Chapter 58
Elena
Ipull the trigger so close to Niccolò’s face it leaves a burn mark. He grunts. The man’s invincible. I’m trying to shoot him without hitting Julianna, who’s clinging to his back like a wild animal. Niccolò wrestles me for the gun, while also swinging a fist at Julianna.
She gouges her thumbs into his eye sockets. He roars and stumbles back. His knees give out, and suddenly I’m pinned beneath his suffocating weight.
Niccolò manages to throw Julianna off. Her small, delicate frame crashes into the wall. She whimpers. And goes still.
My finger presses the trigger again. Niccolò keeps my arm pinned to the floor. I empty the gun into the opposite wall, rendering its bullets useless. I’d rather be disarmed than let Niccolò get his hands on the weapon. He already has too much of an advantage over us.
Rearing back, Niccolò slams his face into mine. White spots dance behind my vision. My grip loosens and he slips the gun from my hands. Instinctively, I shield my face. He brings the butt of the gun down on my arms. Agony flairs through my flesh and rattles my bones.
He’s on me, pressing down, and I’m helpless against him. Every advantage I once had has been stripped away. But I’ll be damned if I give up. This isn’t over until one of us is dead.
Jerking my head up, my forehead slams into his nose. Finally, he howls in pain.
Though I think I hurt my head as much as I hurt him. My eyes water. Flashes of light cloud my vision. Damn it.
Niccolò sits up, getting as far away from me as he can while still pinning my body to the floor with his massive thighs. “You fucking bitch!” He raises one meaty fist, drawing it back and I know this hit will be the last one I remember.
Then an unexpected, deafening bang thunders through the room. Niccolò’s features twist with confusion. A dribble of blood appears on his forehead. His face grows slack.
Suddenly, he’s off me. I gasp and sputter, curling into a ball. Through the ringing in my ears, I hear the sickening, wet sound of violence and gore. And a voice shouting, “Don’t. Touch. My. Wife!”
Opening my eyes, my gaze falls on a familiar broad back.
“Maximo,” the whisper leaves my lips.
He spins toward me, dropping the blood coated gun to the floor. Crimson streaks mark his brutalized face. I suck in a gasp.
He’s alive.
“Cara mia.” He sweeps me into his arms. I press my cheek against his chest and listen to his pounding heart.
He’s really alive. I think I might be too because death can’t possibly hurt this much. A sob suddenly tears from my throat. All at once, I’m spent. So tired I can barely keep my eyes open. And I can’t stop shaking.
“Bella, it’s okay. You’re safe. I’ve got you,” Maximo murmurs in my ear.
I cling to him as if my life depends on it. Another sob rattles through me. “I thought you were dead.”
“Not today, amore mio. Not today.” He gently kisses the corner of my mouth.
“Lazaro?” I ask, tensing.
“Dead.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. I put a bullet in his head myself.”
Relief like I’ve never felt before floods my system. It’s over. It’s all finally over.
I’m lifted into the air. Then it’s like I’m floating through the place seeing some faces I recognize and others I don’t through a sheen of tears. Blake, Cian, and Dimitri are all here. Family. They came for me this time.
Wait. The thought of family has my pulse galloping. “Julianna,” I gasp her name, suddenly alert. I twist in Maximo’s arms. “Where is she? Is she all right?”
Dear God, please tell me she’s okay
“Shh,” Maximo murmurs.
“I have her,” a masculine voice rumbles.
My gaze flits to a man I don’t recognize.
He wears a scowl beneath his dark brown hair that shines with a reddish glint in the light.
His emerald green eyes swallow all emotion in their depths, not an ounce of it peeking out.
He radiates danger and I’m about to object to him having Julianna in his arms.
But then I see how gently he holds her damaged body against his chest. Mingled with that danger I first sensed is a stalwart protectiveness.
The fight goes out of me on a ragged exhale. I nod against Maximo’s chest, reveling in his scent. “Take me home.”
Ravenna gasps as she and my cousins shuffle into my bedroom.
I really wanted to wait until I healed enough to be able to cover the worst of it with makeup before seeing them, but they weren’t having it.
As soon as the doctor had me patched up and gave me pain killers, they basically strong armed Maximo into letting them in.
He was no match against the four of them.
“Ouch. That looks like it hurts.” Ginevra looks at me with sympathy. The expression mirrored on each of their faces.
Ravenna settles on the edge of the bed and grasps my hand. “Tell me who needs killing and I’ll do it.”
I smile, immediately regretting the way it pulls at my damaged skin. Sophia and Arianna sit at my other side. Gin perches herself at the end of the bed. Support rolls off of them in waves. I’m so grateful for them—and their husbands. I’ll never keep secrets from them again.
I squeeze my sister’s hand. “The killing is done, but I appreciate the offer.”
“How are you feeling? Not just physically but emotionally. You killed a man.”
Like I need the reminder. Though honestly… and this may change as I fully process what happened, but all I feel is relief. A bone deep sense of having done what I needed to do to protect myself and Julianna.
“It was his life or mine,” I tell them, as if I need to clarify that point. “Honestly, I’m not sure I would have fought that hard if it weren’t for Julianna.”
Sophia glances at Ravenna. “Who’s Julianna?”
My sister shrugs, so all eyes turn to me for an answer.
“She’s Maximo’s baby sister. Remember when I thought he was cheating on me? Nope. Turns out he has a sister.”
“I didn’t know he had a sister,” Sophia remarks.
“Well, they did fake her death six years ago.” My explanation only brings more questions to the surface. “Anyway, you’ll all meet her at some point. She’s a fighter too. I think you’ll like her.”
Arianna folds her hands in her lap. “She sounds like a Pontrelli woman to me.”
Another smile tugs at my lips. “That she is. Which is partly why I couldn’t just let them… you know.”
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” Sophia laces her fingers through mine. “We’re so glad you’re both safe now.”
“Me too.” I sigh, suddenly exhausted. The pain meds are really kicking in.
“We’re here for you,” Arianna says. “If you need anything at all, we’ll be here. Literally just in the other room, because Maximo looks like he could use some help around here while he heals too.”
“And there’s no better help than family.” Gin beams at me. “You should get some sleep. Looks like those pills are working.”
“Thank you. All of you. From the bottom of my heart.” My eyelids flutter.
“Sweet dreams.” Ravenna drops a kiss on my head.
A restless sleep takes hold of me as my subconscious attempts to process everything that’s happened. I wake once to find Maximo holding me close, his breathing slow and even. Bruises and cuts smatter his handsome face. I snuggle closer and let sleep claim me again.
The next time I wake, he’s gone, but his voice drifts in from the hallway. I hear Sophia and Ginevra too. They did stay to take care of us. That alone makes me feel safer, being surrounded by family, those we can trust.