Page 295 of Hate Mates

"Put the gun down, MaTe. Don't force anyone to hurt you," Dario says calmly.

My gaze snaps to him. "Let me handle this." I turn back to my sister. "Manita, please."

"Don't fucking call me that. You were dead to me when you left our family to get with him. Now you're going to die altogether."

Before I can grasp her words, she lifts the gun, points it at me, and shoots.

Dario moves quickly, and in my next breath, I'm on the ground. The side of my head hits the concrete, and his body collapses on me.

My ears are ringing. Another shot rings out, reverberating through my body. My heart is beating so fast, furiously pounding my sternum.

MaTe screams.

"Dario, let me up. My sister..."

His weight lifts from my body, and when I sit up, the world spins, and I blink back to focus. Across from me, Gustavo is holding MaTe who is squirming and screaming madly, "Let me go, fucking asshole."

A man lays on the steps of the church, blood soaking his suit.

Dario's father. I turn to him.

"Tu papá—" My words and thoughts go blank because Dario is on his back, breathing shallow, blood on his shirt. His face is contorted in pain.

My stomach drops. And the horror hits me all at once.He's been shot.I hover over him. "Dario."

"Help me up," he says.

I shake my head. "We need to put pressure." I look around and meet our driver's gaze. "Give me your jacket."

He shrugs it off and hands it to me. I press it against Dario's chest, and he jerks.

"Fuck."

"Soledad." Ludovico's voice freezes me.

I turn as he places a hand on MaTe's shoulder. The hatred in my sister's face cuts right through me.

"Come home to your family. I'll forget everything."

I look down at Dario on the floor. He was shot because he covered me with his body. And the sister I sacrificed for is staring at me like someone I don't know.

My stomach turns. She said I'm dead to her and tried to kill me.Dario saved me.

I shake my head and look at Ludovico while pointing at my husband. "He's my family now."

La Sombra comes to stand between us and them. "You need to get out of here, Ludovico. You and your family violated neutral land. We need to meet and discuss repercussions. Once Dario is well enough to do so."

"They committed the offense, but you're turning against me?"

I ignore him and look at MaTe. "You said I was dead to you, but no, I'm still alive as you are. And this, Maria Teresa, means war."

A flash surprise crosses her features. I never use her full name.

She opens her mouth, but I turn my back on her and climb into our Suburban. I take my place at the other end of the seat as Gustavo and our driver bring Dario in.

Another SUV takes his father.

We are rushing to the hospital, and his friend presses his own jacket to Dario's back. He's half leaning on my chest while I press the driver's jacket to the front of his chest. He lifts his head to look up at me.

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