Page 88 of Broken Princess

Through the legs of the desk, I watch Stefano drag her away, struggling in his hold and screaming for me. I hold on firmly to the feeling of comfort, knowing that she is free of Max, as I slip away into the oppressive darkness that engulfs me.

CHAPTER FORTY

AURORA

“Let me go, we have to go back. We can’t leave him!” I scream, but no matter my words, Stefano holds me tight as he drags me back out of the house.

As we approach the door, we take fire from four men thundering down the central staircase. Stefano’s men are out in the open, caught in the crossfire between Max’s men.

We have no choice but to keep going and throw open the front door. As he drags me across the front courtyard as the gunfire continues. Through the open door, I witness our defenders being gunned down as they try to retreat through the front door.

“They’re sitting fucking ducks, Stefano. We have to help them.”

He says nothing, but I feel the moment our luck changes and turn my head to see Benedict running around the side of the building, a team of six heavily-armed people trailing behind him.

“Benny, you have to help. He has Zo. Max has Zo in there.” My tone is shrill, and desperation wraps itself around every word.

I see him blanch as my words register a moment before an explosion rings out and the entire house starts to shake and rattle with the force of the blast. I see a soft glow of flames and I sigh in relief as two of Stefano’s team manage to escape through the front door before the blaze engulfs the hallway, blocking the exit.

Realising he’s just blocked our only way of getting to Zo, I scream, “What the fuck did you do!?” Wrenching myself free of Stefano’s iron grasp, I jump forward to beat my clenched fists against Benny’s chest.

His face is a mask of devastation—all he can do is repeat the same words over and over again, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. He told me to. Zo told me to blow it. I’m so fucking sorry.”

“What the fuck do you mean he told you to?”

“He was on comms. He told me to blow it. He said he was clear,” Benny explains, his eyes searching for my understanding and finding nothing.

Tears flood my eyes, betraying me and fury consumes me. Fury at Enzo for sacrificing himself for me. We need to go back—we need to see if he survived. I make a run for it, back toward the building. My feet barely make it to the first porch step before arms wrap around my waist and I’m dragged backwards.

“We can’t get in that way, Rory. The whole place is coming down,” Benedict shouts over the roar of the flames.

The fire is licking the door frame. There’s no way through. While the logical part of my brain knows Benny is right, every part of my soul screams that I can’t give up on Enzo. I struggle against them, determined to find another way.

“We can’t just leave him…” But they don’t let me go and I slump into their grip, levelling them both with my gaze. “I will never forgive you for this.”

Stefano and Benny’s stricken faces say everything. They’re choosing me over Enzo—and I hate them for it.

“Enzo would never forgive us if we didn’t save you,” Stefano says, holding my gaze and forcing me to face the truth of his words.

I’m pulled to the front gates, away from the rapidly growing inferno, I can see movement behind the windows. I’m filled with a hope that grips my heart and threatens to stop it from beating. The window shatters and a dining room chair bursts through it, crashing to the ground and splintering.

Max and his men climb out, lifting their guns once their feet hit the floor, forcing us to take cover behind what’s left of the incinerated front gates. I watch as he turns back to the house and signals to someone.

Moments later, I watch as they toss Enzo’s abused body out of the window, putting on a display meant for us all to see. He’s not moving. All I can make out are dappled crimson flourishes of blood. Lifting his gun, Max takes aim and unloads what’s left of his clip. Shot after shot rings out and I’m blinded by my tears.

The scream that leaves me burns so deep that it incinerates my soul.

The pain. The rage. The hatred. They’re indescribable.

Max looks up and smiles. It’s a smile I know so well. The unbridled joy he gets when he knows he’s broken someone.

When his men open fire at us, I’m dragged away as we retreat. We’re too evenly matched for either side to come out of this confrontation well, and the fire will attract too much attention from the emergency services. We have to leave. We have no choice, but I hate it.

With every step we take away from Enzo, my rage builds. Burning wildly within me, blazing an inferno through my core.

I feel like I’m slipping away again, only this time I’m not driven by fear or self-preservation. Fury engulfs me, making me lose myself in a torrent of emotion that will consume me.

When we reach the van, I drag myself into the passenger seat, and I close my eyes. I don’t have the first fucking clue who’s driving, nor do I fucking care.

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