“Excuse me,” I murmur to my aunt, and then I walk toward the sliding doors. My stomach tightens, and sensing something is very wrong, I break out into a run.
ELENA
“Congratulations, Mrs. Cotroni,” Leo says as he follows me to my room.
I glance at him from over my shoulder. “Thank you.” Opening the door to my room, I say, “I’ll just be a minute.”
Leo nods at me and takes his position next to the door as I shut it.
The wedding dress is beautiful, but I need to change into something that doesn’t weigh more than me. Luckily, Aunt Ursula planned ahead, and I have a white cocktail dress waiting.
I’ve been trying to prepare myself for later tonight, unable to think of anything else but Lucian and I consummating our marriage.
Nerves spin in my stomach, but after the kiss that left me breathless, I have to admit the thought isn’t as daunting anymore. Maybe, just maybe, it will be the same as when Lucian kisses me.
Taking hold of the silk straps over my shoulders, I pull them down, and then the weight of all the fabric drops to the floor.
Standing in only a backless lace bodysuit, I reach for the cocktail dress. Slipping it off the hanger, the door to my room bursts open. My head snaps in that direction, and then I go ice cold.
Leo’s lying on the floor, a crimson stain forming on his white button-up shirt as Dante comes in. He slams the door shut and then levels me with a cruel glare. His right hand is gripping a gun with a silencer on, which is why I didn’t hear the shot.
Shock stuns me as my lips part. It’s only for a second that we stare at each other.
Horror pours in.
Dread creeps over my skin.
Desperation shudders through me.
I clasp the cocktail dress to my front, and faced with the devil, it brings back awful memories of when we were in a similar position.
I dart toward the bathroom. Not that there’s anywhere to escape to, but it might buy me time.
Dante grabs hold of my hair in a brutal grip, and strands are painfully yanked out. I let out a scream as I fall back against him. His rank breath instantly coats the skin on my neck and ear, erasing the bliss that still lingered from Lucian’s kiss.
Fight, Elena. God, you have to fight harder than ever.
I slam my elbow back against his ribs, but a layer of fat protects him. I begin to struggle, my breaths rushing over my lips and my heart slamming against my chest.
Needing both my hands, I let go of the cocktail dress. I somehow manage to head butt Dante against the nose, and his hand frees my hair. I dart forward, but then his body plows into mine, and I crash to the floor with his full weight on top of me.
“Get off!” I scream. It feels as if I’m being possessed by a devil of my own.
Dante easily flips me over onto my back, and then the gun slams against my left cheek. Lights explode behind my vision. Intense pain fills the entire left side of my face. I slip in and out of consciousness, my limbs heavy.
Dante claws at the bodysuit, and I feel it rip.
Darkness swirls around me, threatening to drag me to the depths of hell.
My soul shrinks as my worst fear looms over me.
I hear a roar of anger, and then Dante’s weight disappears off me.
Blinking against the shock from the punch, my vision comes back, and strength returns to my body. I manage to pull myself up and leaning back against the bathtub, I watch as Lucian kicks the gun away. He crouches over Dante, slamming one fist after the other into his face.
I’ve never seen Lucian so angry, his features cut from rage and vengeance as he beats Dante into a bloody mess.
Even though it’s one of the most savage things I’ve ever seen, I can’t look away. Time slows down. I hold my breath. I don’t even blink, not wanting to miss a second.
Dante’s grunts grow weaker, and then Lucian wraps his hands around Dante’s neck.
Instead of horror, calm trickles through me as I watch Dante gasp for air.
Just like I did.
Dante bleeds.
Like I’ve bled many times at his hands.
His face distorts with panic, his tongue curling in his mouth as he makes gurgling sounds.
Die.
Please. Just. Die.
Years of abuse flashes between Dante and me. The shame. The disgust. The pain.
And then Lucian severs the link, strangling the last air from Dante.
Dante makes one last gargled sound, and then he stills. His eyes are wide open. His face covered in blood. His mouth left gaping for the last gasp of air Lucian refused to give him.
He’s dead.
My heart beats violently in my chest, and then a relieved sob bursts from me.