His Stolen Princess - MINK Page 0,33

eyes. Antony is still behind her, a smirk on his lips.

She takes a deep, shuddering breath. “Do it,” she whispers. “For Carter.”

I roll, shove my other hand between her knees, and fire.

19

Apollonia

The shot rings in my ear. I whip around, needing to see Antony’s face. He holds his hand over his gut where blood is pouring out.

I raise my gun to shoot him again. I want to see the life drain out of his eyes. He’s taken so much from me. It’s my turn to take from him. He’ll never hurt anyone I love ever again. No Lantino will. I will hunt them down one by one if I have to. I will show them no mercy just as they showed none to my flesh and blood.

“Not yet.” Cato puts his hand on the barrel and pushes it down.

“Fuck you. Get it over with.” Antony coughs, blood spattering on his lips. The house shakes again.

“Cato?” I look over at him. What is he doing? We have to get out of here. Cato rises and pushes me behind him, then wraps his hand around Antony’s throat.

“Such a death is too easy, lioness. He deserves far more for all he’s taken from you.” He drags him back into the bedroom. Antony tries to squirm away, but Cato’s hold is unbreakable.

Cato pulls out my knife and holds it up. Antony’s eyes go round in panic as he tries to fight for freedom again. Cato shoves the knife right into Antony’s back as he screams. The only thing left visible is the handle, which lets me know it’s gone deep enough to hit his spine. His knees give out but Cato doesn’t let go of his throat as he pulls the knife out and hands it to me. “You’ll never walk again. Not that you’re going to live long. Only as long as it takes for my lioness to get her revenge. To avenge the death of her family.”

Tears stream down Antony’s face as he turns a shade bluer. I smile, enjoying every moment of this. I grip the knife tight in my hand.

“He thought he was going to fuck me.”

Cato squeezes his neck tighter. I almost think his head is going to pop off if Cato isn't careful. I toss the knife once, catching it with ease. The same as Carter would always do. He could do it for hours with his eyes closed. “You killed yourself when you came for the Simonettis. You were stupid enough to leave some of us alive.” I grip the knife and shove it right into his groin. Antony’s scream is a symphony to my ears.

“Fuck.” Cato closes his eyes and shakes his head. “Vicious.” I swear he's fighting a laugh. “Are you done, my lioness?”

“Take me home.”

My pleasure.” He shoves Antony back, sending him into the stained glass window. It shatters as Antony flops backward. I step closer to look out the window. He’s a good fifty yards down, impaled on rocks.

“We have to go.” Cato grabs my hand, holding it tight as he leads me out of the crumbling house.

We’re almost to the crooked front door when the floor gives way and half of the house starts to shift toward the sea.

A flash in the corner of my eye has me whirling, but Cato is already in front of me, blocking me from danger.

“Help me.” Nico is scrabbling at the cracking floor, his body hanging off as the house is torn into two parts. “Cato, please!” He reaches out, desperate for someone to save him. The same desperation I felt when he threatened me and stole me from Cato.

Cato bends down, and I watch with satisfaction as he slices Nico’s fingers off. His scream as he falls is almost as wonderful as Antony’s. But when the house gives another quaking groan, Cato yanks me through the collapsing front door.

We race away from the building as the rest of it falls, the sea taking everything and wiping the earth clean. After today, nothing of the Lantino family will be left. I suck in a deep breath. The house is gone, and I see nothing but starry sky and endless ocean. Carter is out there, my parents, too--all of them watching me as I finally took revenge on the one who hurt them.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper to them. I never should have run all those years ago. It was pointless. It didn’t matter how far I ran. I will always be a Simonetti. It’s in my blood.

“Are