His Tesoro: An Arranged Marriage Age Gap Mafia Romance (Empire of Royals Book 1)
His Tesoro: Chapter 35

“What do you want, Angelo?” I peered at the pastry case, mouth watering at all the different cakes. This was one of the most popular bakeries in the city, and I wanted to try everything for inspiration.

“I don’t need anything, bella.”

I glanced up at Angelo. He was crowding my chair, his eyes flitting around the busy shop.

“Of course you do. If I don’t spend a lot of money, Matteo will yell at me.”

Angelo snorted. “As if the Boss would yell at you.” He glanced at the case. “Just get me whatever you think will be best, not that it will be better than your baking.”

My cheeks flushed at the compliment. “What if we just get one of everything?” It was excessive, extravagant, but I wanted to try it all. And we were supporting a small business.

“Good plan, Mrs. Rossi,” Angelo said with a grin. Then his eyes returned to the door where two businessmen were entering. “But maybe we should take them back to the apartment.”

“Is something wrong?”

“No,” he said quickly.

“Convincing.”

Matteo had been gone when I woke this morning. When I asked Angelo where he was, he had just muttered something about the Don needing to check on something upstate, but it was clear he was on edge.

“What’s going on?”

Angelo’s eyes flitted around the cafe. “Not here. Let’s just get the things and go.”

The tattooed girl at the counter’s eyes grew wide as I asked her for one of everything, but I managed to stop my hand from trembling when I tapped my credit card. It was more than I’d ever spent, and I hoped Matteo had been serious when he said he wanted me to spend his money.

“We might need to make two trips to the car.” I eyed the growing tower of pastry boxes.

Angelo grunted, his stance still tense. When the boxes were ready, he helped stack them on my lap and hung a bag from the handle of my chair.

“See, this is the perk of the wheelchair,” I said, earning me a small smile from Angelo.

Noodle subtly nosed the boxes, and I gave him a stern look. He quickly sat back, eyes filled with the adorable yet slightly heartbreaking remorse only a dog can manage. His expression quickly changed to a happy pant as I pet him on the head and gave him a treat.

“Let’s go,” Angelo said gruffly.

The tension radiating from his body set me on edge, and I was ready to be back home in the apartment with Matteo anyway. It was getting harder to be away from him. Our day yesterday had been perfect. He still showed little outward affection, but cracks were appearing in his usually impervious shield. I wanted to see what more I could get from him.

I followed Angelo out of the bakery, calling a “thank you” over my shoulder to the girl at the counter.

Before I could maneuver around everyone on the sidewalk, a curse tore from Angelo’s lips. “Fuck!”

My heart leapt to my throat as his hand grabbed the back of my neck.

“Get down, Sofiya!” he yelled, urging me to the ground. I let out a low cry as my knee hit the sidewalk, the pain jolting through my leg like a dagger. The bakery boxes went flying. What was happening? Confusion and frustration flooded me until I heard the gunshots.

Shit shit shit.

My heart rate skyrocketed. I was a total sitting duck—no weapons, barely able to move with the pain in my leg, and completely exposed on the sidewalk. I lurched forward and grabbed Noodle, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him to the ground. He licked my face and gave a low whine, but stayed with me.

People ran around us and screams filled the air. Angelo’s body blocked mine, his arms raised as he returned fire at whoever was shooting at us from across the street.

“We need to get to the car,” he gritted out as he crouched down. He grabbed my arm and dragged me a few feet until the bulletproof SUV offered us protection. Bullets pinged against the car, and Angelo ducked for cover before taking more shots. I kept my hand on Noodle’s harness, making sure he stayed down.

“Call the Boss,” Angelo urged, pulling his phone out of his pocket and tossing it to me. “Now, Sofiya.”

My hands shook as I called my husband. He answered on the second ring. “Pronto.”

“Matteo.” My voice broke, and I choked back a sob.

“Sofiya? What’s wrong? Where’s Angelo?”

“Someone’s shooting at us outside the bakery. Please come.”