My father immediately sends the cavalry after the shooting attempt, and within ten minutes, I’m rushed out of the store, placed in the back of a waiting SUV and taken straight home. I’m still trying to process what happened and the image of Johnny being put on a stretcher and carted off in the back of an ambulance is haunting me.
It’s all my fault.
The police wanted to ask me questions, but my father took over and told them it was merely a random act of violence. He said I was fine and currently resting at home. I think we’re all skeptical of that manufactured answer, but no one is going to challenge him. And everyone
knows it’s best not to draw attention to the Volkanov and Mennetti war.
A war that I’m getting very tired of.
When we reach the family brownstone, a guard walks me inside and I drop down in the nearest chair, completely overwhelmed. Someone just tried to kill me. If Johnny hadn’t
jumped in between me and the gunman, my baby and I would most likely be dead right now.
I’m so very lucky that nothing happened to the little, fragile life growing inside of me. If it had, I never would’ve been able to forgive myself. Emotion fills me and tears prick my eyes. I may not have met my baby yet, but I love him or her with all of my heart.
I’m so scared right now and, for once, happy to be back in the sanctuary of our family home.
“Why don’t you go up to your room, Miss Volkanov?” the guard suggests. “Rest up.”
Before I can respond, my mom bursts into the room, hurries over and hugs me.
“Oh, thank God,” she cries, leaning back and running a hand over my hair. “Are you okay?”
Anna Volkanov is in her early 50s and still a beautiful woman who has aged very gracefully. I inherited her chestnut hair and eyes, and I think we even have the same, slightly crooked smile.
She also possesses a good heart and, not for the first time, I wonder how she ever married my father who is her complete opposite.
I force a nod. “I feel awful for Johnny, but they said the bullet passed straight through and he’s going to be fine. Still though. If he hadn’t been there… hadn’t protected me ” My voice cracks.
“Oh, sweetheart.” My mom pulls me in for another hug and I start crying. Not for me, but for the tiny life growing inside of me. Things could’ve turned out so very differently today and I’m incredibly grateful they didn’t.
“I want you to go upstairs and lie down. I’ll have a cup of hot tea brought up to your room. Don’t worry about anything, okay? You’re safe now and that’s all that matters. And your father is taking care of things.”
She presses a kiss to my forehead and my stomach sinks. I’m not sure what my dad is doing, and I hope it doesn’t involve Connor.
With a nod, I get up and head to my bedroom. Opening the door, I step inside and freeze.
Connor is sitting in the chair in the corner once again and I gasp, hand lifting to my chest. “Jesus,” I hiss. “You need to stop doing that unless you want me to have a heart attack.” I quickly close the door and spin around as he’s standing up.
But something isn’t right. He seems… bigger than I remember.
Thicker across the chest and I notice the veins bulging in his muscled arms.
“Trish?” he asks, stepping closer.
It’s the same deep voice, but not quite right.
“I’m Roberto,” he continues. “And I’m here to take you back to Connor so he can keep you safe.”
Oh, God, it’s Connor’s twin brother.
As the pieces come together, I frown. “I’m safe here. With my family.”
“You don’t know who tried to kill you earlier today, do you?” Roberto asks and I shake my head. “It could be someone closer to you than you realize. You need to come with me.”
“How do I know this isn’t some sort of trick? Why are you here and not Connor?” Suddenly, my mind fills with all sorts of scenarios, and I do not trust this man. Even though he looks so much like Connor, he’s a stranger.
And he’s an Mennetti.
“Because Connor is currently dealing with his enforcers – warning them to leave you and your family alone.”
My jaw drops. As nice as that sounds, I don’t trust Roberto Mennetti. “How can I believe you?”
“Because Connor is my other half, and I would never hurt him. He cares about you and wants to make sure you’re safe.”
Maybe I’m about to make the most foolish decision in my life, but my gut is saying Roberto is telling me the truth. “Let me pack a bag quickly.”
Roberto gives a sharp nod. “Hurry though.”
I throw some clothes in a duffel bag then disappear into my bathroom to gather some personal necessities – my toothbrush, mascara and prenatal vitamins. Then I walk back into my bedroom. “Okay, let’s go.”
Roberto takes the duffel bag from me and slings it over his shoulder. “I’ll go first,” he tells me and throws a long leg over the windowsill. Once he’s out and on the fire escape ladder, he motions for me to follow. “Be careful.”
I’ve become a pro at sneaking in and out of my room, so I climb out and easily step over. We quickly make our way down to the sidewalk and then head up the block where his car is waiting at the curb. It’s a Jeep Cherokee and I hop into the passenger seat as he tosses my bag in the back and then slips into the driver’s seat.
As Roberto drives us away from the brownstone, I can’t help but study him, immediately noticing the differences and similarities to Connor.
Though they both are tall and have the same thick, dark hair and bright blue eyes, Connor has a slightly slimmer build. His voice is also a bit raspier than Roberto’s and, of course, he’s missing his left pinky finger while Roberto isn’t. And while Connor smells like fresh, rain-washed meadows, Roberto has a spicier, leather scent. If I didn’t know Connor so intimately – know each muscular curve, the feel of his firm chest against my cheek and the way he smells, I might not have immediately known the difference. At least not as quickly as I did.
Roberto glances over at me and doesn’t hold back, getting right to the point. “How do you feel about my brother?” he asks, completely blunt.
I swallow hard and shift in the seat. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I-I care for him. A lot.”
“He cares for you, too. Clearly. Since you do realize that he’s risking everything right now by bringing you to our family compound.”
“We’re not going to his apartment?” I ask, sitting up straighter. I just assumed that’s where Roberto was driving me.
“No.”
“But… what about your family? I can’t imagine they’re going to want me there.” My stress levels are shooting up through the roof and I clasp my hands in my lap, trying to force myself to calm down. High blood pressure and anxiety isn’t good for the baby.
The baby… oh, God, I’m going to have to tell him.
“As I’m sure you’re aware, our father is in the hospital and the rest of my family will deal with it just fine.”
I’m not exactly sure what that second part means, so I just sit back and try not to panic. I’m going to be stepping into the lion’s den and Roberto doesn’t seem very concerned. There are a million questions I want to ask about Connor, but I don’t say a word. Partly because I don’t think Roberto is going to tell me anything. Especially nothing overly personal that would betray his brother’s trust.