill the air. Before I can react, much less figure out what’s going on, Johnny throws me to the ground and drops down, covering my body with his much larger one.
A few more shots echo through the air, and I realize someone is shooting a gun. The SUV squeals away and, above me, Johnny groans. When he rolls off, I see blood and gasp. Oh, God, he’s been shot.
“Help!” I yell, starting to stand up. “Somebody, help!”
“Stay down,” Johnny orders, his voice pained, and his hand snakes around my wrist and he yanks me back down on the sidewalk. “They may come around again. We need to get you inside.”
He struggles to stand and pulls me into the store with him. “Call 911,” he orders the cashier. Then he guides me down an aisle and to a back office where he locks us inside.
Confusion fills me and I don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt Johnny.
“Sit,” he says and pulls his phone out of his pocket. Then he pulls up a contact and hits send. “Mr. Volkanov, someone just tried to gun Trisha down.”
My blood turns to ice. Me? It didn’t even occur to me that I was the target.
“Yes, she’s safe. Negative. I didn’t get a good look.” When Johnny’s light brown eyes meet mine, I pull in a sharp breath and automatically cover my stomach with both hands.
A chill passes through my body.
Someone just tried to kill me and if it weren’t for Johnny diving in and hauling me down to the ground, I would most likely be bleeding out at this very moment.
Me and my baby.
———————
Connor
My head and heart are at war with each other.
And it’s killing me.
Even though I know it’s over between Trish and I, a part of me keeps insisting that it doesn’t have to be. It’s stupid to think a relationship between us could work. The odds are stacked against us in every possible way.
At least that’s what my logical side says.
But then I think about our insane chemistry and the way she brightens my world in every way.
Trish shines her light on the shadows that cling to me, and she makes me want to be a better man. I feel torn in two because if I tried to go with her then I’d be forsaking my father and the business. Hell, I’d be betraying my entire family.
She’s a Volkanov. It’s an impossible situation.
At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
“Connor?”
My head snaps up from the pile of paperwork I’m supposed to be going over and I see Sean Flannigan standing in the doorway.
“We have a situation,” he says carefully.
“What the fuck now?” I grumble and scrub a hand over my lower face.
“A hit was attempted on one of Matthais Volkanov’s children.”
“I’m sorry, what?” For a minute, I think I hear him wrong. I’m expecting him to say a hit was attempted on one of my family.
But, no, he said the Volkanov children. Oh, Christ. My stomach sinks with dread and ice fills my veins. Trish. “Who was targeted?”
“His oldest daughter.”
My world stops and it feels like the rug was just yanked out from beneath me. It can’t be true.
“Someone tried to kill Trisha?” I growl, shoving up from my chair. I’m going to fucking kill the bastard responsible.
Moving around the desk with lethal intent, barely able to keep myself together, I charge over to Sean. “Is she okay?”
Please, God, I beg. She has to be okay. If anything happened to Trish… I’m never going to be the same knowing that she was hurt, almost killed, because of my family. I’d never forgive myself if one of my enforcers snuffed out her beautiful light.
“Yes. But if you want answers, then come with me.”
Internally, I sag with relief. She’s okay. Trish is still alive. For now, anyway. But what if they go after her again? “You’re damn right I want answers,” I snap. “Where are we going?”
“I’ve gathered everyone at the warehouse. You’re going to need to address the situation.”
Address it? I’m going to fucking crush it. But first, I need to make sure that Trish is safe. My gut is telling me that whoever attempted to kill her may try again.
I won’t let anyone hurt Trish. No one. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure she’s safe. Including bringing her to me because, right now, I don’t trust anyone. Roberto and Sean are going to think I’m crazy, but I don’t care. Grabbing my phone, I put the call in to my brother for the favor I need.
“Hey, bro,” he instantly answers.
“We have a problem and I need your help,” I say without preamble. Then I explain everything that I know and what I want him to do. Sean is gaping at me like I have three heads, but I don’t give a shit. Roberto is silent for a long moment after I finish speaking.
“Are you sure?” he finally asks.
“Yes,” I say and rake a hand through my hair. “The woman I care about is in danger. They’re going to go after her again. I fucking know it and I can’t have that happen. I need you to do this for me. Right now. I’d go myself, but I have to go to the warehouse and get answers. Please. Rob.”
My brother must hear the sharp fear in my voice because he says, “Yeah, of course. I’m on my way over there now. Be careful.”
“I will.” After disconnecting the call, I feel Sean staring at me.
“What?” I snap.
“I had no idea that you and Trisha Volkanov… had any kind of a relationship.”
“That’s because it’s none of your damn business.”
“Fair enough.”
I let out a ragged sigh. “Sorry,” I immediately apologize. “I’m just not in my right state of mind.”
Because I’m fucking terrified for Trish right now and I hope to God my brother moves fast. I walk over to the safe, punch in the combination and remove the gun.
“Do you have any idea who did it?”
Sean glances at the gun and, I swear, I see approval flash through his eyes. I’m fucking surrounded by a bunch of bloodthirsty criminals.
“I don’t know. It could be anyone. The enforcers are angry about what happened to Nolan and your, ah, lack of… ” His voice trails off and my nostrils flare.
“My lack of what?” I demand, tucking the gun in the back of my pants and pulling on a jacket to hide it.
“They have certain expectations,” he says carefully.
“And I’m not meeting those expectations. Is that what you’re saying?”
Sean sighs. “They don’t think you’re as strong or ruthless as your father. They’re questioning if you can run the organization or if it’s going to fall apart.”
My jaw clenches so hard that I’m surprised I don’t crack a tooth.
“Let’s go,” I grit out.