Her phone buzzed. She picked it up without looking at it. “I told you I can’t. Leave me alone.”

“I can’t do that.”

That voice. The same voice that had called her before.

“Who is this? What do you want?”

A raspy laugh greeted her ear. “I want you to stay away from them.”

“Stay away from who?”

“Don’t be coy. You know exactly who I’m talking about. Stay away from them or there could be consequences.”

“I don’t know who you think you are, but I do what I want and when I find out who you are, you’re going to pay for this.”

A mocking laugh. “I look forward to it, my sweet.”

And then the line went dead in her ear. Ava checked her call log. Restricted. Just like last time. She didn’t like this. Not one bit. Some sick jerk was playing games with her and she had no idea who it could be. Games like this weren’t Angelo’s style. He preferred a direct approach. So did Dominic, therefore she could rule both of them out. And that brought her firmly back to square one. No suspects. She had to do something. Ava needed a bodyguard now more than ever. Too bad it seemed nobody was willing to step up and protect Joseph Martelli’s widow. Ava was on her own. Some things never changed.

Chapter Eighteen

“What are you looking at?” Ava snapped at the man in the lobby staring at her.

“I…I…”

Ava stomped through the lobby and out of the building. She’d decided to come to work, finally. She’d hoped to get some things done after hiding out in her house. It had been a mistake to come in. Just as it had been a mistake to take Maia to school. Parents had stared at her there. But she’d thought things would be different once she came to work. After all, she owned the company. But people were the same everywhere. Nosy. Judgmental. And rude.

To make matters worse, Melissa had contacted her early that morning and informed her they had a closed-door hearing with Judge Masters at one-thirty. She’d been a fool for believing Dominic. He didn’t want her. The bastard was still going ahead with the ridiculous lawsuit. A part of her couldn’t believe it. There was all the things he’d said to her. The way he’d made her feel. The part of her that wanted to believe him. To give him a chance. But she was just being a fool. Dominic was a man. And past experience had proven that you couldn’t trust a man…at all.

Inside the garage, she walked to her car. Ever since it had been towed home, she’d felt funny about driving it. She didn’t know what had her so ill at ease about it. Mentally shaking away her worries, she unlocked her Benz and climbed inside. Locking the door, she put the key in the ignition and sped out of the garage. The city was busy, much busier than it should have been at this time of day on a Monday.

Ava cursed as traffic slowed to a crawl. It was a good thing the courthouse was only about fifteen minutes away. Otherwise she’d never make it on time and the last thing she needed was to be late to this hearing. Lateness could cost you in both life and business. She knew that firsthand.

“You were the hottest broad in there tonight. Did you see all the guys checking you out?”

Ava laughed. “You must’ve seen something I didn’t.”

Joseph kissed her forehead. “Of course I did. A man like me notices everything, but particularly when someone is looking at my woman. My hot and sexy woman.”

“I’m a mother now. Does that still qualify me as hot and sexy?”

“You’re damned right it does. If I wasn’t there when you had her, I wouldn’t have believed you had a baby.”

“You know exactly how to flatter my ego.”

“Why shouldn’t I? Having you on my arm does more than flatter my ego. It boosts my street cred.”

Ava could only smile at her husband’s logic. “I didn’t know how hot your wife was had anything to do with how you ran your business.”

“It doesn’t officially, but it does give you a little boost with the guys.”

“Well then I’m so glad I could be of help.”

They stepped into the elevator that would take them downstairs to the garage where their car was parked. Joseph’s arms closed around her. “You know I’ve been thinking?”

“About what?”

“About us having another baby.”

Ava raised a brow. “Another baby?”

“Why are you looking so surprised? Of course I want another baby. I need an heir.”

“You have an heir. Our daughter.”

“Don’t get snippy with me. You know what I mean. An heir to my business. When have you ever heard of a girl running the mob?”

“All the time when you guys end up in the penitentiary,” Ava snapped.

“A broad never runs the mob. She may be the face to throw off suspicion with the feds but she’s not running it. You can believe that.”

The elevator doors opened.

“Then maybe it’s time you changed things. After all Maia is your daughter and mine. There is no telling what she can do.”

“It’s not going to happen, Ava. I need a son. End of story.”

Ava exited the elevator at a brisk pace. Sometimes Joseph could be such an asshole. A son. A man determined the sex of a baby. Not a woman. He was talking to the wrong person. She wasn’t one to keep listening to a bunch of macho bull.

“Come on, Ava. Don’t be like that. You know I didn’t mean anything by it.”

She ignored her husband’s voice and stomped through the garage as much as her four-inch heels would allow. Their Rolls was coming into sight and then Ava heard a sound that she’d never heard up close. Gunshots.

“Ava, get down!”

She fell to the ground and covered her head. Her heart had never beat so fast. The shots came in rapid fire. Goosebumps broke out on her skin. Her teeth gnashed together.

“Please God. Don’t let me die. Don’t let me leave my baby.”

Casings fell all around her, but through some miracle she remained safe. Finally, the gunfire stopped. The sound of footsteps running away echoed in the garage.

“Joseph? Joseph?”

No answer. Ava slowly rose to her knees and looked to the left and the right of her. She didn’t see anyone. Taking a chance she stood up and turned around. She nearly bit her tongue in two.

“Joseph. Joseph.”

She ran across the garage to her husband. He lay on the concrete floor. Blood soaked his shirt. Blood was everywhere and Joseph was not moving. She fell down next to him and took his hand in hers. It was cold. His eyes were shut. Ava pressed a hand to his neck. A pulse was there, but only faintly. She shook him. “Joseph. Joseph. Damn it. Open your eyes and look at me.”

Her husband’s eyes fluttered open. “Ava,” he whispered.

“I’m right here. I’m right here. Let me get my phone from the car.”

“No. Stay with me. Please.”

“Joseph, I have to call an ambulance. I’m not going to watch you die.”

Slowly she eased his hand out of her grasp and reached inside his pants pocket for the car keys. As soon as her fingers closed over them, she was up and running towards the car. She unlocked the Rolls before she even reached it. When her hand closed over the handle, she opened the car and reached inside the center console. She found her husband’s phone and dialed 911.

“911. What’s your emergency?”

“I’m on the first floor of the parking garage in front of La Madrid. My husband has been shot. He’s bleeding. Please hurry.”

Ava disconnected the call and ran back to her husband’s side. Joseph’s eyes were closing.

“Don’t you dare close your eyes. You hear me, Joseph?”

“I’m tired, Ava. I’m so tired.”