Page 119 of Beauty and the Daddy
"What happened after I was shot?" I press, looking between them. "Where's Declan? Did they arrest him?"
The room goes quiet. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that screams bad news.
The nurse finds something fascinating to check on the other side of the room.
"He's dead."
The maid's voice is flat, matter-of-fact. She doesn't look up from folding a pillowcase.
"Dead?" I repeat stupidly.
She nods and looks over at me. "Mr. Moretti killed him with his bare hands." She makes a strangling gesture that turns my stomach.
"Broke his neck right there."
The nurse shoots her a warning look, but the damage is done.
I see it all too clearly—Luca's hands around his brother's throat, squeezing, twisting, the crack of bone.
I think of Declan, Luca's brother.
Luca killed his own blood for me, for his family.
What hell he's been through… all because of his love for us.
I cradle my stomach, and the sob that tears out of me surprises even me.
It's primal, wounded. I press my fist against my mouth, trying to muffle the sound, but it's too late. I'm breaking apart.
My eyes roam the room. "Where am I?" Does Luca's house have a secret hospital ward? This doesn't look like an actual hospital.
I feel hysteria creeping in. I'm disoriented. Distraught.
"I need to see him," I cry as I try to step out of bed. "I need to talk to Luca."
"Miss Belle, please!" The nurse rushes back, stopping me with firm hands. "You've lost blood. You need to rest."
"What I need is to see Luca," I insist, my voice cracking. "Now."
The maid slips out, probably eager to escape the crazy lady. The nurse sighs.
"Miss Belle, Mr. Moretti gave strict instructions that you were to rest. He'll come when he can."
"Call him," I demand. "Please. He'd want to know I'm awake."
She shakes her head. "I'm sorry. I can't disturb him right now."
"Fine. Then get me a phone."
"Miss—"
"A phone," I repeat, harder this time. "Or I swear to God I will rip this IV out and go find him myself."
The nurse shakes her head.
"No," I hiss, fighting to sit up despite the tearing pain in my shoulder.
Blood spots the sheets again, fresh. "I want him right now!"
