Everything He Risks (Bookkeeper for the Billionaire #4)
Author: Thalia Frost

“I’m fine. Quit worrying.” Rock Weldon waved a hand at me feebly, the look in his eyes fierce.

“You just got shot. Of course I’m worried.”

He grimaced. “I know. I guess I’ll have to actually use bodyguards now. I’m not a fan of that.”

I perched in a chair near the bed, afraid to go closer. It wouldn’t do to have someone walk in on me half on top of my billionaire boss—even if we’d already spent a lot of our time alone that way.

“Fan or not, yeah. Can we just go back to California where bullets aren’t flying, at least not that I know of?” I glanced nervously toward the door, half expecting an assassin to walk through it any minute.

“Hell, no. Too much to do, and this is the place to do it.” Rock ground the words out and flinched.

“Are you in tons of pain?” I gripped the edge of the chair, wishing I could kiss him, smooth the sweaty hair back from his forehead.

“Not really. The drugs are helping with that. It’s just when I move my arm.” He sighed. “I think I’ll be out of here in the morning, though. I hope to God, anyway. And then we’re on with the original plan.”

The man is out of his mind. Nothing seems to stop him, not even bullets.

“Okay, if you say so, boss.” I winked, still so relieved that he was okay. I’d spent an hour in terror. His face had been so white when he’d passed out on the way to the hospital.

“We will be. I mean it.”

A knock sounded on the door, and I flinched.

“It’s okay, Lacey. There’s a guard out there, you know. It’s probably just the doctor coming to give me the final verdict for the night.” Rock smiled at me, and the expression went all the way to my toes.

“I know.” I glanced at my watch. Exhaustion made my shoulders feel heavy. Between jetlag and the man I wanted more than anything in the world being shot, I was reeling.

“Nothing is going to happen to you. I swear it. When he’s done, I want you to go back to the villa and rest.” Rock’s voice was laced with steel, as I’d heard it so many times before. “Come in.”

The doctor obliged. “Mr. Weldon.”

“Yes.”

“I’m Dr. Vittorini. You’ve had a close call and lost a lot of blood. We want to keep you here overnight, but if all looks well, we’ll let you out some time tomorrow.”

“Good. I have things to do.” Rock didn’t smile.

“I understand, but your healing is my primary concern. The bullet went a bit deeper than a graze into your shoulder. It’s out, but you did lose a lot of blood, and you need to be monitored. I also don’t want you to overdo it once you get out of the hospital.” The doctor frowned.

“I won’t.” Rock gave him a tight smile.

“I’m glad to hear it. The police are here to speak with you now.” The doctor turned and left the room without another word.

“Great. Just what I wanted to do…talk to the polizia tonight.” Rock sighed and closed his eyes.

“I can try to run them off.”

He shook his head. “No, best to get it over with.”

Curiosity rose inside of me. What is he going to tell them? Does he want them to know what’s going on?

My stomach roiled with nervousness.

“I hate to say it, Lacey, but you need to go. They won’t like me talking with you here.”

I rose, my legs shaky. “What are you going to tell them?” I bit my lip, hoping I hadn’t crossed a line by asking. Rock could be mercurial, and though he’d let me into his world, I wasn’t sure how far he wanted to go with that trust.

“Nothing. That it was random.” He stared at me.

“Are you serious?” My voice grew shrill.

“Shh. They’re coming. I need to handle this my way. I’m not involving police unless and until I have to. It’s always worked for me before, Lacey. I don’t leave important matters to other people.”

“I see.”

“I’ll be home tomorrow some time. Wait for me there. For now, you’ll find your bodyguard, George, waiting outside for you. Luigi will take you back to the villa. Please stay put there for tonight. I need to be sure you’re safe.” His gaze burned into mine. “Oh, and Lacey?”

“Yeah?” I hovered near his bed.

“Sorry I didn’t get to see how you liked the vibrating panties.”

I flushed to my feet and squirmed. “Did you lose the remote?”

“The nurse has it. She had no idea what it was. It’s with my personal effects. I’ll hang on to it and test it out later.” He gave me a wicked wink.

I swallowed hard, wanting to touch him. The door creaked open.

“Um, okay. Bye.” I don’t know if I kept the tremor from my voice. Instead of crying, I pivoted away in what I hoped was a professional move.

The polizzia strode in, two hard-faced men. They threw a question toward Rock.

“She’s leaving. Ms. Pate is my bookkeeper and assistant.” I froze and turned around slowly to face them. They stood over Rock, but he wasn’t diminished at all by them. He still looked fierce, even with a gunshot wound.

One of the men cast a derisive glance in my direction and rattled off more questions.

“Not tonight.” Rock’s voice left no room for argument, not even from the law of the city. “Lacey.”

My name on his lips stopped me. “Yes, Mr. Weldon?” I went for a neutral tone.

“These gentlemen will be by to question you in the morning at the villa.” He pursed his lips, and I knew what was expected of me.

“I’ll be there.” I gave him a slow nod.

Your secret is safe with me. I just hope it doesn’t get us killed.

* * * *

I made it back to the villa without incident. My bodyguard George was a huge hulk of an Italian man. He sat in the front seat with Luigi. I sighed and worried the whole way there, despite the lights and beauty of Venice by night. The canal shimmered under the moon, and the thought of the ride I was supposed to take with Rock on it made my heart ache.

“There will be time. Please God. Let there be.” I let tears flow now that Rock wasn’t there to see. I felt I had to be strong with him, but for a few moments after he’d been shot, I wasn’t sure if he would live or die. I’d never been in such a black place mentally.

“Because I’m in love with him,” I whispered as I climbed the stairs to my bedroom. All was quiet in the house, and trays waited for me on a bedside table.

In spite of my worry and fear, I dove into the steaming pasta with clams, tart salad, and warm buttered garlic bread. When had I last felt so cared for?

My thoughts turned to the caller who had warned me about Rock. Who was it? Could the person have been the same who had shot Rock?