Page 98 of Reckless Desires

I notice there’s a man lingering just outside the entrance, his gaze fixated on Lily. My instincts flare. I lean forward, straining to see the man clearly. There is something off about him. He isn’t checking her out; he is watching her.

As Lily turns to leave, the man begins following her, slipping into the stream of people on the sidewalk. My heart races. I can’t let anything happen to her, not again. I slide out of the car, my muscles coiling with purpose as I pace after the two, keeping a safe distance while maintaining my focus. Why hasn’t Alessio assigned someone to watch over her?

As they turn the corner, I pick up my pace. My body reacts before my mind can catch up. I bolt around the corner, adrenaline surging through my veins.

“Lily!” I shout, causing both of them to turn around.

“Killian?” she gasps, her eyes sparkling with hope.

The man’s hand plunges into his jacket before I can tackle him. My heart sinks as he pulls out a gun, the metallic glint of it catching the light. Time seems to stop, and in an instant, he fires. The deafening crack of the gunshot echoes in my ears, and our bodies collide, crashing to the ground in a desperate scramble. Adrenaline surges through me as I wrestle the weapon from his grasp, my finger tightening around the trigger as I unleash a flurry of shots into him.

When I look up, my heart drops. Lily lies on the sidewalk, the vibrant color of her workout attire against the crimson blood pooling around her, a dark halo forming beneath her. Panic surges through me as I scoop her fragile body into my arms, cradling her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

I sprint for my car, my breath ragged and urgent. The engine roars to life as I peel away from the scene, tires screeching against asphalt. My heart races faster than the speedometer as I navigate the streets, weaving through traffic with reckless abandon. Every second feels like an eternity. I slam the car into a spot right at the hospital entrance, ignoring the security guard’s shouts. But when he sees the blood-soaked, unconscious Lily cradled in my arms, his demeanor shifts, and he directs me toward the emergency room.

Inside, chaos reigns. The front desk staff springs into action, paging for a team of doctors. A flood of white coats rushes out, ready to save my girl.

“Call Stasia Morrone!” I shout, my voice hoarse with urgency. “That’s her sister, and she needs to be here.”

One of the nurses nods, understanding the gravity of the situation, and they whisk Lily away, leaving me there. I collapse into a chair, my mind racing, the minutes dragging into hours. Then Stasia appears and sits beside me.

“Is she alive?” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper as I stare at the floor, unable to meet her gaze.

“She is. Thanks to you,” Stasia replies, her tone grave. We sit in heavy silence, neither of us daring to make eye contact. “I haven’t called anyone yet. I know when she wakes up she’ll want to see you. I promised her that if you were still here, I’d let you in.” She glances at her watch, anxiety flickering in her eyes. “You have two minutes before I call my husband. He’ll be here in ten.”

“I’m surprised you’re letting me see her.” My brow furrows in confusion.

“Just because I don’t like the situation doesn’t mean I want to see her unhappy,” she replies, her voice softening.

“I doubt her fiancé will approve of me being here,” I say, a hint of defiance creeping into my tone.

Stasia smirks, with mischief in her eyes. “I don’t think you care about that at all.”

A smile breaks through my tension. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

“Alessio, but you would know that.”

“I can’t claim to know everything,” I mutter.

“Just like Alessio isn’t the father of Clarissa’s child either, right?” she replies, her voice laced with irony.

“Who spilled the beans?” I smirk.

“Us Andretti women know how to figure things out.”

I glance at her, surprise flickering across my face. My eyes dart to her slight belly, barely noticeable beneath her scrubs. “Boy or girl?” I ask.

Her expression shifts from shock to excitement that I’ve noticed her little bump. “I’m going to wait. I like surprises,” she replies, a grin spreading across her lips. But then she checks her watch, and her smile fades. “Time’s up. You better go say your peace before Darius shows up and hauls you off to Alessio.”

“Can’t he just kill me himself?” I arch a brow.

She laughs, a sound that feels out of place in this grim setting. “I swear, you men are more dramatic than women. Darius has been insufferably moody lately. Selene says Cameron hasn’t been himself either.”

“Part of the lifestyle, right?” I reply, the weight of our world pressing down on me.

She nods solemnly. “Just another day in paradise.”

I rise from my chair, determination coursing through me. “Thanks, Stasia.”