Page 54 of Pieces Into Place

My heart shatters. She’s been sick and has been overtaken. I survey the scene. Think Kane, Christ!

Three sets of heavy footprints track further into the woods away from where Olivia had thrown up. Olivia’s small prints end where she collapsed. They must have carried her out. Four other sets of prints wind back behind me. Shit! Someone else is still here.

I whirl around in time to see a trim, dark-haired man outfitted in black tactical gear step out from behind a tree with his piece pointed at my chest, the red laser lighting me up like a bulls-eye. Another larger man steps from behind another tree, while two more climb up from a snowy outcrop.

“Kane Hudson,” the trim one acknowledges me, but holds his gun steadily pointed in my direction.

Quicker than I can say ‘piss off,’ I’ve drawn my Glock 19 and have it trained on his forehead even though I know I am stupidly outnumbered.

“Whoa, whoa, my name is Antonio,” he waves his gun away from me and I see the red laser pointed at the snow in front of me.

Most assassins don’t introduce themselves.

“Where’s Olivia?!” I demand.

“Safely away from here,” Antonio answers, “but you and I, and my friends here, are not. Questions later. Profaci and his men are here.”

As if to punctuate Antonio’s point, the unmistakable ear-splitting cacophony of bullets scream across the forest as they pummel the distant cabin.

Olivia

“Hi Liv,” he says, his tone is warm and inviting. Yet, I feel my body tense and I scramble to the other side of the seat, pushing myself as far away from him as possible. He notices my obvious fear and hesitates before speaking again. His expression softens as he brings his hands up in a calming gesture. “Liv, I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.”

Confusion paints itself across my face at his words. What is Dante doing here? Why has he kidnapped me? A million more questions race through my mind while my voice trembles with apprehension. “What’s going on?”

He sighs heavily before replying.

“I’m going to tell you everything, but you need to come inside with me right now.” His henchmen stand guard at the car door like stone statues, waiting for us to exit.

My breath hitches and I shake my head in disbelief at the situation. He must sense my hesitation because he adds, “I promise no harm will come to you. Liv. We need to get you inside. Now.”

I reluctantly step out of the car, feeling lightheaded. I’ve never fainted before and Dante’s assurances only seem to make me more scared than reassured.

He leads me inside the house with two burly men on either side. The air is crisp and dry, and a chill runs through my body. The landscape outside is desolate – brown dirt covers the ground without a single blade of grass in sight, nothing but worn-down sagebrush in deserted patches. The mountains loom in the background, snow-capped and imposing. We must have driven East, I think to myself.

Nervously, I step inside the dimly lit room, my gaze darting from side to side. Dante is huddled in a corner with four other men and they’re speaking in hushed tones. One of them takes off outside, another heads into the kitchen, and two more stay by the door as if standing guard.

Dante waves me over to a chair, and I apprehensively sit down, my legs pulled up close to my chest.

I wish Kane was here with me. Since I came to, he has been the constant thought racing through my mind. My heart aches at the thought of never seeing him again, but some small part of me fears he was going to leave me anyway after what Henry told him.

“What’s going on, Dante?” I ask impatiently.

He sighs heavily and leans forward, his arms resting on his thighs. “I should start by telling you about the past few years,” he says solemnly. “My mom died about five years ago,” he adds morosely.

A pang of sadness pierces my heart as I think of Graciella, and the deep love Dante had for her. “I’m so sorry, Dante,” I say sincerely. “She loved you fiercely.”

He nods slowly, acknowledging my words. “She stayed with Shaemus until the end. Even after I finished school and got my MBA. I was making good money, working in New York City. I wanted to help Mom retire but she wouldn’t leave that house.” His voice is heavy with emotion as he speaks, and it’s obvious that telling this story is difficult for him.

“One day when I went to visit her, I found her in bed, weak and gaunt-looking. When I asked why she hadn’t told me she was sick, she said she didn’t want to be a burden.” He clenches his jaw, fighting back tears. “Then she told me that she’d confided in Shaemus about being ill, but he hadn’t done anything to help her.”

My stomach churns at the thought of what a despicable man he is. “I’ve always known he’s a sociopath, but even that is unforgivable,” I say angrily.

Dante’s face grows grim as he continues his story. “It was then, on her deathbed, Mom confessed that she’d been having a long-term affair with him.”

My expression twists in disgust. It isn’t surprising to hear of yet another woman being treated like an object by Shaemus.

“That’s why she never left,” Dante concludes sadly. “She kept hoping he would change his ways, but he never did.”