I tear my gaze away from her face and glance at the salesman.
“We’ll take it, we’re also going to need a pair of earrings to match. Studs.” I look back at Violet. “You can wear those on opening night, can’t you?”
“Rocco, you’re not buying my earrings too.”
“Watch it, Bug, if you keep pressing, I might just buy the whole fucking store,” I volley, taking her hand. I lace our fingers together and follow the salesman to another display case. He takes out a few pairs of earrings and Violet busies herself trying each pair on. I on the other hand am too distracted to have an opinion because I’m too busy staring at the diamond engagement rings in the next showcase.
My mind wanders and I imagine myself on one knee, asking Violet to marry me. The thought steals my breath and I brace a hand on the edge of the showcase to steady myself. I never could see myself settling down, much less entertaining the idea of marriage and yet here I am. My life is full of chaos but the woman next to me is my safe haven. She’s my grace and I want to spend the rest of my life loving her and spoiling her.
“What do you think?” Violet asks, diverting my attention back to her.
I think I want to marry you.
I think I want to make a family with you.
I think I want to—
My phone rings, interrupting my thoughts. I sigh heavily and reach into my pocket to retrieve it, but Violet steps forward and lays her hand over mine.
“You said you weren’t going to answer it tonight,” she reminds me as I take it out of my pocket. Out of habit, I glance at the screen and note it’s Parrish calling.
“Rocco?” Violet pushes.
“I’m sorry, baby, I can’t ignore this one.”
When the fucking self-proclaimed bulldog decides to call, one must answer, or they may never get the fucking chance again.
I lean in, stealing another quick kiss as I wipe the frown from her lips and accept the call.
“Spinelli,” I answer.
“Meet me at the Ramada Inn off the Victory Boulevard exit on the Staten Island Expressway and come alone.”
My eyebrows pinch together at the command, but before I say a word, he disconnects the call. Thinking I imagined the short exchange I stare at the phone. The screen lights up with another call and this time its Joaquin.
“Don’t you dare,” Violet warns, but I’ve already accepted the call. Lifting the phone to my ear, I’m about to tell him Parrish called when he speaks first.
“Where are you?” he barks.
“Why?”
“The cops found Johnny’s body floating in the Hudson.”
Johnny.
The man who should be guarding my sister.
They say a man can sense doom.
That he can feel it in the pit of his stomach long before it rears its ugly head.
I didn’t believe it.
Until now.
Chapter 30
Rocco Spinelli
On my way to meet Jack, I got another call—this time it was from Dino and he had intel on the illusive Yankovich. There was a rumor swirling around the docks that the Russian cunt was planning on moving cargo through the harbor. The thing was we weren’t sure if he was trying to push drugs or women. Apparently, Johnny had discovered Yankovich was trafficking girls, when or how he got this information remains to be see, but it’s a fair to assume that Yankovich is the reason Johnny’s body was pulled out of the Hudson.
With Johnny out of the picture, I ordered Dino to check on Gina. I wanted to do it myself, but my meeting with Jack took priority. The man was going to fucking listen to me once and for all before the streets we love are painted with blood. It was also time to tell him Gina was dating his man Stryker and that I had recruited him to guard my sister.
Bruno pulls into the parking lot of the Ramada Inn and I quickly jump out, spotting Jack leaning against his Harley. I’m sure he has some choice words for me considering I’m running late, but I couldn’t leave Violet at Tiffany’s. I paid for the necklace and earrings and dropped her back at the house much to her dismay, dodging all of her countless questions. I don’t know how long that’s going to fly. As much as she understands my business is off limits, a woman can only turn the other cheek for so long. But that’s a worry for another time.
“Parrish,” I acknowledge as I reach him.
“Spinelli,” he volleys, rolling a toothpick between his teeth.
I ignore the sinister look on his face and continue to ramble on.
“I’m surprised you called, but I’m happy you finally came around.” My eyes do a quick sweep of the parking lot and I decide to cut straight to the chase. I’m about to tell him about Johnny and reveal the whole Yankovich saga to him when he says, “I didn’t call you to break bread. One of my brothers found something that belongs to you.”
Narrowing my eyes suspiciously, I ask, “What could one of your men have that belongs to me?”
“Your sister.”
The air deflates from my lungs as I stare at him. If this was about him finding out I had agreed to have Stryker guard Gina, he wouldn’t look so fucking tormented. I swallow hard and follow Jack toward one of motel’s rooms. He pounds his fist on the door and a second later Stryker appears. There is nothing comforting about the expression on his face and I feel my throat tighten.
“Where is she?” I grind out. Suddenly, a guttural groan sounds from behind him and it’s followed by an anguished cry. Those noises vibrate through my body and I realize they’re coming from my sister.
I shove Parrish out of my way and grab a hold of Stryker’s leather jacket, pushing him inside the room. Releasing him, I follow the sounds of my sister’s cries and pause at the side of the bed. Shock fills me as I stare at the girl lying in bed.
This woman can’t be my sister.
The blood.
The bruises.
The cries that ring endlessly.
Her clothes are ripped to shreds and all that covers her battered body is a thin sheet.
I close my eyes and shake my head, naively hoping I’ll wake up from this nightmare. Wishing my sister is somewhere safe, busting Johnny’s chops and laughing at some bullshit television show while she online shops for designer duds she doesn’t need. Praying that my eyes are playing tricks on me and she isn’t lying in this bed a victim of violence.
Stryker rushes to her side and gathers her into his arms. Still asleep, haunted her nightmares, she stops tossing and turning and I look to Jack for some answers. He doesn’t blatantly say the words, but the truth is written all over his face.
My sister wasn’t just beaten.
She was violated.
Absorbing that, I force a swallow and silently vow to make whoever did this pay in the most brutal way. I’m about to reach for my phone and call Joaquin when a knock sounds at the door. My gaze cuts to Parrish and I narrow my eyes. “Are we expecting anyone else?” My sister and I might be at odds, but no one knows Gina like I do. She’d hate for anyone else to see her like this.
“Cobra went to get a doctor,” Stryker reveals.
“A doctor?” I fireback. “You don’t think we should take her to a hospital?”
Sure the cops will be flagged for a rape, but she needs to be checked out. She needs…God…I don’t know what she needs.