The Sacrificial Lamb by Elle Fiore Read Free Book Online Page B

pictured them at home. They were laughing and joking around like they always did. With that thought in mind Alex lay down on the bed, huddling into the corner, and pretended she was with Shane instead. More tears squeezed out between her eyes, and she wondered where Shane was now.
    “I’m so sorry,” she whispered to him.
    She had gone to Montana State University for her first four years to be close to her father. Shane had joined her the year after, but when she found out she had been accepted at the University of Chicago for teacher’s college, she was excited and had decided to go. The last two years had taken a toll on their relationship, and they weren’t as close anymore. They still loved one another, but she wondered how much of that was true love as opposed to being too scared to take a chance with anyone else. This summer was supposed to be pivotal to their relationship. They had to see if they could reconnect like they had before. And now Alex wasn’t even sure if she would ever see Shane again.
    What had he thought when she didn’t show up at the airport to pick him up? Would he have just gone to her apartment after waiting for her? He must have been so pissed off and likely thought she had forgotten he was coming. Had her father been able to get in touch with him? She just hoped that they were safe and together, and she sent a little prayer up to God.

7
    D OMENIC S CANNED T HE C HINATOWN A LLEYWAY before getting into the black Lexus. He was thankful that the windows were tinted because he didn’t feel like dying today. The car drove down the alley in silent swiftness, pulling out into the light traffic.
    “What’s this all about, Russell?” Domenic asked crossly.
    “Hi to you, too, douche bag.”
    Russell Sutherland was one of the only people allowed to talk to Domenic that way. They had been best friends since the first grade and took liberties no one else would dare take. Russ smiled and glanced over at Domenic who was still scowling, not seeing the humor in this situation.
    “Are you trying to get us both killed?” Domenic continued in a threatening voice.
    “What’s wrong? The family doesn’t like you to have friends?” Russell sneered.
    “Not when one of them is a fucking cop .”
    He glanced out of the back window. The tint was good for concealment, but it was shit if you needed to make sure no one was tailing you. Sighing, Domenic gave up and turned back around.
    “Relax, that’s why I borrowed Miles’s car. No one will recognize it.” Russell checked his side mirror before making a quick lane change. He raced forward and blew a red light just as traffic started moving, narrowly avoiding getting T-boned.
    “Nice.” Domenic grimaced after his life finished flashing before his eyes. “Did they teach you that in cop school?”
    “If anyone was following us, they aren’t now,” Russell said, chuckling. “Now you can stop looking out the back window.”
    “You’re an asshole.”
    “Likewise.” His friend grinned. “Miles sends his regards.”
    “Right.”
    “He does. Diana, too.”
    Domenic ran his hand through his hair in agitation at the mention of Russell’s parents’ names. Miles Sutherland had been Domenic’s mentor and had vehemently opposed the path he had chosen for his life. The Sutherlands had been the ones to help his mother after Domenic Sr. had been murdered. The D’Angelos had plenty of money from Sofia’s side of the family, but no real support. Miles and Diana Sutherland had been there for his family and became like surrogate parents to him after his mother also passed away. Miles had been hoping Domenic would follow in his footsteps and practice medicine, but that all changed when Carlo came to recruit him all those years ago.
    His heart squeezed a bit at the mention of his former family. His real family. The one he had been part of before being swallowed whole by the Liseni.
    “ She misses you, too, you know,” Russ said softly after a moment, meaning