Page 97 of Bleed with Me

“Malin,” I exhaled before I could stop myself, my lower lip quivering as my father slowly confirmed my assumption with a nod.

“Is there anything I should know, Nina?” His deadly serious gaze sent a shiver down my spine. “Did you do something stupid to avenge your grandfather?”

“No,” I whispered, taking hold of his wrist and removing his hand from my face. “You know how I feel about it. Grandpa made a mistake. He lost. Case closed.”

“So, nothing?” he pressed, radiating raw fear in all directions. “Nothing at all?”

“No,” I lied through my teeth because I couldn’t tell him the truth. If he knew I abducted Dorian, stalked him like a psychopath, and planned to spend my life with him, he would have a heart attack. Still, could Malin have found out what I did? Or was it just a coincidence?

The afternoon passed in a blur. My mind raced with unanswered questions while my hair and makeup were done. Once dressed, I ignored all the praise for my stunning looks; instead, I ran to my bodyguard and asked him to drive me to my apartment. I needed my slim knife strapped to my thigh, my elegant small gun that could be kept inside my purse, a diamond hairpin dagger, and a garrote wire bracelet.

Grandpa gave me all those weapons on different occasions. All of them were reminders of the time when I was the number one person for someone.

I found my priceless possessions exactly where I left them, in the bottom drawer in my walk-in closet. Hiding them on me in record time, I instantly felt better. There was nothing more comforting than having them close when entering the lion’s den.

“Finally.”

My body stiffened on the threshold of the spacious living room, my eyes landing on Sonny’s disgusting face.

“What are you doing here?” I barked, squeezing my purse.

“I came to visit my fiancée, who is constantly avoiding me,” he replied, observing the papers on the coffee table. “What are you planning, sweetheart?” He pointed at the blueprints of a warehouse Grandpa used for his drug deals that was closed by the police a year and a half ago. The paper only served as a tablecloth, but the asshole didn’t know that.

“None of your business,” I retorted, checking my buzzing phone. Lucas texted me that he was downstairs, waiting for me.

“You’re frequently forgetting who I am, Nina.” Fury flashed in Sonny’s eyes. He turned to me with a menacing expression, blocking my way toward the elevator.

“It’s mutual,” I snarled. “You’re frequently forgetting that I am a mafia heir.” I lifted my chin higher. “I am your ticket into this world. Without me, you’re just a son of a bankrupt lawyer.”

Sonny’s nostrils flared, and he looked ready to jump on me. But this time, I was ready. Before he could move, I held the small knife in my hand, pointing it at him.

“What are you going to do with that?” he mocked, a sadistic smirk lifting his lips.

“I’ll gut you like a fish if you take another step,” I threatened. Blood rushed through my veins, and my cheeks flushed with heat.

“Try that,” he challenged, launching at me. My arm reacted on instinct before I could think. I slashed through the air, tearing open his suit jacket and white button-up shirt, but the tip of the blade didn’t reach his abdomen. He still hissed in shock.

“You filthy bitch!” he cursed, grasping my wrist. I let go of the knife, caught it with my left hand, and attempted to stab it into his bicep, yet he spun us around, and I lost my balance in my high heels, letting go of my weapon.

A shriek broke free from my throat when he punched my abdomen hard. Stars danced before my eyes as the pain hit me, spreading through my bones and muscles. But my body was in fight mode, ignoring the discomfort. My fist shot up and hit Sonny square in the jaw. His tall body wavered, and as he stepped back, his feet hit the couch, and he collapsed onto it.

“What the fuck?”

I winced in shock and turned toward the elevator at the sound of the familiar voice. Lucas ran to me, pale, his shocked glance jumping from me to whining Sonny.

“Help me!” Sonny stretched his arm toward Lucas. “She’s lost her mind.”

“You attacked me!” I yelled, satisfaction filling my chest as I saw the bruise forming on his perfectly shaved, chiseled jaw. “Be glad I didn’t kill you.”

“He attacked you again?” Lucas ground out, pulling out a black gun from the holster under his arm. Before I could interfere, he stood over Sonny and aimed at his head. “You piece of shit!”

Sonny raised his hands in surrender, his pupils blown.

“Lucas!” I screamed, running to him as quickly as my high heels allowed me. “Don’t, Zyon will kill you!”

“I don’t fucking care,” he said through gritted teeth, pressing the barrel of his gun against Sonny’s forehead. “He won’t touch you again.”

“Lucas.” I tugged on his arm, but he was like a brick wall. “Please. Listen to me.”