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“You take her to the van,” he barked at his man, about me.
Jacob chased Chiara up the stairs. I flung myself forward, grabbed his ankles, and dragged him back down.
“Oof!” he uttered, landing hard.
When he tried to get up, I threw myself onto his shoulders, holding on for dear life.
The man behind me tried to drag me off Jacob. I slashed his face with my nails, leaving deep scratches. Screaming, I dug my thumb into one of Jacob’s eyes.
“You bitch!” Jacob bellowed in pain. Throwing me off, he turned to me, his eye bleeding.
The rage on his face was terrifying. I tried to scramble away from him, but his man was behind me.
Adrenaline fuelling my instincts, I tried to crawl between his legs, desperate to lead them away from Chiara.
Jacob dragged me towards him by my hair. “You stupid bitch.”
“It’s over,” I gasped. “I’ve called Marco. He’s coming. He’s on his way.”
Fear crossed his face. And then his eyes narrowed. He patted down my dress. The purple sheath had no pockets. No phone was hiding in it.
“Liar,” he spat. “How did you get out? Where the fuck is Landry?”
“Gone,” I said, defiant. “Your stupid plan is done. You can’t get Marco to murder him after all.” I laughed hysterically.
His jaw clenched. “Then you might as well die here. But your little bastard can go first.”
He kicked me hard in the belly.
Screaming, I curled into a ball to protect myself. His kicks landed on my shins and arms. I tried to roll away from him, but his goon unfurled my body, his arms wrapping around my throat, strangling me.
But all I could feel were Jacob’s kicks raining down on my belly. And I had no breath left to beg him to stop.
My lungs were burning, trying to suck in air. And then I heard an almighty crash. A shout. The goon’s arms loosened from my neck. Two shots boomed. Gunshots.
Someone threw themselves bodily onto Jacob, bringing him down beside me. Through a veil of tears, I saw Marco’s face.
My pounding eardrums heard his furious voice speaking as his fist rained punishing blows on Jacob. I looked away. I couldn’t bear to see it.
And then strong warm arms were cradling me. Marco’s arms. “I’m here, Beth. You’re safe. We’re going to get you the help you need.”
“You came,” I whispered. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, where pain blossomed. My head was spinning. My ears ringing.
“Stay with me, amore, please,” he begged.
“The baby,” I whispered.
Agony washed over his face as he realised what I was saying.
Then darkness slid over me, blotting out his precious face.
Chapter 42
BETH
I woke up in a soft hospital bed, my body feeling heavy and numb, as if it wasn’t my own. My eyes darted around the unfamiliar bed, the needle in my wrist, and panic clawed at my chest. Then I remembered what had happened. Jacob kicking me, over and over.
With a cry of pain, my hands went to my belly. Tears poured down my cheeks. No, no, no.
