* * *
Kat’s heart had nearly stopped when Marco came flying down the stairs. She’d hoped he’d be able to stay hidden for the entire meeting. She’d hoped it would be as simple as Roy coming in and them leaving. She’d hoped for a miracle.
And now, both she and Marco had guns pointed at them. Her heart clenched in fear, not for herself, but for Marco. She was a nobody—they could kill her and few would notice. But there would be hell to pay if a member of the Adamo family was murdered. She clung to that hope and pushed her fear aside. She needed to keep a clear head.
Her cheek stung—an old familiar hurt she’d experienced many times before. But she wasn’t going to let X know how much he’d hurt her. She got to her feet on shaking legs.
In front of her X seethed, taking huge heaving breaths with his hands fisted at his sides. The box with the blue ribbon lay abandoned at his feet. Kat fixated on it for a moment—the happy-looking box was so out of place.
The man who had his gun trained on her kept it that way, but shifted so he was closer to Roy, leaving just her and X on this side of the room.
She looked at Marco, who wore a grim expression. Desperation shone in his eyes.
“X, how nice of you to join us,” Roy said with a smile. “I wasn’t sure your daughter was going to manage it, but it seems she did.” He mimed applauding in her direction.
“Fuck you,” X said.
“And as eloquent as ever.”
Kat saw the twitch in X’s hand before anyone else, so she was prepared as he lunged toward Roy. For a few moments, she saw the great fighter he must have been as he easily took down one of Roy’s men, slamming his head against the concrete floor. He took the man’s gun, pointing it at Roy. As he pulled the trigger, another of Roy’s men was on him, and the shot went wide, grazing Roy’s shoulder.
The exertion tired him, though, and made him sluggish, so he was easily restrained.
Roy pulled a handkerchief out of his suit and pressed it to his wound. “You shed my blood,” he seethed. “So now I’ll shed yours.”
He pointed a gun at X for a moment, then swung wide and pointed it toward Kat. “She is your daughter, right?”
Kat gasped. Marco lunged forward with a yell until Roy pointed the gun at him.
The gun was an old-style revolver, and Roy cocked the hammer, the sound deafening.
“No!” Kat shrieked. She was too far away to help him.
Roy chuckled, looking over at her. “Relax. I’m just fucking with you. Believe it or not, I’m a fair man.”
“But I’m not,” the man closest to Kat snarled. “This bitch broke my nose.”
Time seemed to slow down as he applied pressure to the trigger of the gun that was now pointed at Kat. In the background, she heard Marco yell, heard the commotion as he fought to get to her.
X turned, his eye meeting hers. In one swift move she wouldn’t have thought the old man capable off, he dove in front of Kat.
A shot fired, hitting X in the stomach.
A second later, another shot fired, and the man who’d shot X fell to the ground, a bullet hole in his forehead. Roy held the gun.
“Goddammit,” he said. “Were my instructions not clear? I was to be the one who killed X.”
“I’m still alive, you fucker.” X panted, clutching his stomach. His face was pale and the effort to speak had obviously cost him. A pool of blood formed around him.
Kat held a hand over her open mouth, surveying the scene in front of her. She looked in horror at Marco, who was being restrained by Roy’s remaining two men.
Roy looked at X coldly, then knelt beside him. “You’ll bleed out shortly. And I bet it hurts like hell.” Then he stood. “We’re done here.”
He led the way to the door and his men followed him, not seeming bothered that their colleague had been killed in cold blood right in front of them.
Marco rushed over to Kat, taking her in his arms and shielding her body with his. Kat clung to him, inhaling his scent and thanking God he was okay. They were both okay.
For now.
“Wait,” she called. “Mr. Roy.”
He paused, looking over his shoulder at her.
“Are we straight?” she asked.
Roy eyed her for a moment. “My dear, killing X is worth more than the twelve and a half million he owes me. You won’t hear from me again.”
“I thought it was fifteen million.” The words were out of Kat’s mouth before she could stop herself. So stupid. Just let him go. Just let it be over.
Roy shrugged. “Fifteen includes interest.”
Then he and his men left.
Kat let out a breath, going weak in the knees. She may have collapsed had Marco not been supporting her.
Behind them, X groaned. Kat exchanged a torn look with Marco before dropping to her knees beside him. Marco pulled out his phone and called 911.
“You saved me,” she said quietly. “Thank you.”
X grimaced, tears streaming out of his eye. Kat couldn’t imagine the amount of pain he must be in.
“What’s . . . in . . . the box?” Every word was a struggle.
Kat quickly retrieved the box and unwrapped it, hoping like hell she’d chosen the right thing to wrap up. Pulling the wooden dog out of the box, she held it up so he could see it.
The edges of X’s mouth turned up in a small smile and he reached for it, but he wasn’t able to lift his arm high enough. Kat put it in his hand, helping him wrap his fingers around it.
“It was her . . . favorite.” With one final breath, X’s eye closed as he clutched the wooden dog to his chest.
Kat stared down at the man who was her father in name only, the man who’d given his life for her, and she wept.
Epilogue
As Kat put the finishing touches on her makeup, she heard a thud in the living room, followed by Marco’s curses. She chuckled as she capped her mascara.
Marco had moved in with her since his honorable discharge from the army, but his stuff had just arrived yesterday. The apartment had been too small for the two of them to begin with and now it was bursting at the seams. They were tripping over everything. They planned to move to a bigger place when her lease was up at the end of next month, but so far they hadn’t settled on a location.
Kat wanted to be closer to Ryan, but his situation was still up in the air. She’d helped him pick out a ring for Susan, but that was two weeks ago and so far he hadn’t popped the question. He’d better do it soon, though, because keeping the secret was killing Kat. She and Susan had lunch together once a week and Kat had nearly let it slip more than a few times. She’d always considered herself a good secret keeper, but she was just too darn excited.
She had it on good authority that tonight was probably the night because Marco’s mom was babysitting Riley. The little girl would get spoiled rotten by “Grammie Theresa” and Nonna, and her brother would finally get betrothed.
He’d better. Or Kat was going pop the question to Susan herself.
Marco leaned against the door frame, watching her. Kat deliberately leaned over slowly to zip up her boot. Behind her, Marco groaned.
“You’re doing that on purpose.”
She looked over her shoulder at him and grinned before turning her attention to the other boot.
Marco quickly crossed over to her and lightly caressed her ass. She stood upright with a squeal and he nuzzled her neck.
“You’re going to make us late,” she murmured, only half serious. Because that thing that Marco did with his tongue on that tender spot behind her ear? It got her every single freaking time. Liquid pooled in her core and she considered unzipping the boots she’d just put on.
Marco stopped with his magic tongue and rested his forehead on her shoulder. “We can’t be late. We have to pick up Riley or Ryan will lose his reservation.”
Kat pushed away from Marco, glaring at him with an accusatory look. “You know where they’re going?”
Marco smirked. “Yeah, of course. Don’t you?”
/>
She scowled. He knew damn well she didn’t. Ryan had purposefully kept it from her, afraid she’d be like the damn paparazzi and hide in the bushes to take pictures of their special moment. She might have suggested trying to film the event, but only that once. Geez. Ryan wouldn’t let it go.
Kat drove so that Marco would be free to indulge in a beer or two with Tony. The brothers deserved it. The news had broken this week that their father was going to accept a plea bargain, so the media had been relentless. Luckily, it seemed to be slowing down. Hopefully the ordeal would come to a permanent end soon.
She waited in the car while Marco ran up to fetch Riley. She had a feeling that was so her presence wouldn’t make Ryan nervous, but whatever. She didn’t care. As long as he popped the question tonight.
Once Riley was strapped into the car seat that was permanently installed in the back of Kat’s car, they were off. Kat had finally ditched the old one, buying her first ever brand-new car that boasted front and rear airbags. That was important to her if she was going to be carting Riley around. Kat had stashed away money from her paycheck every month for the down payment, despite Marco’s offer to put down money for her.
Not that it ended up mattering—when she’d finally gotten around to meeting with Gram’s lawyer, she’d learned Gram had left her a significant inheritance. Twelve and a half million dollars to be exact. So she’d been able to buy the car outright.
She had mixed emotions about the inheritance. In some ways, she felt like it was blood money. She’d determined that X had put the money in his mother’s name to hide it, so it was the money he owed Roy, who’d been true to his word—she hadn’t had any communication from him. In the end, Kat shrugged off her guilt over the money and deposited it. She’d put it to good use—she’d already upgraded Ryan’s wheelchair and she planned to pay for his wedding. He’d probably fight her on that, but she’d win. She’d fight dirty if she had to.
Even after that, she still had way more money than she needed, so she’d turned to Natalie for advice on how to use the money to help victims of domestic abuse. Right now, she was still deciding whether to start her own foundation or contribute to an existing one. There were so many factors to consider it made her head spin, but it was a nice problem to have.
“Can you turn on some music?” Riley asked.
Marco obliged, hitting play on a CD made specifically for kids—the kind that took popular music and made the lyrics kid friendly. Kat nearly laughed out loud when she caught a glimpse of Riley in the rearview performing a dance routine. That kid probably had better moves than she did. And she was a trip. Kat had never imagined herself having children, but having spent a lot of time with Riley in the last few months, she was beginning to picture it.
Someday, though. Not anytime soon.
After they parked at Marco’s mother’s house, Riley bounded up the walkway. Marco’s mother immediately swept her off to the guest room, which had unofficially become her room. No doubt she and Nonna had filled it with even more toys since the last time she’d visited. Most of it they’d ordered online, but they’d actually ventured out to a toy store once, so they were making progress. Tonight was going to be Riley’s first sleepover here, something the little girl had apparently been talking about nonstop for the past week.
When dinner was ready, they all sat around the table, Riley wearing a rhinestone tiara and holding a bedazzled scepter while sitting in her booster seat at the head of the table. She was back to being a princess and she had everyone wrapped around her little finger.
Before the salads could even be dished out, Ginny burst out, “We were going to wait until after dinner, but I can’t wait.” She looked at Tony, radiating pure joy. “We’re moving the wedding date up to next month. It’ll be a small ceremony in our backyard.”
Marco’s mother looked confused for a moment. “Congratulations . . . I think?”
“Congratulations are definitely in order,” Tony said. A mixture of bashfulness and pride filled his face.
“We’re expecting!” Ginny’s grin stretched from ear to ear.
Nonna’s and Theresa’s mouths fell open and then they both clapped excitedly, hugging one another before getting up to hug Ginny and Tony.
“Expecting what?” Riley asked. “You didn’t finish the sentence.”
Marco chuckled, leaning close to Riley. “A baby, sweetheart. They’re going to have a baby.”
“How? Where are they going to get one?”
The table went silent for a moment as everyone looked at one another.
“You’ll have to ask Ryan about that,” Marco said, earning a playful slap on the shoulder from Kat.
Riley shrugged. “Okay.”
“We want children but weren’t planning on having them so soon,” Ginny said, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.
Nonna patted her arm. “Sometimes you can’t plan these things, dear.”
“I hope you two will help me decorate the nursery,” she said, looking at Nonna and Theresa.
“Of course we will,” Theresa said. “I know the cutest little boutique we can go to.”
Marco and Tony exchanged a look and Kat knew exactly what they were thinking—the two women were healing and the impending arrival of a baby would only speed up the process.
Kat was sad when it was time for them to leave. Tony and Ginny’s announcement had set the tone and the rest of the evening had been joyous. She couldn’t wait to bring Ryan and Susan into the mix.
Marco held her hand as they walked to her car. She pushed the button to unlock the doors. It was silly, but that small act gave her a thrill each time and she couldn’t help but grin. It was the little things in life.
She looked over at Marco, also thankful for the big ones.
He pressed her up against the side of the car. “Happy?” he asked, then proceeded to trail kisses down her neck, picking up where he’d left off earlier.
She closed her eyes and gave in to the sensation, running her hands along the muscles of his back, sighing contently. Her phone buzzed and she ignored it for a moment before her eyes sprang open. She’d been waiting for this text all night.
She pushed Marco away and dug in her purse for her phone.
“I see where I rank,” Marco joked.
“Sorry,” she said with a half-smile. Then she read the text.
She said YES!!!!
“Yes!” she shrieked. “It’s about freaking time!”
Marco laughed. “Thank God. Now will you stop talking about it?”
She gave him a look and punched him lightly on his chest. He gripped her hand and used it to pull her toward him, wrapping his arms around her and pressing his forehead to hers.
“Is that something you want one day? A fancy dinner and a ring?”
His tone was teasing, but there was seriousness behind it. They’d never really talked about what came next for them.
Because they didn’t have to. Kat had never felt more content or secure in her relationship with Marco. Ring or no ring, she knew they belonged to one another.
“Maybe,” she said coyly. “Sometimes a girl likes to play hard to get.”
Marco chuckled. “From you, I’d expect nothing less.” Then he pressed his lips to hers.
And Kat fell in love with him all over again.
About the Author
Author photograph © JCPenney Portrait Studio
Jessica lives in Virginia with her college-sweetheart husband, two rambunctious sons, and two rowdy but lovable rescue dogs. Since her house is overflowing with testosterone, it’s a good thing she has a healthy appreciation for Marvel movies, Nerf guns, and football.
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Also by Jessica Linden
Fight for Me
Hold You Close
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Jessica Linden
Copyright Page
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
TRUST IN ME. Copyright © 2017 by Jessica Linden. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover photographs: couple © conrado/Shutterstock.com; lights © Katrien1/Shutterstock.com
ISBN 978-1-250-14322-8 (ebook)
First Edition: October 2017
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, ext. 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Trust In Me: A Fight for Me Novel Page 22
