I counted them one more time to make sure, but I was right. She hadn't removed the tactical blade in her left boot. Her pants were too bulky to see it easily, but I'd watched her slip it there earlier.
Anthony didn't notice. That motherfucker was too busy checking out Catalina's ass as she bent over.
I'll rip out his eyeballs for even thinking about it.
"You know, you're a terrible actress. You claim Marco's dead, but you haven't even shed a tear," Anthony said.
"Clearly I was a great actress, if you thought I gave a shit about him." Her voice was steady, emotionless.
Anthony sneered. "That's fucking bullshit!"
"I didn't ask for his help, he offered. I didn't ask for your family or whatever it is you think he gave me. I didn't ask him for anything." She shrugged. "Matter of fact, I told him multiple times to leave me alone, but he couldn't. He pursuedme. He stalkedme. And I think you're just angry that the little bit of affection I gave him was enough for him to turn his back onyou." She smirked.
The lie rolled off her tongue expertly. She'd switched back into her façade that had helped her survive all those years with her father.
But Anthony didn't know anything about Catalina, and he'd grossly underestimatedmyqueen.
Rearing back, he punched her in the face. Catalina went down, and it took everything in me not to beat him until his bones caved in and I tore his limbs off with my bare hands.
But that was it—the signal.
I dashed through the forest, drawing Anthony's attention.
"MARCO!" Anthony screamed.
Bullets flew past me as I ran towards the bunker.
Then a different scream pierced the air—a screech of pain and agony.
I whirled around to Catalina kneeling on top of Anthony. Her knife to his throat. Anthony writhed beneath her, blood spewing through the air.
My vicious little queen had cut off his wrist.
I sprinted back to her, relief washing through me the closer I got. Grabbing the detonator, I switched it off, then stalked toward her.
She watched Anthony, her every muscle tense and alert as I approached. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." Even though that was far from the truth. My uncle had killed my parents out of jealousy and hatred, and my cousin had betrayed me, and tried to kill the love of my life. But she was alive, and that was all that mattered.
She held a gun out for me and stood, pinning Anthony down with her boot. "I wanted to kill him. But he's your cousin. If you want?—"
I shot Anthony in the head, and when Catalina stepped back, I emptied a clip into his chest. But his death didn't help the seething rage boiling in my blood.
"Marco..." Catalina's voice was soft now, tender and caring.
I pulled her into my arms, burying my fingers into her hair as I held her head to my chest.
She clung to me, and like a calm to my storm, the fear, anger, and fury slid away until there was nothing but her, my vicious little queen.
Gently, I cradled her head in my hands, brushing away Anthony's blood from her face as I examined her cheek. Nothing was broken, but there would be a nasty bruise tomorrow.
"Do you have any idea how scared I was?"
"I know," she whispered. "I'm sorry, but it was the only way."
"It wasn't and we both know it. You did that, so if something went wrong, I'd be safe. That I wouldn’t be able to blame myself. But mi pequeña reina viciosa, I can live through anything, but I can’t live without you."
“Marco, you’ve gone through enough tonight. I just didn’t want that on you. I… I could handle it.”
