Page 69 of Used By the Bratva

I wrap my arms around her; I need to feel her close. I need to know that she is safe and here with me.

As I hold her, she mumbles something into my chest, but I don’t quite understand her words.

“Come on.” I lift her from the chair and carry her to the car.

I don’t know if I can ever let go of her again.

Denis follows us, and the rest of the men start clearing up and setting fire to the corpses. When my men are done here, it will look like it was nothing more than a tragic accident.

Natalie’s gaze is distant as I help her into the car, shutting the door behind her and turning to Denis.

He glances at her before meeting my gaze. “Do you think she’s going to be alright?”

“She’s a tough cookie. She’s going to be fine.”

Denis sighs and turns to look at the fuckery behind us. “The Italians will want revenge. They won't take this lightly.”

“Tell Maxim and the others back home to be ready. We will face whatever comes.”

I circle the car and get in on the other side, looking at Natalie. She holds her hand in the air, but the blood has already soaked through the towel.

As I rev the car, I can only think about what will happen if I don’t get her to a doctor in time. “We’ll be at the hospital soon.”

Chapter 26 - Natalie

I cringe as the doctor pushes the needle one last time through my hand, which is numb thanks to the injection I've been given. It’s more the sight of the needle and the thread sliding into my skin that churns my stomach.

Leon paces behind the doctor, his hands in his pockets and his eyes wild with worry. “Is there anything else I need to worry about with this cut?”

“Just make sure it stays clean. The stitches will dissolve on their own, but if they burst, you need to take her to an emergency room as soon as possible.”

He nods and looks at me as the doctor ties the stitches before collecting the tools and disappearing from the small room.

Leon smiles as soon as we are alone, but the corners of his eyes don’t crinkle as they usually do. “He didn’t hurt you in any other way, did he?”

I shake my head, and my chest tightens. “No, he didn’t. He tried to touch me, but I broke the bottle and sliced his face when he tried. He tried to take the bottle away from me when you stormed into the room.”

His composure is visibly strained as he takes my good hand in his. “Good, I’m proud of you. My little fighter.”

“I knew I had to do something.” My throat is thick as tears gather in my eyes. “All I could think about at that moment was protecting our baby and holding him off until you got there to save me.”

He gives me a lopsided grin. “You knew I'd come for you?”

“Of course.” I bring his hand to my lips, kissing the back, sensing that he needs this comfort as much as I do. “I know you by now. I knew you'd come for me. I knew you wouldn’t let him hurt me.”

“Good.” Leon helps me off the hospital bed and leads me out of the room. “Come on. Let’s go home and get some rest.”

“There’s more that I have to tell you, too,” I say, mind wandering to everything Carlo has told me.

I don’t know how to tell Leon the truth about what happened to his brother. He may not believe me if I tell him, but he deserves to know the truth. If it were my brother, I would want to know that the person responsible for his death is now gone.

I have come to terms with the fact that Antonio did what he thought he had to do to honor his family. Now it’s time to let him know that he can let go of the anger he’s held onto for so long.

Leon shakes his head. “Not here. We can talk more when we’re home, and you’re no longer carrying that bastard’s blood.”

I nod, leaning into him as he guides me through the halls and out the door. “Take me home.”

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