Page 78 of Curse

But today was proof that I’m not enough to protect her. That the only way for her to truly be safe is to stay hidden away as far away from me as possible.

I’ll be better able to protect her from a distance when I have my self control back. When she’s not driving me crazy withher wet mouth, her soft body, her intoxicating moans.

When I glance back at her, she’s curled in a ball facing away from me, her bruised body trembling. The anger drains out of me, replaced by exhaustion and dread.

Her long hair is starting to stick in clumps to the open wounds on her back, and I can’t help myself. I’m drawn to her, moving back across the room to help her by gently moving her hair aside. She slaps my hand away.

Dragging herself up to seated, she presses her back into the headboard. Closing her eyes, she takes deep breaths, trying to steady herself. She can barely hold herself up, and I eye the corner of the nightstand next to the bed warily, concerned that she’ll pass out and hit her head.

“Siena, you need —”

“Fuck you!” She screams at me, opening her eyes. She looks dizzy, and it doesn’t seem like she can focus on my face, but she leans toward me shakily, nothing but rage holding her up. “You’re a fucking monster!”

She pitches to the side, and I lunge forward, catching her before she hits her head, and wrap my arms around her.

She fights against me with what little strength she has, and I easily hold her in place. Brushing my lips over her ear lobe, I close my eyes and breathe her in. Bergamot & Basil.

“I know, baby,” I whisper. “I know.”

The door opens, and Dr. Rossi walks in, carrying his medical bag. Though he checked out Siena at the Edge after she was attacked at the lawyer’s office, she doesn’t recognize him.

She stops fighting me and presses her body into my chest, shrinking away from him. I know that it’s only because she’s more scared of him than she hates me at the moment, but I relax as she finds safety in my arms.

“I got your text,” Massimo says, keeping his eyes on me. Smart man, since Siena is only half covered by the sheet and fully naked. “You said she needs stitches and…”

I cut him off. “She needs stitches. And you’ll need to check for other injuries.”

Siena looks up at me in panic, realizing that I called him, and starts to fight against me, trying to push herself out of my arms.

“He’s a doctor. He’s here to help you,” I murmur, holding her tightly to me.

She is grunting, working hard to wriggle away from me, but I easily keep her in place.

“If you keep fighting me, we’re going to have to sedate you.” I glare down at her.

Her thrashing grows more frantic, and I nod at Massimo. He preps a syringe, and I hold her still as he sinks the plunger into her neck.

Whispering my name, she goes limp in my arms. I lay her gently on the bed as I rise, watching as Massimo sets up his surgical table with sterile supplies.

Pulling the flash drive from my pocket, I turn it over in my hand.

Time to figure out what the fuck people aren’t telling me.

39

Matti

I’m sitting in a leather armchair by the floor-to-ceiling windows, my laptop balanced on my thighs, as I watch Dr. Rossi work on Siena. His movements are meticulous, respectful. He keeps her covered except for the area he’s stitching, maintaining a professional air.

Still, it doesn’t matter that he’s been a trusted surgeon for the family for years or how precise his care is. I won’t leave her alone with anyone. Not now. Not ever.

She’ll have my eyes on her for the rest of her life.

The flash drive is plugged into the side of my laptop, and my screen fills with folders. Most are empty or corrupt, the files unreadable.

Frustration prickles at the back of my neck. I slip an earbud in and pull out my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I land on Jacob Bennett’s name.

Jacob answers on the first ring. “What’s up, Dragovari.”

---