Page 25

We approached the bed and I stopped dead in my tracks. The sight slammed the air out of my lungs, and something dark squeezed around my heart. Alexander.

Antonio’s mouth lowered to my ear. “Walk or I’ll drag you by your hair.”

With bile clogging my throat I forced my feet forward until I reached his bed.

I couldn’t tear my eyes off his body as he simply laid there. Unmoving.

Something cold and metallic was placed in my hand and with a firm grip, Antonio lifted my hand.

In my trembling hand, my fingers were curled around a handgun. Air left my lungs in quick breaths, my heart accelerating against my ribcage.

With Antonio’s lips grazing my ear, he lowered his tone to a command. “Pull the trigger.”

Frozen in place, my brain couldn’t comprehend the fact that Alexander was in front of me. That I was so close to him.

Even unconscious, and not posing as the slightest threat, his mere presence still wracked my body with fear. A paralyzing fear.

Antonio’s hand gripped my nape and he bent me forward, holding my face inches from Alexander’s.

He smelled of death. Sorrow. Pain. Turmoil. God, he reeked of it. And when it all blended into one scent, forcing its way into my nose, the tightness in my chest shot up, wrapping around my throat. I can’t breathe.

Then, Antonio pushed the gun into Alexander’s mouth. “Pull the trigger, Nirah.”

Panic vibrated my spine as my body trembled. The faint sound of the gun tapping against his teeth because of my shaking hand filled the room, and I stared at him unblinking.

As though time had slowed down, Alexander’s head slowly turned in our direction. I stopped breathing.

His eyes shot open and my body jolted back in fear but with Antonio standing behind me, I didn’t move an inch.

Black callous eyes pierced my soul, almost begging me not to do it. But he couldn’t move. Or speak. And neither could I.

“Do it!” Antonio’s voice startled me, causing my finger to squeeze the trigger.

My eyes instinctively squeezed shut and warm droplets of blood splattered across my face, tainting my skin.

Antonio’s fingers slid into my hair and he gripped my roots firmly. “Again.”

He applied pressure to my finger still curled around the trigger. A second gunshot rang through the silence and I flinched, desperate to move away.

“Again.” Gunshot. “Again.” Gunshot. “Again.” Gunshot.

Antonio’s hold on my hair loosened, and I stood upright.

Standing firmly against him I peeled my eyes open, the sight slamming against my chest. He was nothing but blood, scattered brains and fragments of his skull.

My legs gave in beneath me but Antonio’s hands were quick to find my waist, holding me on my feet.

I was a trembling mess as the gun slipped from my bloody fingers, landing with a splat on the bed.

Steadily, Antonio trailed his lips up the side of my neck, pulling goosebumps from my skin and I shuddered.

His mouth hovered near my temple and he slowly tucked a bloody strand of hair behind my ear. “This is only the beginning,” he whispered and my eyes fell shut as a single tear trickled down my cheek.

CHAPTER 9

Nirah

“A sauna?” My brows scrunched together as I popped a grape into my mouth. “The devil brought hell to earth?” I leaned forward and Rosalia pinned me with a look before wiping off the countertop and I couldn’t help but smile.