Page 47 of Her UnBearable Protector

Glaring at the young woman huddled in the corner, he darted a pointed look to his brother. “She tried to leave.”

Taking in the broken bottle and jagged pieces of glass on the floor, Valerio turned his attention to the blood stains on Uberto’s shirt cuff. “You gave her glass?”

“The vending machines were a little on the antiquated side. Plastic just isn’t their thing.”

Valerio nodded. “And after she came at you?”

A flare of light entered Uberto’s eyes a moment before they bled black. When he smiled he bared more than a hint of fang and Caprice hid her head behind her arms. “I gave her a look at who she was really dealing with.”

“He tried to eat me!” She wailed from the corner and Valerio flinched. His ears were ringing. “He’s going to do it. He’s going to rip me to pieces!”

Valerio looked her over and drew in a breath. “None of the blood is hers,” he gave his brother a wan smile, “I’m impressed at your restraint.”

Uberto tried to shrug off the compliment. “Natale wouldn’t have liked it. She would have been upset. I can’t imagine why, but she really cares for the witch.”

Nudging his brother with a well-placed elbow, Valerio chuckled. “Well, you haven’t tried to kill me, but you’ve tried to gut me a few times, and I still love you.”

Stepping away, Uberto retreated to the other side of the room. “Get her under control and we’ll move her.”

Valerio’s speed enabled him to reach her side before she could do more than stand. She turned her eyes up into his face. “Wait… wait.” She gasped in her breaths. “Wait... you’re his brother, aren’t you?”

He gave her a nod and a smile. “And Salvatore as well.” Inserting the needle into the bottle, he filled the syringe with the dosage. “We’re all the same,” he looked over his shoulder at Uberto, “my brother shouldn’t have scared you like that.”

“The hell I shouldn’t! She tried to kill Natale,” Uberto growled deep in his chest, “twice.”

The vibrations seemed to hit Caprice and turned her head toward the sound. Uberto curled his lip back and she pulled back suddenly.

“Hold still,” Valerio gripped her arm tighter trying to hold her in place, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She didn’t listen, tugging on her arm. The needle twisted and when he pulled it free blood splattered on her arm. Frustration and fresh scent of blood assaulted his senses, filling his bear with a hungry need. He managed to keep the bear out of his eyes and held back the fangs that begged to be freed.

The growl shocked him, rolling from his throat and shaking him down to the soles of his feet.

“You’re one too, aren’t you?” Her eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed a few times, silently gasping for air. “You’re a-”

“A bear,” Uberto’s eyes darkened as he appeared beside her, his hand clamping down on her shoulder. “You should learn not to poke a bear, Caprice. Because we, poke back.”

Valerio saw his brother’s eyes fade back into the bear and heard a rough gurgling noise from Caprice’s throat as her eyes rolled white. He caught her as she went limp in his arms, mouthing silent words. He glared up at his brother. “I think you broke her.”

Uberto shrugged. “She came after our family. We usually don’t let them live, so this is as good as she’s going to get from me.”

Finding it hard to argue, Valerio nodded, but as he began to approach Caprice held up her hands as if they were claws, cutting through the air toward one and then the other brother.

Frustrated, Uberto waved a dismissive hand. “Sedate her so she doesn’t get herself hurt trying to hurt us.”

Valerio hesitated a moment. “And then? I don’t think we can chance turning her over to the police. We don’t know what she’ll say.”

Uberto couldn’t argue. His brother had a point. “There’s a hospital in Italy near our village. Quiet, discreet. They’ll do what they can for her.”

“Someone should speak with Mr. Durante first. He’s her closest kin. I’ll let Salvatore know so he can explain.”

* * *

Once Salvatore received the text from Uberto, he’d escorted father and daughter to the car to give them the news. Giovanni was taken aback by the news and remained quiet and contemplative as they drove to Natale’s building.

Her father opened the door to her apartment, but stepped back to let Salvatore turn off the alarm. Natale took the arm her father offered and walked in beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Giovanni pressed a kiss to her forehead. “How are you feeling?”

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