Page 82 of Depths of Obsession
He lunges again, slashing the knife towards my neck. I pivot at the last second, my movements fluid, dodging just enough that the blade whistles past me. I counter with a punch to his midsection, feeling the unnatural hardness of his body beneath my knuckles. The demon staggers back, but not for long. He rebounds almost instantly, his eyes narrowing with a flicker of something—rage, or maybe pleasure at the challenge.
"You’re quick, vampire," he hisses. His distorted voice vibrates in the night air. "But let’s see how well you dance when you’re bleeding."
He shifts his grip on the knife and charges again. This time, I don’t just dodge. I grab his wrist, twisting it sharply until I hear a satisfying crack. The knife clatters across the rooftop, but the demon just grins wider, almost as if the pain excites him. He retaliates with his free hand, claws extending from the tips of his fingers as he swipes at my face. I throw my head back, barely avoiding having my eyes gouged out, and reverse direction, slamming my forehead into his nose. It’s like hitting stone, but the force is enough to send him stumbling backward, disoriented.
The wind whips around us, cold and biting, howling across the rooftop. The city below is oblivious to the chaos unfolding above, the lights of Milano glitter like stars at our feet. My eyes flick to the far side of the roof where I see Pippa—her face pale, her eyes wide with fear as she watches us. I can’t let this creature anywhere near her.
With a growl, I rush forward, tackling the demon to the ground. We roll across the uneven surface, grappling for dominance. His strength is monstrous, almost matching mine. He snarls, snapping his teeth at me like a wild animal, but I manage to pin him, my knee pressing hard against his chest. His eyes lock onto mine, the orange glow intensifying, and for a moment, I feel a strange pull—something trying to claw its way into my mind, into my very soul.
I grit my teeth, pushing back against the invasive energy. "No fucking way, demon," I growl, my voice low and dangerous. I rear back, driving my fist into his face again and again until the glow in his eyes flickers and his struggles weaken. His black blood sizzles as it spatters on the cold stones.
Suddenly, he laughs—a ragged, choking sound that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "You think you’ve won, Valdici? This is only the beginning," he wheezes, his voice dripping with malice.
Before I can react, he brings his knee up, slamming it into my ribs. Pain explodes through my side, and my grip loosens just enough for him to twist free. He scrambles backward, his form shifting, becoming more shadow than flesh. I lunge for him, but he’s too fast, slipping away like smoke, his laughter echoing around me.
I stagger to my feet, chest heaving and scan the rooftop. He’s gone, vanished into the darkness. My hands clench into fists, my fangs bared as frustration wells up inside me. But there’s no time to dwell on it—I turn, my eyes immediately finding Pippa. She’s standing by the edge of the platform her eyes locked on mine. Relief washes over me at the sight of her unharmed.
I rush over to her, pulling her into my arms, holding her tight. She’s trembling, and I can feel her heart pounding against my chest. "It’s okay," I whisper, pressing my lips to her hair. "He’s gone. I’ve got you."
She pulls back slightly, her eyes searching mine, fear and something else—trust, maybe—shining there. "Luca, what was that... what is he?"
I shake my head, my jaw tight. "A demon. And he’s not done with us yet." I glance over my shoulder, the darkness of the Milano skyline stretching out before us. "But I swear, I’ll protect you, Pippa. Whatever it takes."
She nods, her fingers tightening around my arm, and I know that no matter what’s coming, I can’t afford to lose. Not now. Not with her life on the line. I help Carl to his feet and after a few stumbling steps, he scurries away like vermin.
In the distance, sirens wail, and I know they are headed our way. Time to leave.
Nico?I open a channel to my brother.
Yeah. I’ve got Calaba here in the Duomo. He’s singing like a canary. Renzo just arrived. Rocco reached out when the shooting started. They found Gazzago’s kids. I’ll fill you in later.
I wrap my arm around my wife. I don’t think I have ever looked forward to going home more.
CHAPTER 28
Luca and I make our way down the steep, narrow set of stairs to the outer perimeter walkway of the Duomo. The air is heavy with the scent of dust and old stone, the narrow passage dimly lit by a few flickering lights and the stars above. My heart pounds as we descend, every step echoing against the ancient walls. This side is under construction, so the outer wall is blocked by scaffolding, adding to the claustrophobic feel. I keep close to Luca, my fingers brushing against the rough stone of the wall for balance.
“Pippa, I am so, so sorry about dragging you into all of this. It’s all my fault.” Luca’s voice is thick with remorse, and I can hear the pain underlying his words. He’s carrying a weight, one that seems to crush him more with every step we take.
I want to tell him it’s not his fault, that none of this was ever supposed to happen. But before I can say anything, we step through the doorway into the next small section—and my heart stops.
“That’s right, Pippa, itisall his fault.”
Ria Tailor is standing in front of us, her silhouette outlined against the dim light. A knife glints in her right hand, a gun in her left. Her eyes are flinty, filled with malice, and a twisted smile plays on her lips.
Fear washes over me in a suffocating wave. My knees feel weak, and I instinctively step closer to Luca, my fingers curling into his jacket as he steps in front of me, shielding me from her, his broad shoulders tense.
“That’s quite sweet,” Ria says, her voice dripping with mockery. “But it won’t work. I’ll just shoot you enough times that you’ll fall down, and in the time it takes for you to get back up, I’ll kill her.” Her smile widens, eyes glinting with cruel delight.
“How?” Luca’s voice is rough, his eyes narrowing. “How is it possible you’re still alive? You’re not a vampire. You’re not a magickal creature.”
She laughs, the sound chilling and echoing through the narrow space. “I have friends in low places. The magick realm has been kind to me. A…friend took me in after you deserted me and my husband had beaten me half to death, offering me a chance to heal—a chance to make something of myself.” Her gaze hardens, her smile turning vicious. “All I had to do was help him when he required it. It was easy, and in return, he gave me extended life—enough time to plot my revenge.”
“What a waste.” I say lacing my voice with disgust. “If someone gave me longevity, I sure as hell wouldn’t waste it on revenge.”
Luca glances over his shoulder at me, shaking his head slightly, a warning. He doesn’t want me to provoke her. But I can’t stay silent. Not now. Not when I’ve seen Luca fight for me… Bleed for me. I won’t let him sacrifice himself for me—not like this. No matter what Nico thinks of me, I will not let Luca be killed because of me.
“You know, I would live,” I say, my voice trembling but determined. “I mean, really live. You have money and power—you can do whatever you want. Why the hell would you waste that on revenge?” I shake my head, my pulse racing. “That’s just such a rookie move.”
