“Pablo, I’m going to cover you with our brothers. Go get the girl in the hood. She’s important.”
I can’t see anything but the ground as Nico and his brothers disperse, and I curse this dress with every fiber of my being. If I push it out of the way or move wrong, I’ll fuck up Nico’s aim, something I don’t wish to do. Instead, I remain still, hanging from his shoulder like a doll, trying to urge Vero to hold on for me through the bond.
Gunshots fly as people scream. Not my father’s family though. They leap right into the fray, shooting back. I get the impression Nico didn’t come with anyone other than his brothers and step brother, because his side of the church is completely empty.
At least it’ll help our escape.
My eyes begin to close of their own volition as I feel Vero getting weaker, and blackness takes over my existence.
At least Nico tried to help me…
* * *
NICO
“Rosa,” I growl warningly, running toward the back door beyond the pulpit with my family.
She hangs limply over my shoulder, completely passed out. Pablo holds Vero against his body as he races for the exit, the SUV parked at the back of the church. His pupils are dilated, and we make sure to keep him sandwiched between our pack.
I have a lot of enemies, and they had no trouble finding me in Savannah. I lied and told people Rosalia wanted to get married to me, despite the contract between her father and I. Instead, even now, I forced her to marry me with the promise to save her bonded alpha.
Goddamn, sometimes I despise myself.
“That dress isn’t going to fit with all of us in here,” Ciro warns as we slam out into the fresh air.
“Cut it.”
My command is followed by the switchblade that comes out of his pocket, and he begins to saw at the material at her waist. I keep her steady over my shoulder, watching as the layers of material fall away.
“Here we go,piccola,”I say, easing her over my shoulder as the doors to the SUV are thrown open.
“Isn’t that awfully cozy,” Ciro mutters, getting into the front seat as I bundle my unconscious bride into the vehicle.
“Shut up and drive,” I grumble, watching as Pablo’s nostrils flare.
It’s close quarters, and I can smell Vero’s blood as it fills the air. It smells like copper, honeysuckle, and pepper. It’s a combination that shouldn’t work together, but Pablo shifts uncomfortably as he whimpers.
“She’s bleeding. I need you to hold the pressure on her wound after you find it or we’re going to lose both of them. They’re a bonded pair.”
“We can’t…I mean?—”
Pablo shakes his head violently, making his hair fly as he reaches down to grab a hoodie he keeps in the vehicle for when he gets cold. Opening the cloak, he hisses at the large area of blood on the alpha’s side.
Her tank top is practically glued to her skin and her breathing is shallow.
“Someone was trying to kill her,” he confirms, balling up the material to press it against her side. She whines in pain, even though she doesn’t regain consciousness, and he holds her closely.
“I bet it was her father. The bastard is always trying to hurt Rosa, and this was the final time he felt he’d be able to. I doubt he knows they’re connected,” I sigh. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re holding Verona oddly.”
Dario glances back at us, taking in the bleeding alpha and my bride.
“We need to find a doctor who is willing to help us. After everything you’ve told me, she could be bleeding internally and we’d never know,” he says.
“This is because her alpha is dying,” Pablo rasps, the whites of his eyes disappearing even more as he refers to Rosa. “I hate to be dramatic, but I think something is wrong with me. Why do these women smell… like mine.”
Blinking hard, I lean forward and stare at him. His scent is stronger than ever, and my brothers groan as they cover their noses.
“No, you’re an alpha,” Ciro grunts. “Why do you smell like an omega. What the fuck is happening?”
