Page 22 of Obsessive Love

"Sophia's behind the head table. Go, get her out of here safely. I'll try and keep one of these fuckers alive so that we can find out some information." I nod and we slap each other on the shoulder before standing up and heading in opposite directions.

My eyes zone in on the flipped-over table that's chipped from all the bullets that have been hitting it, and my heart thumps powerfully in my chest as fear seeps into my bones, hoping and praying that Sophia is still alive and unharmed behind it.

I run over and lift the table, spying Sophia immediately with a pool of silky white surrounding her. I reach out to grab her, but instantly jump back and hold my hands up in surrender as she jumps up from the floor wielding a knife and points it directly at me.

"Woah,dolcezza. Put the weapon down."

Her glistening blue eyes meet mine and I watch in fascination as they widen in surprise at the same time as her jaw drops and the colour drains from her face.

She begins to stutter, trying to ask me a question as she looks around the room with panicked eyes. I take that as my chance to lunge forward and snatch the knife out of her hand, cutting my palm in the process. I throw it across the room and then effortlessly lift her, draping her over my shoulder and ignoring her shouts of confusion and anger as I walk us outside of the reception hall.

Chapter Fifteen

Sophia

My fists pound against his back as I flail around, trying to escape his hold and get another look at his face to confirm I'm not hallucinating, but his grip tightens around me, keeping me firmly in place over his shoulder as he jogs outside towards the other wedding guests fleeing from the chaos inside.

"Put me down!" I screech, twisting my body. I don't care if he ends up dropping me. I just want to be let go. I don't need to be carried around like some pathetic damsel in distress, especially not by a man who shouldn't even be here.

After carrying me further into the field behind the reception hall where everyone seems to be gathering, he slings me back over his shoulder, placing my feet firmly on the ground and holding on to me until he's sure I'm not unbalanced.

I push away from him and try to bat my hair and the veil out of my face to get a clear view of his face. When that doesn't work, I huff in frustration and try to locate the butterfly clip at the top of my head so that I can undo it.

"Need some help with that,dolcezza?"

Every inch of me freezes as his voice washes over me. The nickname and the small hint of an Italian accent when he uses it send small shocks through my body, reminding me of that night at the club. There's no doubt in my mind about who my saviour is now. It's definitely him.

My fingers finally connect with the diamonds of the butterfly and I hurriedly unclip it, untangling it from my hair and moving it out of the way so I can peer up at my mystery man.

As my eyes connect with his, he winks and a smile creeps across his face whilst I stand there staring at him in shock and disbelief.

"Sophia!"

I turn around to see Jaylen running towards me, my mother and father trailing behind. When Jaylen reaches me, his arms wrap around me, and he tugs me against his heaving chest, placing a soft kiss on my head.

"Thank God you're okay. I got Jess and your mother out, but then I was caught up with James in a fight with some of the Americans. I couldn't find you after," he tells me, pulling away and scanning me head to toe to make sure I'm okay.

My mother and father appear at his sides, grabbing hold of me and pulling me in for a hug, telling me they're glad I'm okay.

"Sophia!"

"Will people stop bloody shouting my name," I mutter, detangling myself from my family's arms and turning around to see Jericho jogging across the stretch of grass towards me.

"Are you okay?" he asks when he reaches us, bending over slightly as he catches his breath. I nod, confused as to why he's asking considering he couldn't have seemed to care any less about me only twenty minutes ago.

His eyes brush over me as if to confirm that I'm telling him the truth before he turns to face the Italian stud who saved me.

"Thank you for getting her out of there, Kaleb."

My brows furrow in confusion and I'm positive I stop breathing for a moment as I watch them shake hands and bring each other in for one of those man hugs where they pat each other on the back a few times.

"No problem, brother."

Wait, what?

I can't contain the choked gasp that escapes me as my eyes ping-pong between them. Jericho and Kaleb, the Italian stud that I had sex with only a few nights ago, turns to face me. Jericho looks equally as confused as I do, but Kaleb smirks, his piercing blue eyes burning into mine.

"Oh, pardon me. Let me introduce myself. I'm Kaleb, Jericho's younger brother. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sophia. I apologise for running a tad late for the wedding, but I think saving you from being shot should suffice as a big enough apology, right?"

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