Page 94 of Deadly Wrath

White-hot pain tears through my side, right above my hip, and it burns like a bitch. My jaw clenches as I grab his wrist, stopping him before he can take another stab at me.

I let out a snarl and drive my fist into his gut, knocking the wind out of him. He grunts, trying to wrench free, but I twist his arm hard enough to send the knife clattering to the floor. I drive my knee into his gut, knocking the wind out of him, then slam my fist into his jaw. His head snaps back, and blood drips from his mouth, but I don’t stop.

I catch him by the throat and slam him against the cage again, harder this time. “You think you can stab me and fucking live?” I growl, cocking my fist back and driving it into his face. He drops to the ground like the uselesspezzo di merdahe is.

I spin back to Liv, ignoring the fire tearing through my side. I can bleed later. Right now, she’s the only thing that matters.

But before I can reach her, Ezra jumps up. The bastard is already on his feet with the knife back in hand, and right in front of her.

“Liv!” The blade sinks into her belly before I can stop it.

Her breath catches, a choked gasp tearing from her lips as the knife is ripped away. Her body jerks, and her free hand flies to her stomach, blood already spilling between her fingers.

Ezra sneers. “Now you both know what it’s like to lose.”

Then… pure fucking chaos.

The back door to theGrottocrashes open, and my men pour in, guns drawn, locked, and ready to turn this place into a bloodbath.

Ezra panics, and the coward bolts, shoving past bodies, desperately trying to make it out of here. He doesn’t make it two steps out of the cage before a single shot rings out. His head snaps back, and his body drops like a sack of shit. Blood spills between his eyes, pooling beneath him on the filthy floor. I don’t know who took that shot but I’m glad they did, even though that fucker deserved a worse death.

I don’t waste another second ripping the last of the ropes from Liv’s wrists and catching her before she slumps forward.

“We’re getting out of here,” I murmur,lifting her against my chest.

Kota moves ahead, clearing the way, taking out anyone dumb enough to think they can stop us. I don’t stop, and I don’t look back.

All that matters is getting Liv the fuck out of here.

She needs a doctor. Now.

I barely make it three steps outside before she goes limp in my arms, and my fucking heart stops.

“Liv?” I whisper, but she doesn’t answer. She’s too still. Too fucking still.

Cold dread claws through my chest, and I drop to my knees, holding her tight against me. My fingers tremble as I push her hair back, needing to see her face, needing to see her eyes open. Her face is bruised, streaked with blood and sweat, her hair sticking to it.

So much fucking blood.

I press my hand against her belly, trying to stop the bleeding, but it just keeps coming.

“No.” The word barely makes it out, my throat is locking up, and my lungs are refusing to fucking work. This isn’t happening.

“Liv, wake up.”

Nothing. I was too late. I’m always too fucking late to help anyone.

Her lips are parted, her breath is shallow, and her chest barely moves. She’s slipping fast.

The car screeches to a stop in front of me, and Kota jumps out, swearing as he rips off his jacket, pressing it over my hand. “She’s losing too much blood, man. Do you need help lifting her?”

“No, I got her.” I lift her into my arms and slide into the back seat, holding her against me as Kota peels out of the lot. Chaos is still erupting around us, but I don’t care. Ezra is gone, but none of it matters.

Liv feels so fragile in my arms, not the spitfire she usually is. Her fingers twitch over my hand like she’s trying to hold on, but it’s not enough.

I press my lips to her forehead, my breath coming in uneven, ragged bursts. “Stay with me, baby.” My hands shake as I hold Kota’s jacket against her, trying to stop the bleeding. “You hear me? Stay the fuck with me.”

Her lashes flutter, and I see a flicker of life.

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