Page 115 of Righteous Enforcer
“Here is a prescription. Make sure she gets water as well." She writes out the prescription while explaining dosages.
I catch Nico checking his watch. I’m not sure if he needs to be somewhere or he’s bored. Probably both.
"The pharmacy a block up can fill these immediately," Dr. Chen offers.
“We’ll arrange for them to be delivered,” Nico says.
I wrap Mirabella up in her blanket with her unicorn and we head out to the car. Nico walks ahead, scanning the parking lot as another guard flanks my right side and another behind. The fourth is in the car.
"We’re going home." I whisper into Mirabella's hair, relieved we have answers and shortly, a remedy to make her better.
A whistling sound whizzes past me, followed by a muffled thump. One of my guards drops to the ground.
“Fuck.” Nico spins, drawing his weapon. Three more shots ring out. The other guards jerk back, blood seeping from their chest or head.
“Get down.” Nico grabs me and Mirabella, shoving us behind a parked car.
I curl protectively around Mirabella, my heart racing with fear. She whimpers, startled by the commotion. Gunfire erupts from multiple directions. Nico returns fire along with our driver.
"Mommy?" Mirabella's frightened voice cuts through the chaos.
"Shh, baby. Close your eyes." I press her face against my neck, scanning desperately for an escape route.
I feel a presence before I see him. “Hello, Eva.”
I lunge sideways, but strong hands grip my arms, yanking me upright. I kick backward, connecting with something solid. My attacker grunts but doesn't release me.
“Don’t fight or you and your daughter are dead.” I see the gun, watch him point it at Mirabella.
He tugs me to a waiting car, practically tossing me and Mirabella in. Tires squeal as the car shoots away.
"Mommy?" Mirabella's terrified voice slices through my disorientation.
"It's okay, baby. Just stay quiet," I manage as I sit up and get my bearings.
"It’s been a while, Eva." Ivan Vasiliev looks over his shoulder from the front seat.
Panic surges. “What do you want?”
He shrugs. “Not much. Just information about the Dantes.”
“I don’t have information.” I hold Mirabella close, terrified that I can’t protect her.
Ivan points his gun at me. "Don't play games. You've been living with them for weeks. What are they planning?"
“They don’t trust me because of you. Alessandro would sooner put a bullet in my head than share family business with me." I look out the window to judge how fast we’re moving and whether I can open the car door and jump out with Mirabella without killing us both.
The truth is, I know almost nothing of their operations. Adriano keeps business separate from our fragile domestic life. Alessandro won’t even let me know what’s on the menu, much less business details.
But it occurs to me that Ivan thinking I can help him is the key to saving Mirabella.
“Let my daughter go. Send her back to the Dantes, and I'll tell you everything I know."
Ivan laughs, likes he’s entertained by me. "You're not in a position to negotiate. In fact…” He points the gun at Mirabella.
My heart stops as I turn my body to position myself between her and the gun. "Kill her, and you'll get nothing from me. I'll die before I give you what you want."
His smile is sinister. "Perhaps I start with small punishments. A finger, maybe? Children heal quickly."
