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“Come on,” he murmured, his hot breath in my face. “We’re alone. I’ll be fast. It’ll be over with before you even know it.” He reached down to pull himself out of his jeans, but I didn’t let him get that far.
I had the knife out, but he saw it and curled his lip, swinging out with his fist. His knuckle clipped my chin, but he was too drunk that it barely skimmed me. I knew if he had the opportunity, he would knock me the hell out.
I swung out, but I didn’t know if I’d connected. It was only when I felt the spray of blood covering my face and neck that my breath stalled in my chest, and I was frozen in place.
I felt those droplets dripping down my cheeks and chin, that slippery fluid slowly turning sticky as it covered my fingers and wrists.
I felt my eyes widen in shock at the massive gash on the side of his throat. He placed his hand on the side of his neck, his mouth open in shock when he brought his fingers to his face to see blood covering them.
For long moments, we just stood there, staring at each other. Both of us were in a state of absolute horror.
But this? I’d never hurt a man like this. I’d never killed a man before.
“You stupid fucking bitch.”
Although I knew that wound had to be life-threatening because of the amount of blood that poured out, it was like a strength coursed through him as he narrowed his eyes, bared his teeth, and charged at me.
I swung my arm out, the handle slippery in my grasp from the blood. I expected him to slam into me and take me to the ground, but that never happened.
Somebody came out from the shadows and pulled the guy back, tossing him away, as if he were a rag doll. His body landed with a hardthumpon the pavement.
He only had half a second to understand what was happening before the massive body was taking the knife from my grasp, kneeling beside the asshole, and opening his neck from ear to ear.
Oh. God.
Even in the shadowy alleyway, I saw his flesh open up, parting so easily. Blood spurted out, pulsating with each beat of his heart.
Matteo was here. He’d come for me.
After a long second, Matteo stood menacingly over the dying man. The dim light from the streetlamp washed him in a muted yellow glow. I felt my eyes widen as Matteo slowly turned to face me. He smoothed his palms over his suit, his hands looking dark like spilled ink covered them.
Blood.
The dark rage that came from Matteo was like icy fingers along my body, a tangible grasp around my throat. I grew dizzy from it. My legs threatened to give out from under me, but Matteo was by me a second later.
He pulled my body close to his, his gaze locked on the side of my jaw where I’d been hit.
“I wanted to kill that motherfucker for even looking in your direction.” He kissed my forehead, then my cheeks, and finally gave me the lightest press of his lips to my jawline.
Matteo started leading me out of the alley, and I kicked my chin up, refusing to act weak and defenseless. I tried to push him away and walk on my own, but his deep chuckle and the way he kissed the top of my forehead had me leaning against him.
“Sono qui per te. Lasciami essere la persona su cui ti appoggi. Solo per questa volta, Amore.”
I’m here for you. Let me be the person you lean on. Just this once, Amore.
Chapter23
Matteo
“Where are you taking me?” she asked in a hazy voice.
My girl wasn’t a stranger to violence or death, and she was strong as hell. I admired her.
But I noticed how she kept looking at her hands, seeing the drying blood coating them.
She was still so innocent even after living in the cesspool that was Desolation.
“I’m taking you home, Sunshine.” I wrapped my arm tightly around her waist and led her to the SUV parked across the street. I was glad she wasn’t fighting me for being the stronger one right now. She’d done well, my pretty girl.
