Emilia Pov
My hand flew to my stomach, my heart slamming against my ribs.
"Jesus Christ!" He muttered, shaking his head. "There I go startling you again. I'm sorry, miss."
I didn't move. Didn't speak. Just watched the blade catch the light.
He stepped closer. I braced myself.
"My mama always said never leave those in need stranded." He stopped in front of me, close enough that I could smell the diesel on his jacket. "I hate to leave you in a place like this alone."
"I can manage," I said, my voice thin. "Thank you for the ride. Really."
"Still doesn't feel right."
Then he did something I didn't expect.
He turned the knife around.
The blade pointed at his own chest. The wooden handle pointed at me.
"Do you know how to use one of these?" He pressed it into my palm, wrapping my fingers around the grip. "I hate to leave you without help, but I got a truck full of vegetables and a paycheck that won't wait. Got a whole lot of kids at home too."
I stared at the knife. Then at him. I couldn't find my voice.
He leaned in, his eyes serious. "If one of those sons of bitches comes at you, stick 'em with the pointy end. Got it?"
I nodded.
He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. I hadn't realized how cold I was until the warmth settled around me.
Then he climbed back into the truck, slammed the door, and drove away.
I stood there in the middle of the road, holding a stranger's knife, wearing a stranger's jacket, and watched his tail lights disappear into the dark.
See, Lyn. There's good in the world.
But Linda was gone.
**
I made it three steps towards the entrance before I saw them.
Three men. They were wearing black suits.l and had their guns drawn. They stood in a half-circle, blocking the alley.
Conti soldiers.
My father's men.
I froze. My hand went to my stomach— it was instinct, not thought. Protect the baby. I wasn't even sure if there was a baby. I didn't take the damn pregnancy test!
"Emilia Conti." The one in front stepped forward. I recognized him. Franco. He was a mean son of a bitch. The type that carried out hit for fun. But he was the mean son of a bitch who gave me his jacket during Paolo's funeral.
If there was any good in him, this was a good time to remind him.
"Your father's been looking for you, Baby."
Good. Good. He called me Baby. If he was using a childhood nickname then it was good news.
But then again, Franco did shoot his mother in the face for stepping out on his father. He was seventeenthen.
I took a step back, but the wall was right behind me.
"Don't," I breathed. "Please, Franco. Please, forget you saw me"
Franco's gaze dropped to my hand pressed against my stomach. I took the hand away.
"Franco, please. You could pretend you didn't..."
"But I did see you, Emilia. I don't like... liars. I don't like lying. My mother taught me well"
If there was another step to take I would have taken it.
"Franco..."
"The boss wants you home," he said quietly. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
"Harder?" I laughed—he was shitting me, right. "You're pointing your gun at me. At—" My voice caught.
Franco nodded to the men on either side. They moved in.
I pressed myself against the wall, tears burning down my cheeks. "Okay" I whispered. I knew how rough they would be if I resisted. "Okay. I'll come quietly. Just don't—"
A gunshot rang through the alley.
Franco staggered. Blood bloomed across his shoulder. He went down, cursing, his gun skittering across the pavement.
The other two men turned around, raising their weapons—
There was another shot. Then another. One man fell. The other dove behind a dumpster.
And then I saw her.
Linda.
She stepped out of the shadows, a gun in her hand, her face pale and set with fury.
Her jacket was streaked with something dark—blood, maybe. Her eyes found mine for just a second.
"Run, idiot!"
I didn't move. I couldn't. I hmm...I think I froze. I froze while my best friend fought off three men twice her size. Freaking fucking great!
The man behind the dumpster popped up and fired. The bullet hit Linda in the side.
She grunted, staggered, but didn't fall. She raised her gun and fired back. She missed.
It should have been enough to snap me out of it but then...he raised his gun again, and aimed it dead center at Linda's chest.
My whole world stopped.
I think she knew. The way her eyes wandered to my horrified widened eyes, tears slipping down from them. I think we both knew they was no way she would survive that.
"Emilia" she whispered.
"Linda!" I screamed.