I close my eyes, trying to blind myself to the inevitable as I begin to squeeze pressure upon the trigger. And just like my heart stopped no more than an hour ago, I close my eyes tighter as the sound of a bullet leaving a gun breaks the tension, and I lose all power of my senses.
Apparently, heartbreak and death go hand in hand in bittersweet union.
The End - for now.
BONUS MATERIAL
Femme Fatale Reloaded – The Pericolo Series (#2) – exclusive blurb and snippet.
FEMME FATALE RELOADED
Pericolo #2
BLURB
I used to be fearful. I used to be admired. I used to be the Femme Fatale.
Until I fell.
I fell from my status, from the pedestal I had been placed, and I fell in love.
And that’s where it all went wrong.
I once thrived on one motto – Don’t feel, don’t deviate, kill.
Now, I thrive on betrayal, a reminder never to trust my heart, and the need to be Femme Fatale Reloaded.
It’s time I got myself back to the place I most belong – a cherished, yearned for secret weapon.
However, when the Zane Maverick walks into my life again, pledging to be an Abbiati, my life turns upside down all over again.
My biggest problem was never the kill, but the thrill of the chase. Apparently, love is the most dangerous game I can ever play, and my life is about to spiral out of control.
EXCLUSIVE SNIPPET
Subject to change upon publication
“We’re here to swap money for diamonds,” Zane states. There’s alarm in his eyes, but the training he had to become an officer is clearly sparking to life. He’s got the ability to negotiate and he’s going to be using it to his advantage. “Now, let her go.”
“Well, you see,” Carmello pipes up, stepping out of the shadows. He’s a large man with an unhealthy glow to him and a back comb hair style. He’s tanned, overweight, and reeks of power. “We can’t do that. Salvatore owes me more than just a pitiful swap job. I thought his beloved Amelia was pretty good collateral damage.”
“She isn’t anyone’s collateral,” Zane comments, and I notice that although he’s getting hostile, Carlo leaves him to play this part. “We have your money.” He turns and Carlo throws the pouch of money to him. “This, for the diamonds. That was the deal Salvatore said. Amelia is no form of payment.”
“Like my good pal Sal, I like to change things up,” Carmello comments casually, reaching into his pocket to withdraw a small pouch that I can only assume is the diamonds. “Like him letting you take this job.” Carmello laughs when he see’s Zane’s eyebrows furrow. “I know all about you,” Carmello acknowledges who Zane is. “The wannabe for Don Abbiati.”
Zane scoffs. “You know nothing about me.”
“No, no, I do,” Carmello comments, moving closer to Zane. “That pretty little thing over there was set to kill you. That didn’t happen too easy so Big Al stepped in to help the Dio Lavoro only to take Ms. Amelia’s stiletto to the neck.” He looks to me with hungry eyes. “Damn, girl, you are killer when it comes to those you love, I have to hand that to you. I wonder what pretty fortune your father will pay when he finds out you’re now working for me.” Carmello laughs, eying me quickly from head to toe. I feel like his gaze leaves a trail of dirt behind. “I actually bet you’d look good tied up in my bed. I can’t to wait to fucking claim you as mine. No one will want you after I’ve ruined you.”
My stomach bottoms at the thought of what his nasty mind is thinking up. Before I can truly panic, the look on Zane’s face loosens, but not for long. Suddenly, he comes blinded with the rage that ignites in him, and all at once, he’s picking the hammer up from the workstation before him and is slamming it into Carmello’s face. Blood sprays out and the wounded man yelps. Zane doesn’t stop with one hit. I watch as he slams the hammer into Carmello’s jaw, another hit to the cheek sends the man to his knees.
“I’ll go in for another hit if she’s not released in three seconds,” he threatens, raising the blooded hammer above his head. “It’s an easy choice. If she’s harmed or not let go of, you’re both going to wish for a quick fucking death.” There’s a pregnant pause and I close my eyes as the knife pushes further into my neck. I whimper as I feel blood trickle down my knife a little and as I open my arms I see Zane watching me. “You’re pushing me here. If anything happens to her more than it has, I’ll make sure you’ll learn pretty quickly that hell is a place on fucking earth!”
“Let her go!” Carmello orders, still shielding himself from the threat of taking the hammer to the face a fourth time. He’s not speaking much now, damage to his jaw obviously done.