Page 165 of Monster in Disguise

I think I hear some noise from the outside, but everything pales as I turn horrified and watch Marcello do the unthinkable.

Lifting the knife just under his jaw, he digs the blade into his skin until a small trickle of blood pours down his neck. With steady fingers, he drags it across, lengthening the wound until he reaches the other side.

Blood gushes out of his throat. Like a waterfall, the scarlet liquid bathes his skin, painting it red – redder than it was.

"Nooooo!" I yell, rushing towards him, not caring if Nicolo shoots me or not, death a small mercy at this point.

"No, no, no." I mutter hysterically as I reach for him. I put my hands on the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

"Don't you do this to me, damn it."

His mouth moves a little, and he seems to want to say something.

"Don't speak. Please!" I take what's left of my dress and press over the wound. It immediately soaks up the blood. He can't die here. He simply can't!

"Dear God, Marcello, please don't leave me! I'm begging you." I can't even see straight for the tears leaking from my eyes. But I don't let go.

Somewhere in the distance, a succession of gunshots permeates the air. I hear it, but I register nothing but my darling Marcello, whose eyes are still wide open, staring at me in wonder.

"Please, love. Please, stay with me," I wail, my voice hoarse.

"Lina! Lina!" My brother is suddenly by my side, shaking me.

"Let go! I can't let him die..." I don't think I'm making any sense, but my tunnel vision includes only Marcello.

"An ambulance will be here shortly. Let me help." He presses his hands on top of mine, helping with the pressure.

"Fuck!" I hear another voice.

"What the fuck is wrong with him? Going by himself fully knowing Nicolo was gunning for him? Damn, Marcel, you really did it, buddy." Another man speaks, his voice full of despair.

"The ambulance should be here soon. I'll take Nicolo and Franco to the car," one of them adds.

"Fine. I'll keep you updated."

I don't know what happens next. A flurry of people are suddenly inside the crypt, and I'm being separated from Marcello.

"Miss, please, let us do our job."

"He'll make it, right? Please tell me he'll make it," I beg the paramedic. He purses his lips.

"We still have a pulse, but I can't vouch for anything. We need to hurry him to the hospital for an urgent transfusion."

"B, his blood is B," I call out, remembering that snippet of information.

"Good. We'll hook him on blood as soon as we get to the car," he assures me, and they put him on a stretcher.

Enzo is still holding me, tugging my head under his chin.

"He won't die," I say, willing myself to believe it too.

"He won't... he won't." He hugs me tighter, trying to comfort me.

The rideto the hospital is tense. We're both aware that when we get there, he might be... dead.

"What did they do with the bodies?"

"Vlad cleaned up the scene and got rid of them."

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