bruising around her cheek, she looked to be okay. But I knew better than most, it wasn’t the physical scars that stayed with you.
Nora took off toward the maze of huge steel shelving.
“Thank you.” I gave Scott my full attention.
“I had to do something... I couldn’t get to you, but I knew you’d come for her. You hurt me, baby. You really fucking hurt me.” He advanced toward me and I slowly tracked backwards, trying to keep a safe distance between us. The gun was still in his hand, but he wasn’t waving it around now. His eyes were locked on mine. Hatred and lust swirling in their depths. He was at war with himself. Scott wanted me. But part of him wanted to hurt me too.
“You were supposed to be mine,” he ground out.
“I’m here now.” My conscience screamed in protest at the declaration. I would never be his, but he needed to think I was on his side.
I kept moving, turning us so his back was to the only way in and out. He was fixated on me, exactly as I’d known he would be.
“You betrayed me,” he spat the words. “All you had to do was love me. Me, Arianne. I would have given you everything. I would have made you my queen. But Marchetti swooped in and ruined everything. I’ll kill him. I’ll fucking kill him. And then I’ll finally take what’s mine.”
The hand holding the gun grew twitchy again as he waved it in my direction. I was paralyzed, rooted to the spot as pain splintered through me. But I forced down the tears, refusing to show him even an ounce of weakness.
“We can talk about this,” I said.
“Maybe I don’t want to talk.” His eyes were black, soulless, as he prowled toward me. “Maybe I’m done talking. You think I’m stupid? You think I don’t know he’s out there somewhere, waiting for his moment to strike?
“What are you waiting for, Marchetti?” He yelled. “Come save your woman. Come save her before I—”
“Scott...” I was losing him.
“You. Are. Mine.” The venom in his words cut my skin like shards of glass. “If I can’t have you.” He raised the gun higher. “No one ca—”
Nicco came out of nowhere, grabbing Scott and yanking him backward. “Nicco,” I screamed as a gunshot rang out. I was thrown backwards, pain ricocheting through me as I hit the ground hard. Stars exploded in my vision.
“Motherfucker,” someone grunted, their voices teetering on the edge of my consciousness.
“I should have done this a long time ago.”
Nicco.
That was Nicco.
I blinked, bringing a hand to my head as I tried to sit up. Nicco was on top of Scott, the two of them jostling for control. Nicco rained his fists down on Scott, the sickening crunch of bone on bone filling the cavernous room.
“Nicco,” I cried, still disorientated. I patted myself down for any signs of blood but there was nothing. The bulletproof vest had done its job.
“She. Is. Mine,” Scott roared. “I had her first. Me. You think you can take her from me?”
Another sickening crunch rang out. “She will never be yours,” Nicco ground out, his voice cold and deadly. “I should have done this a long time ago.” He pressed the barrel of his gun right to Scott’s temple. “You will never touch Arianne again. Never look at her. Never breathe the same air as her.”
Time seemed to slow down as I watched Nicco whisper something to him.
But Scott didn’t look scared, he looked... pleased, his lip curving into a wicked smirk. I saw his hand move, saw the glint of metal.
“Nicco, he has a—”
My scream filled the warehouse as I watched in horror as the knife in Scott’s hand sank into Nicco. His body locked with pain, realization washing over him as Scott shoved him away.
Nicco rolled away, landing with a thud, a pool of dark red blood seeping between his fingers as he clutched his chest. “Bambolina...” It was a breathy moan as he reached for me.
“No,” I cried. “No.” Clambering to my feet, I rushed over to his side. There was too much blood. “You’re okay,” I said, dropping to my knees. “I’m right here.”
“I’m sorry, amore mio, I’m… so fucking sorry.” His words were cracked, blood trickling from his mouth.
“Ssh, ssh.” I leaned down, kissing his head. “You’re going to be okay.”
“Ari, I need to look at him.” Luis gently eased me away. I hadn’t even heard him arrive. Hadn’t noticed Enzo apprehend Scott, keeping his