جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 20

I felt the blood drain from my face.“No…” The word came out broken. “No, they didn’t. Tell me they’re lying.”Rico stood there, phone in hand, looking uncomfortable. “They sent proof. It’s real.”I snatched the phone from him before Damien could stop me. The new photo made my stomach heave. Sarah’s hand, blood, one finger missing, her eyes were swollen from crying.A scream tore out of me, raw, angry. I threw the phone across the room. It smashed against the wall.“They’re cutting her apart because of me!” I turned on Damien, chest heaving. “Because I opened my stupid mouth to a stranger at a gallery. This is on me!”Damien’s face stayed hard, but his eyes tightened. “Isabella—”“Don’t!” I jabbed a finger at his chest. “Don’t you dare tell me to calm down. My best friend is being tortured right now, she’s probably screaming my name, wondering why I’m not coming for her.”Lena stepped closer. “We still have time before midnight. We can plan something.”“Plan?” I laughed, it sound

Damien pulled me tighter against him as my knees nearly gave out.The bloody cloth sat on the polished table like a sick gift, another finger. Sarah’s. I couldn’t breathe.“You bastards,” I whispered, voice shaking with rage. “She has nothing to do with your games!”The man with the neck scar smiled, showing crooked teeth. “She does now. Marco’s daughter talks too much, so we take pieces until you listen.”I lunged forward but Damien’s arm locked around my waist like steel. “Don’t,” he said low in my ear. “Not here.”The silver-haired man at the head of the table leaned back in his chair. “This is getting messy, Voss. First the hit on Marco, now the cartel is sending body parts to meetings? You bringing this girl here is bad for business.”“She’s not just a girl,” Damien said, his voice cold and steady. “Isabella is mine. The Moretti bloodline is under Voss protection now. Anyone who touches her or her people answers to me.”I forced myself to lean into Damien’s side even though

The gun kicked hard in my hands. The man stumbled back with a grunt, blood blooming on his shoulder. He didn’t go down.“Stupid bitch!” he roared, swinging his weapon back toward me.I fired again. This time the bullet hit his chest. He dropped to the ground like a sack of bricks.My ears rang. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. “Oh God… I killed him. I actually killed him.”The driver was already slumped over the wheel, blood dripping from his neck. They got to him first.I scrambled out of the car, gun still pointed forward. Gunfire cracked everywhere around the warehouse. I ran toward the noise, legs pumping.“Damien!” I shouted. “Rico!”A hand grabbed me from behind and yanked me hard. I screamed and twisted, elbow flying back like Lena taught me earlier.“Easy! It’s me!” Rico’s voice growled in my ear. His face was smeared with dirt and blood. “What the hell are you doing out here? Boss told you to stay in the car!”“They came for me,” I panted. “The driver’s dead. I shot one of t

I held Sarah’s hand tighter, watching her chest rise and fall under the blankets. The room smelled like antiseptic and fear.“You really think he’s worse than the cartel?” I whispered, even though she was drifting in and out.Sarah’s eyes cracked open again. “He kissed you like he owns the air you breathe. Men like that… they don’t let go. Ever.”Before I could answer, the door opened. Damien stepped in, sleeves rolled up, looking like he hadn’t slept in days. His grey eyes found mine immediately.“Sarah needs rest,” he said. “The doctor gave her something strong. Come with me.”I didn’t move right away. “She just woke up. I’m not leaving her alone.”Lena slipped in behind him. “I’ll stay with her. Boss wants you downstairs in the training room.”Sarah gave my hand one last weak squeeze. “Go. I’ll be fine. Just… watch yourself, Bella.”I kissed her forehead again and stood up. Damien waited by the door, jaw tight. We walked down the hallway in silence until we reached a heavy metal

“Lock the door behind me. This time they’re not getting anywhere near you.”Damien grabbed his gun and moved toward the bedroom door. The alarm kept screaming through the halls like a wounded animal.“Wait!” I jumped off the bed and caught his arm. “You’re not leaving me here alone again. Not while they’re coming for me.”He turned, eyes burning. “Isabella, this isn’t training. This is real, thirty men, maybe more. Stay here and lock the door.”I grabbed the gun Lena had given me earlier from the nightstand. “I killed one of them already tonight. I’m not hiding like a scared child anymore.”Damien cursed but didn’t waste time fighting me. “Fine, stay right behind me. Shoot anything that isn’t us. Understand?”I nodded, heart hammering.We stepped into the hallway. The mansion had turned into chaos. Shouts echoed from downstairs. Gunfire cracked outside. Lena ran past us carrying an assault rifle.“East wing is compromised!” she yelled. “They’re pushing hard.”Damien pulled me alon