Page 8 of Dove

“The body is amazingly efficient at keeping itself alive during extreme cold. I can’t make promises, but….” Dr. Mechan trailed off as he glanced at Leif. Whatever he had to say next would push me over the edge. He knew it, and he was hoping my brother would save his life.

“But.” I said through a clenched jaw.

“She has several bumps to her head; without her awake, I can’t assess if there will be any deficiencies.” He spoke clinically as if my little dove was another number to him when she should be his world. His life depended on her getting better. If she didn’t, I would take it out on him and anyone else who failed to help her.

“Deficiencies?”

“Memory loss, seizures, personality changes. When she wakes up we—.”

“Get out.” My voice was low, but the threat of death was in every word. The doctor looked to Leif then back at me. Neither moved. I’d already held a gun to my brother once today, and I’d do it again if I had to.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I felt like my skin was being peeled from my body. Like my heart was being cut from my chest. I’d done this to her. She might never recover, and it was because of me.

If one more person said the wrong thing, I was going to shoot them. I would rip their throat out if only to make someone else feel as bad as I did. The demon inside me was roaring to life. It wanted to maim and kill. The countless bodies I’d left across the city in my pursuit of Kincaid meant nothing now. They didn’t stop the need for more. The darkness that wanted to consume everything in its path.

It wasn’t even anger. It was something else. Something I’d never felt. Something I couldn’t identify. It was slimy and sick and hung heavy in my gut.

“I said get the fuck out!” I shouted as I gripped Kincaid’s soft hand. I didn’t yell. I didn’t show emotion. But right now, who I was, what I’d done before, didn’t exist. Only she existed. And I only existed to be with her.

“Mad.” Leif took a step towards me. I could see the confusion on his face. He didn’t know how to react to me.

I was insane, but not like this. I was soulless and killed without remorse. I didn’t form attachments to people. I didn’t care if someone was hurt. Women were holes for me to fuck. People were toys for me to play with. For me to manipulate and destroy.

“Let the doctor take care of her.” He placed a hand on my shoulder briefly before shrinking back at my glare. My brother was second in command; he ran from no one. Whatever he saw in my expression had a rare show of fear crossing his features. “I know you feel for her. But—“

“I don’tfeelfor her.” I sneered. He might be my older brother, but he was a child. He’d never felt for someone what I did for my little dove. I brought her hand to my lips again as I stroked her arm. I wanted to be closer. I wanted to pull her to me. But the IV was still attached, and she was tucked under the blankets, locking in the warmth she needed.

I didn’t think I was capable of this feeling. It felt very close to love. But not the romantic, sweet love in movies and books. It was dark and twisted. Obsessive. The kind of love that meant I’d rather we both die than be without her.

The kind of love that had made me consider doing it just so she’d never be taken away from me again. But then I wouldn’t hear her voice. Or see her beautiful blue veins under her skin. Or feel her touch.

“I love her.”

Kincaid’s hand twitched in mine. I squeezed back as my eyes jerked to her face. Her cheeks had some color in them again. I watched as her lashes fluttered. And then I saw the beautiful sight. The thing I’d been craving since she’d been taken away.

Her pale gray eyes. Eyes that looked like the sky on a winter day.

She looked directly at me like she knew where I was the whole time. “Maddox.”

Cazzo.I always loved hearing her say my name, but now it was different. It was my salvation. She was saving me from the edge. I would’ve tumbled down without her.

“Right here,mia amata.”I moved closer so I could cup her cheeks. I placed a soft kiss on her forehead and then her lips. Soft isn’t what he did. I liked administering pain, and she liked getting it. That would come later. When she was healed. And then I would really know she was with me again.

“You’re safe.” I whispered in her hair as I pulled her close, ensuring the blanket covered her naked body. Kincaid whimpered in my arms. I shot Leif a look. He ushered the doctor out of the room and closed the door behind them. I knew she wouldn’t want anyone else to see her like this. She might fall apart for me, but my little dove wasn’t weak. She was strong, and showing anything else to the world would hurt her. “How do you feel?”

“Cold.” She whispered.

“Okay. Give me a second.” She gripped my arms as I tried to get up. I didn’t want to leave her, but I knew what she needed. “I’ll be right back, my little dove.”

I kissed her wrist, feeling her pulse bump under my lips before I tucked her back under the covers and crossed the room. I filled the tub with warm water and placed towels on the warming rack. Once it was ready, I went back to get Kincaid.

Her eyes were closed again, and for a second, I was worried she’d passed out. I rushed to reach her, my heart trying to jump out of my chest. But as soon as she heard my footsteps, she looked at me. It hit my square in the chest like the last time.

Mine.

She was mine; no one would ever take her from me again.

6

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