Page 51 of Burning Beauty

"You will understand the consequences to your actions," he said, and turned with her held securely against him. "And he will not be allowed to place you in danger again."

"No!" Maria screamed and closed her eyes as Nic fired the gun.

The shot deafened her for a split second, then there was a roaring rushing sound as her hearing returned and she heard the body of Antonio collapse to the driveway.

Nic pressed his lips to the side of her head. "Open your eyes, bellissima, look at him."

Almost against her will Maria looked. She let out another scream, this one hoarse from a throat ripped raw. Antonio lay face down in front of them, a pool of blood spreading out from his head and nearly touching her bare feet.

Almost detached, Maria realized her feet were cold. She hadn't noticed until now.

She looked up at Nic. "You killed him." Her voice was flat. No accusation.

Nic stared back but didn't say a word. He didn't need to. His actions were loud and clear. If Maria disobeyed him, there would be consequences. Horrible, deadly, vile consequences.

Almost as if her brain was having a delayed reaction, it decided to save her from the moment, blanketing her in darkness. The last thing she heard was Nic's concerned voice as he shouted her name.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Blood everywhere.

All over her bare feet and hands. Maria stood sobbing, unsure what to do. She tried wiping her hands down her hips, but it only smeared the blood worse. She gasped and stepped away from the pool of blood on the ground, touching her bare feet. Sobs of despair tore at her throat. She wanted to run but was rooted to the spot. Then she saw him.

Marc, standing and staring at her. A strange look on his face. She reached for him just as he lurched forward and collapsed into her arms. She held him, falling to the ground with him.

"Marc," she whispered.

"You killed me," he said back, lifting a hand to cup her cheek.

"I'm so sorry, Marc," she sobbed, dropping her head into his chest and crying.

"You're a killer, Maria," he said, his voice growing weaker as he died in her arms. "You kill everything you love."

"Don't die," she begged him, gripping him tighter. "I promise, I'll be better. I won't hurt you anymore."

"It's too late," he said. "I'm already dead."

His body deflated while she held him, the life draining away as she watched. Then there was nothing left. No more Marc. Only Maria, sitting in a pool of blood by herself.

"I wish I was dead," she whispered.

* * *

"Why won't she wake up?" Nic demanded angrily, impatience sharpening his voice. He stood next to the bed, looking down at Maria, who was curled on her side, small and pale, more vulnerable than he'd ever seen her.

"She's heavily sedated," the doctor reminded him. "You asked me to help with her hysterics, so I administered a sedative."

"I know what you gave her," Nic growled, turning the full force of his ire at the other man. He’d brought the doctor in to attend Maria after she collapsed in the driveway. When she’d woken up, she’d taken one look at Nic and gone into hysterics. The doctor had given her something to help her rest.

Cassandra came up beside Nic and placed her hand on his arm. He glared down at it but she didn't remove the hand. "She'll wake up when she's ready, Nic. She needs the rest. Her brain took a shock that she wasn't prepared for. Now she needs to heal."

"Fuck that," Nic snapped, shrugging her hand off and pacing away from the bed. He turned on his heel and pointed a finger at the doctor. "Wake her up, right now. I want to see her eyes."

The doctor inclined his head and reached for a bag containing medications.

"Stop it!" Cassandra snapped. "Are you trying to kill her? First you have her sedated and now you're going to give her something to wake her up? That has to be dangerous, and this idiot won't tell you that because he's too afraid to disobey your commands."

Nic narrowed his eyes at Cassandra, then turned his stare on the doctor. "Is this true? Can these drugs do her harm?"

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