Page 93 of Malevolent Secrets

“This is all your fault,” Massimo spits. “If you hadn’t done what you did all those years ago, none of this would be happening.”

Lorenzo’s eyes blaze with fury. “You’re a sick, psychotic fuck who has somehow twisted events in your head to make it seem like you’re the victim here.”

The tension between them is palpable and I can sense that whatever happened between them involves Renee too. It’s the reason why there’s so much friction between Lorenzo and his sister.

I try to focus on their conversation, but my head is pounding and it’s hard to keep my eyes open. The pain in my head is a constant reminder of the danger to my baby. I curl up on the floor, trying to protect my unborn child.

The tension in the room remains high and I know it’s only a matter of time before things turn violent.

Victor steps forward, his eyes glinting with malice. “Enough of this.” He pulls out his gun and aims it at my head.

I close my eyes, bracing for the end. But then, another shot rings out, and I hear a thud. I open my eyes to see Victor lying on the ground, dead. Vincent stands behind him, his gun still smoking.

“Never liked him anyways,” Vincent mutters.

Chaos erupts. Gunfire fills the air, and men shout as they dive for cover. Lorenzo runs to me, scooping me up in his arms.

“Tesoro, please, please be okay,” he murmurs, his voice filled with desperation.

I try to speak, but my voice is weak. “Lorenzo…”

He holds me tightly, his heart pounding against my chest. “Please, Daniella, stay with me.”

Everything starts to fade, and I feel myself slipping away. The pain is too much, and I can’t hold on any longer. My eyes flutter closed, and I hear Lorenzo scream, a sound filled with anguish and rage.

“Renee, help me!” Lorenzo shouts.

“I’ve got her,” Renee’s voice says, firm and steady.

I’m vaguely aware of being lifted and carried, but everything is a blur. I’m too weak to open my eyes, too exhausted to even think. I hear the sounds of gunfire and shouting, but it all feels distant, like it’s happening in another world.

Before I know it, I’m being placed in a car. The seat is soft and warm and I feel the gentle vibration as the engine starts. We’re driving, but I don’t know where we’re going. All I can do is hope that Lorenzo is okay and that our baby is safe.

The car ride feels endless, but I’m too weak to stay conscious. The darkness pulls me under, and I surrender to it, trusting that Lorenzo and Renee will keep me safe.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Daniella

The darkness is thick and suffocating. I’m floating in a void, untethered and lost. I can hear voices, but they’re distant, like echoes from a faraway place.

I try to reach out, to grasp onto something solid, but there’s nothing. Just the overwhelming weight of exhaustion and pain.

Slowly, the darkness begins to recede. I can feel the soft hum of the car engine beneath me, the gentle sway as we move. The pain in my body is still there, but it’s muted, a dull throb in the background.

I force my eyes open, blinking against the harsh light. The car’s interior comes into focus and I see Renee sitting beside me, her face pale and drawn. She’s holding my hand, her grip tight and reassuring.

“Renee?” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

She looks down at me, relief flooding her eyes. “Hey, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been hit by a truck,” I manage to say, trying to smile but wincing at the pain.

“You’re safe now,” she says, her voice soft. “We’re taking you home.”

“Lorenzo?” I ask, fear gripping my heart. “Is he okay?”

“He’s fine,” she reassures me. “He’s right behind us.”

---