Read Bella (A Sagatori family saga-A Mafia Romance Book 5) Online
Authors: Kimberly Blalock
Bella (A Sagatori family saga-A Mafia Romance Book 5) (8 page)
Wyatt and I stayed back as Rebecca and her guard exited. I couldn’t wait to snap that fucker like a twig.
“You coming?” she asked.
I looked to Wyatt before stepping off of the elevator. The walk to her suite was a long one with her room at the end of the hall.
Once she slid her key into the door, she opened it stepping inside. “Make yourself comfortable, Jax.”
“Not gonna happen.” I walked through the entrance to the sitting area of the suite.
“You’re not needed any longer—” she waved her hand, “— whatever your name is.”
My phone buzzed in my jacket.
Dominic:
get the fuck away from the door.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK. Someone pounded on the door minutes later.
“Get that,” Rebecca told Wyatt.
“Get your own guy to do it.” I nodded, signaling Wyatt to step away from the door.
“Oh God, Jax. Okay, fine get the door.” She threw her hands in the air speaking to her prick of a guard.
I didn’t hear the shot, but I heard the bastard fall to the ground.
Dominic must’ve taken him out.
“What the hell?” She approached the entryway. “Sergio?”
Wyatt and I both looked at each other.
“Hi, Rebecca, so nice to see you again.” Bella stepped over Sergio’s body, holding a 9mm with a silencer attached.
How in the fuck?
Behind her entered Dominic, Sal, and Tony and the last to enter was Salvatore Casconi. Now I was blown the fuck away.
“What is it that you’re holding over my husband’s head?” Bella approached Rebecca causing Rebecca to back up into a chair before Tony stepped close to Bella’s side. He was letting her lead. He fucking trusted her to do what needed to be done while staying close enough to protect her. She had the respect of my men. And even though we were in the fucking center of hell my lip curved into a smile. I was fucking proud as fuck of her.
Rebecca searched the room.
“I can promise you this, you won't be leaving this room alive. I can also promise you that my associate would like to have a few words with you and—” She turned toward Casconi before replacing her attention on Rebecca again. “—it’s not looking so good for you.”
Rebecca had been backed into the chair and was fully seated inside of it. “Sam.” She turned her attention to Casconi.
Casconi stepped forward shaking his head. “I told Bella everything; well parts of everything. Why the hell do you want to hurt her so badly, Rebecca?”
Rebecca’s eyes found Bella. “Because she has everything. You loved her. Jax loves her, and she is having the baby I should’ve had!” She raged in her chair and gripped the arms with force.
I approached Bella’s right side, reaching out for the gun she was holding. “It’s okay, baby,” I assured her.
“No, it’s not okay, Jax.” Her grip tightened against the stock.
“Do you pigs follow her like she’s your queen or something?”
Bella laughed, “Shut up and tell me who you’re working for.”
“Your father, Bella, I work for your father.”
Fuck! Everything I’d wanted to keep from her was going to come out now.
I held my hand at her back. “Bella?” I asked feeling her stiffen under my touch. I closed my eyes tight knowing this would ruin her entire fucking world. When she found out that I’d known the secrets she too would soon learn, she’d leave me and the nightmares I’d had would all come to fruition.
Her face turned towards me, her eyes glassy, her resolve failing fast. “Jax?” She blinked in shock.
Thank you so much for reading.
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Bella vol. 6 expected to release in late July
Acknowledgments
There are so many people that I would like to thank for everything they have done in helping with the release of Bella vol.2. I would first and foremost like to say that without each one of you, readers, family, friends, and bloggers, there would not be a Sagatori family saga. I absolutely cannot do this without you. I’m touched by the love and encouragement that I receive every day from all of you. I appreciate each of you more than you will ever know, but only because I don’t know how to fully explain it.
My husband, Chad, and children have to be the most patient people I have ever met. They deal with everything that comes from having a mommy and wife attempting to make her writing dreams come true. I love you to the moon for that support, but I’d love you anyway *wink*.
To my friends Silla Webb, Christy McCurry, April Newman, and Courtney Shockey - Thank you so much for always being there and ready to help! You have no idea how much your friendship has meant to me. Thank you for always supporting me!
Christy McCurry- I’m so excited that you’re on board as my PA!
I would like to give a special thank you to Barbara Clabeaux, Shanna, and Lou Hunter. You girls are amazing, thank you so much for all that you have done to support me as an author the books I write!!
To the blogs that go out of their way to help the indie author community, you are amazing. I am so thankful for you and your dedication. I would like to also say that your kindness is heartwarming. You are all a pleasure to work with every day.
I would like to say thank you to the following blog for their continued support of The Angel Trilogy and of myself as a writer:
I would like to thank the following blogs for always sharing and reviewing my books. Your support is extremely appreciated. Abby and Lisa’s Book Blog, Three Southern Chick Book Blog, Revenge of the Feels, Books All things Paranormal, Assassin’s Reading Review Group, New Chicks On The Blog, Mafia Book Chicks, FMR, Book Grind, Amazeballs Book Addiction, Beautiful Book Blog, Who Picked This, Bex ‘n’ Books, Beautiful Book Blog, Belle’s Book Belfry, Dympna’s Book Blog, EscapeNBooks, Cheekypee reads and Reviews, J&J Book Blogger, Archaeolibrarian- I dig good books, Soul of The Single Lady Book Club, A Risqué Affair, Cecily’s Book Review, Till The Last Page Book Blog, Butterflies and Angels Book Obsession, Twin Sisters Rockin’ Book Reviews, Indi Author Books, Book Nook Nuts, Pixies Book Review Blog, Smutty Book Friends, Little shop of Readers, Cheeky Chicks Book Hangover, One Book Boyfriend At A Time, Isalovesbooks, Read Review Repeat, The Jazzy world of E’s Bookshelf, Rusty’s Reading, Pimp & Whore your Book/Blog/Page/Group/Author/Writer, Alice’s Book Wonderland, Beauties With Brains Book Blog, Two Sassy Chicks, Drama Queens Book Blog, A Dirty Book Affair, Author Groupies, Spreading the Word, and Bookalicious Babes Blog, Once upon an Alpha, Thecathydotson, Another Indie Book Promo Blog, Lyn’s Love of Books, Read relax repeat, Lina’s Reviews, Outrageous Heroes of Romance, Sisi’s Book Whore, Whatever floats your boat, Ramblings from beneath the sheets, Souls Readers, Night and day book blog, Reading in Sara’s Corner, Word forward, Saucy books, I feel the need, the need to read, A pair of okies, Sassy southern book affair, Jennifer’s blog, 3 crazy book chicks, Our book stars, Six chicks and their love of books, Fictional fantasies,
I am going to take a moment to say thank you to my Mom, Dad, and friends that support me every day. Without you I wouldn’t be able to do what I do, I love you. I always dreamt that one day I would write something that someone would want to read and for me to actually have accomplished that is an absolute dream come true. My “day” job is being a hospice nurse and I see how quickly our lives can end. Knowing that and being able to follow my dreams in this life means more than I can possibly explain.
Kimberly has been writing since she was a young girl growing up in Kansas City, MO. Reading and writing have always been a big part of her life. She enjoys the world she can get lost in while reading a good book.
A wife and mother to four beautiful children, she decided she wasn't busy enough. She spent some time chasing down fugitives as a bounty hunter then laid down her handcuffs and finished her college degree in nursing.
Kimberly loves discovering new music and action movies. Writing is her passion.
by Leddy Harper
PROLOGUE
Present Day
SIX HUNDRED DAYS SOBER
. That’s a feat worth celebrating.
So why am I sitting alone in a dark field with my back against a tree? That’s a good question. Maybe I was looking for something I couldn’t define. Maybe—even though I had gotten my life back on track—I was still lost. It didn’t seem to matter how many days I’d been sober, or how hard I fought to rein in my life, there would always be a part of me that remained fucked up. A part of me that I’d never be able to reclaim. But I was learning to accept that. I had to be okay with it. I couldn’t dwell on the past anymore. It had landed me in enough trouble, gotten me too far off the beaten path. I had to persevere and keep my focus on what’s in front of me.
Although, it did become increasingly hard to fix my gaze on the path ahead of me, because a woman followed me every night when I came to this quiet space of land. Well, not followed me, she just happened to always be here. She’d come long after I’d arrive, and then I’d sneak off into the trees before she left. What made me watch her, though, was the sadness that exuded from her. I never got close enough to see her face clearly, but her slumped shoulders and shuffling feet were enough to signify her constant gloom. We never spoke, never even caught each other’s gazes. In fact, I’m quite certain she never even knew I was there. I remained hidden in the shadows while she perched herself on the end of the rickety dock, letting her feet dangle in the dark pool of water beneath her.
She fascinated me, but I couldn’t tell you why. I had no idea. I didn’t even truly know what she looked like, considering I’d never allowed myself to get that close to her. I’d become nothing more than a spectator to what I presumed was her sad, pathetic life, a life that somehow led her to this desolate place. I knew because feelings of loss had led me here, too. At least she sat out in the open. I was too much of a coward to do that.
I sensed a connection to her. A small, distant connection to a stranger, yet it felt as if we were kindred spirits or something. I couldn’t describe what it was that touched my soul so deeply when I studied her. All I knew was that I couldn’t stop watching her, and it didn’t take long before I began looking forward to the nights I could make it down here to see her. I’d learned her schedule early on. I knew it by heart. She only came to the lake in the middle of the field four nights a week—Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. So I made it a point to be here those times, too.
This night unfolded no differently than the others. I followed the same pattern as I always did. I sat against the tree, letting the shade hide me from view, and examined her as she made it through the tall, willowy grass. She wore a short dress that blew in the breeze like clothing on a hanging line. It appeared to be white, but color could be very deceiving this time of night. The moon hung big and bright, not a cloud in the sky to conceal it, and it projected a white glow over the entire field, shining off the lake’s eerily still water. It lit her up perfectly, making her look like a fallen angel. A devastated, soul-shattered angel.
I knew her routine like the back of my hand and could’ve closed my eyes and seen the entire thing, but she captivated me and I enjoyed watching it instead. However, this night, she did something different. Normally, she’d pull off her brown cowboy boots and set them down on the warped dock before sitting on the edge. But this time, she walked all the way to the end and stared off into the distance. She held her head back, threw her arms out, and just stood there.
My focus zeroed in on her. It caught my attention, because for the last six weeks, I’d never seen her do anything like this. She dropped her arms to her sides, bowed her head, and her shoulders slumped. I sat forward on alert, trying to get a better look. I already assumed she was a lost—and more than likely sad—girl, but this only proved to drive that point home.
Before I could fully acknowledge what she was doing, her clothed body fell forward, diving into the lake. I jumped to my feet, not having a clue as to what to do. I knew the water had to be cold at night. I’d fished in it plenty of times to know. And I also knew how deep it was at the end of that tiny, unstable dock. Just past the grass that led into the water, a shelf lurked beneath the surface, and beyond that, nothing but deep water—at least fifteen feet. You’d have to be an idiot to jump in at nighttime wearing all your clothes and having no one to help you out of it. I knew enough to assume that she wasn’t just going for a swim.
My feet instinctively carried me through the damp grass, toward the wooden path to the dock. Time froze, every step slower than the last, and all nature’s sounds dissipated, leaving only a high-pitched buzzing in my ears. I couldn’t get to her fast enough. My steps grew heavy. It was as if I became entrenched in quicksand. Time ticked by as my mind frantically fought its way out of a tunnel with no light at the end. I had to save this girl. I had to get her out of the water.
I kept my eyes on the surface of the lake, waiting and watching for her head to reappear, but it never did, which only increased my panicked state. And then I finally found myself at the edge of the wooden dock, my eyes desperately trying to find her. My breaths came in pants, unable to draw in a deep enough lungful of air. I knew if I dove in after her, I wouldn’t be able to stay under long before coming back up, needing to catch my breath again. But I didn’t care. I jumped in, frantically feeling around in the dark, cold water for her.
I jerked and kicked my legs, yet they hit nothing but endless water beneath me.
I saw nothing except darkness.
I surfaced to fill my lungs and then went under again. I did that once more before my hand finally touched something. An arm, a leg, I didn’t know what it was, but I grabbed it with all my strength and pulled it into my body as I kicked my way to the surface.
The water broke around us, and the night air filtered over our faces, but I couldn’t feel any of it. I had been in such a panic, such survival mode, that my body never registered the water’s temperature when I’d first jumped in. My mind had been solely focused on finding this girl and getting her to safety. I couldn’t think of anything else. But once we reached the dock, I allowed myself a few seconds to look at her, hoping I’d see life in her.
Dark hair clung to her skin, hiding her face from me. But I could see enough to know that her eyes were closed. Her head lolled to the side, and I couldn’t think of anything else other than getting her to safety. With strength I didn’t know I possessed, I pushed her onto the dock and then climbed over her still body. I smacked her cheek a few times and then started CPR until I heard her cough. Then she coughed harder, spewing out a mouthful of water.
That’s when I could finally breathe.
Her eyes popped open, taking me in before pushing me away. Panic flooded her face as her eyes grew large, and she started scooting back on the wooden planks of the dock. Her hands wiped the hair from her face at the same time she moved from beneath my shadow, and that’s the moment the moonlight lit up her features, highlighting the pair of wolf eyes that had haunted my sleep for years.
Night air froze in my lungs. A hard mass thumped against my chest as if someone hit me with a sledgehammer. I knew her. I knew her
well
. I’d tried to save her six years ago, but I never could. I couldn’t save her, and I’d ended up losing myself at the same time.
She was the student that had ended me.
The student that nearly ended my career.
My life.
“Oh, fuck,” she whispered, realization dawning on her face.
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