Page 42 of The Curse of Blood and Silenc

“Is it really you?” The words scraped out of my raw throat. I’d asked this question a hundred times in a hundred dreams, only to watch his face twist into Balthazar’s cruel smile. My fingers clutched his shirt, anchoring myself to this moment, this reality. “Please be you.”

“It’s me.” His voice cracked on the words. Then his arms were around me, pulling me against his chest with a desperation that matched my own. His heart thundered against my ear—that powerful, inhuman rhythm I’d grown to trust. I breathed in his scent, sharp, metallic and predator-sweet, searching for any trace of Balthazar’s evil coldness. But where Balthazar’s touch had always felt like ice seeping into my bones, Angelo’s embrace burned with fierce protection, with a warmth that made me want to weep.

“You found me.” The words came out broken, half-sob and half-prayer. After endless wandering, I was finally home.

His arms tightened around me, and when he spoke his voice held that dangerous edge that had made empires kneel. “I would have torn this city apart brick by brick to find you. Every person who helped hide you will beg for death before I’m done.”

“I love you.” The words ripped from my chest, raw and desperate. Through all the nightmares, all Balthazar’s lies, every moment of terror—our connection had helped me through the darkness.

He was my life, my savior.

His hand cupped my face, thumb brushing away tears I didn’t realize I’d shed. The gesture was achingly gentle, even asblood dripped from his sleeve. This was my Angelo—ruthless king, tender protector, the monster who’d kill for me and the man who’d die for me.

“My light.” His voice was rough with emotion as he pressed his forehead to mine. “In all this darkness, in all this blood and death, you’re the one thing that keeps me from losing my humanity entirely.”

The crash of a door being broken down somewhere in the building shattered our bubble of reunion. But for once the sound of violence didn’t make me flinch. I knew those footsteps.

Sure enough, Enzo and Dimitri burst into the room, their presence confirming this was really happening. Like Angelo, blood dripped down their chins and stained their shirts. Behind us, Shannon still huddled in the vent, but she was safe now. We both were.

I cupped Angelo’s rugged face in my hands, feeling the familiar angles beneath my fingers. “It’s really you. I didn’t think you’d ever find me.” A sob broke free, releasing all the fear and doubt I’d been holding.

“I’ll always find you, Serenity.” His voice carried the weight of an unbreakable vow. “You’re mine.”

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Serenity

I curledmy fingers into his bloodied shirt, hanging on as tight as I could, tears blurring my vision. I leaned against his chest, wanting to inhale his scent and listen to his heartbeat forever. The events of the last few days had left me shaken, and each breath was ragged with exhaustion.

“Angelo, please take me home.”

He kissed the top of my head, his lips lingering there for a moment. “I will.” His voice was soft but carried a hint of steel that made me feel safe for the first time in days.

The door burst open with enough force to make me flinch. A man with long hair and a beard rushed in, his wild appearance making Angelo’s arms tighten protectively around me. The newcomer’s shirt was also splattered with blood, and purple bruises bloomed across his visible skin. His eyes darted around the room with desperate intensity.

“Shannon? Where is she? Is she alive?”

“I’ve got her.” I looked over Angelo’s shoulder to where Enzo stood, cradling a small form wrapped in his jacket.

“My god.” The man ran across the room in three long strides, his hands trembling as he took Shannon from Enzo. “What did he do to you?” His strong voice broke on the last word, thick with emotion. He cradled her like she was made of glass, his fierce appearance contrasting sharply with his gentle touch.

Fear pricked at the back of my neck. “Angelo, who is that?” I whispered against his chest. I refused to let Shannon be tortured again.

“Ivan Toser. He’s a wolf.” Angelo’s chin brushed against my hair as he observed the scene. “Shannon’s his mate.”

A burst of anger gripped me, my hands clenching into fists against his chest. “They practically killed her.” My stomach dropped as I realized what Gage’s betrayal meant—he’d sided with Balthazar against Trystan, helped take Shannon. In the mafia world, disloyalty meant death. “Trystan won’t punish them, will he? Shannon’s been through hell.”

“Trystan knows who the real traitor is,” he said, his voice carrying that lethal edge that reminded me exactly who and what he was.

I didn’t want to think about mafia justice anymore. Shannon and I were both safe and all I wanted to do was stay next to Angelo. My muscles felt like lead, and I snuggled closer to him, seeking warmth and comfort. “Take me home. I never want to see this place again.”

The world became a blur of motion, and before I knew it, Angelo was settling me into the plush leather back seat of the limousine. He pulled me onto his lap, one arm wrapped securely around my waist while the other hand smoothed my tangled hair gently.

A thought nagged at me, impossible to ignore despite my exhaustion. I looked up at Angelo, meeting those intense red eyes that seemed to glow in the dim interior of the car. “CanBalthazar...” I swallowed hard, forcing myself to continue. “Can he get inside Crescent Manor?”

Angelo’s expression hardened, but his touch remained gentle. “No. It’s warded.”

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