Page 108 of Obsession & Oath

“Where are you going?” his voice carries almost impossibly over the carnage. “Have you not betrayed me enough?”

Carmen stiffens beside me. She’s barely breathing.

Amos keeps walking, his steps slow and heavy.

“You disgraced yourself. And now, you dare to run?” He stops at the base of the stairs, tilting his head. “You think the Italians will accept you? You think thismanwill keep you safe?”

“Better than leaving her to the mercy of Lacruz.”

He ignores me, though I notice his eye twitch. His glare, however, remains on Carmen.

“Your mother would be disgusted with you.”

Carmen flinches like she’s been physically struck.

Something inside me snaps.

“Don’t,” I snarl, stepping forward. “Don’t you dare?—”

But Carmen suddenly wrenches her wrist from my grasp.

My chest tightens as she takes a step forward—toward him.

No.

No,no, no.

I reach for her, but I don’t touch her.

This is it. The moment that decides everything.

Carmen stands between us, caught between the man who raised her and the man who would burn the world down to save her.

“Fuck you,” she says.

She says in clear, perfect Italian.

Her chin juts up. Defiant. Stong. Oh, so lovely. My Carmen. My little defiant girl. My brave, brave girl.

Amos’ expression darkens, hardening into pure, venomous hatred. Before I can react, he lunges.

“I should have let Lacruz kill you weeks ago.”

His hand rises—aiming for Carmen’s face.

I’m faster.

I snatch his wrist mid-air, my grip like iron as I snarl, “Don’t you dare touch her.”

For a second, we’re locked in place. Then, with a growl, Amos wrenches free and swings at me instead.

I duck.

His fist whizzes past my ear, and I use the opening to drive my own into his ribs. He grunts but barely falters. He’s truly a beast of a man, but I don’t let that stop me. I keep going, striking again, faster, forcing him back.

Amos is older, but he has experience. He knows how to wait for an opening, and I realize too late that I’m about to give him one.

Pain explodes in my gut.

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