Just as quickly, silence drops like a dead weight around us. Slowly, I turn my head back to James. My lips part, intense worry numbing my tongue and sending pins and needles scattering over my skin.
“James?” I whisper, dread pouring through me. I press my hand over his, covering the bloody stain on his side. “James!”
Slowly, he opens his eyes, then a grin spreads over his face. “I’m… okay.”
I suck in a desperate breath of air, dizzying relief washing through me.
“Theresa!” Nikolas shouts, his voice tense with worry and rage. “Tess!”
“Here,” I call out. Instead of getting up, I crawl to where Yiorgos is still covering Athina and pat his shoulder. “It’s safe.”
Athina lets out a grief-stricken sob. “He’s gone.”
Once again, pins and needles spread over me, but before I can react, hands grip my shoulders, and I’m yanked to my feet.
I see Andreas taking hold of Yiorgos’ body then I’m crushed against a solid chest.
“Jesus Christ.” Nikolas’ voice is hoarse with relief.
The impact of what happened knocks my feet from under me. All the strength leaves my body instantaneously, and I slump against Nikolas.
He lifts me up in his arms, and as I wrap my arms tightly around his neck, I get a glimpse of the devastation of the attack. Bodies are scattered everywhere, pools of blood on the white tiled floor. Trays, food, plates, glasses, cutlery. Broken chairs and overturned tables.
A woman and a little boy still hide behind a pillar, her eyes wide with shock on a dead man lying by her feet.
“I’ve got Athina,” I hear Andreas say, then Nikolas maneuvers his way through the bodies.
“James,” I croak as I hide my face against Nikolas’ neck, not wanting to see any more of the devastation.
“We’ve got him.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “He’ll be okay.”
My body starts jerking as the shock sets in, and unable to control my chaotic emotions, I begin to cry, my anxiety spiking dangerously high. Bile churns in my stomach, a tense ache setting into my muscles.
“I’ve got you, baby,” Nikolas says, rage still coating his words.
He doesn’t let go of me as he climbs into the backseat of an SUV, and I only cling tighter to him, needing his strength more than ever.
Chapter 41
Nikolas
There are no words to describe the uncontainable wrath vibrating in my chest.
They fucking tried to kill my wife and sister.
Cowards.
Motherfucking bastards.
I’ll kill every fucking Sicilian.
Walking into the penthouse, I set Tess down on a couch, then check every fucking inch of her body for wounds. She’s shaking uncontrollably, her face paler than death.
“Baby.” I try to soften my voice, but every ounce of rage spills into the word.
Tess’ head snaps up, shallow breaths bursting over her lips. “James.” She swallows hard as if she’s going to puke. “Where’s James? Is he okay?”
Andreas brings Athina into the penthouse, and the instant Tess lays eyes on my sister, she darts up from the couch. The two women fall into each other’s arms.
The two women who are more precious to me than life.
And the fuckers tried to kill them.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I dial Luca’s number.
“Did –”
“There was a hit on Theresa and Athina. The fuckers tried to kill my wife and sister!” I roar, unable to control the chaotic rage that keeps building and fucking building.
“I’ll be there in two hours,” Luca bites out. “Get everything ready.”
The call ends, and my eyes find Andreas. He’s making one call after the other, and when he sees me staring, he says, “James is at the hospital in surgery. We lost Yiorgos, Arthur, Michael, Stephen, Nico…” He shakes his head hard, the weight of his grief for the men we lost bearing down on his shoulders. “Both security details have been wiped out.”
For the first time in my life, my body starts to tremble, my vision tunnels, my breaths coming faster.
My men.
Deep sorrow etches itself in my bones. My rage becomes a living, breathing thing with a will of its own.
A will to destroy.
“Luca’s on his way. As soon as the Priesthood arrives, we leave to retaliate.” There’s no life in my voice. Only the promise of death. “Gather all the men we have and get the weapons loaded onto the jet.”
Andreas nods, and without question, he continues making calls as he walks to the elevator to take care of business.
My phone starts ringing, and checking the screen, it’s to see Dad’s name flashing on it.
“Mpampà mou,” I answer, assuming he heard of the attack.
“We… were hit.”
The words shudder through me.
“They breached… the house.” Only then do I hear the exhaustion in my father’s voice and something else that sends a horrible shiver down my spine.
My voice is hoarse as fear crawls beneath my skin. “Are you okay? Helena?”
Athina and Tess pull apart, and both look at me with wide eyes.