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“No! I’m begging you.” I shake my head again.
“Choose.” The single word from Renzo falls heavy in the room. “Your father or your doctor.”
Horrified, I can only stare at the cruel man.
His arm swings back to Dr. Bentall, and he presses the barrel right against his forehead. “Consider this a mercy death, Doctor. I could’ve torn you limb from limb.”
Dr. Bentall squeezes his eyes shut.
“Thank me for showing you mercy,” Renzo demands.
Dear God.
“T-Thank y-y-you.”
The bang is so loud I jerk, and my ears ring as Dr. Bentall falls to his side, and blood seeps from the bullet wound to his head.
I stare as a puddle of blood spreads over the floor, my body shuddering as if I’m convulsing. I’m gasping for air, but it doesn’t feel like it’s reaching my lungs.
My legs give way, and I sink to the floor, my vision going spotty from the unbearable shock of seeing Dr. Bentall die.
“Skylar,” Dad cries, and he falls to his knees next to me. “Breathe, sweetheart.”
“Clean the mess,” I hear Renzo order.
Men come into the room, and when they drag Dr. Bentall’s body out, it leaves a streak of blood in his wake.
Tears wet my cheeks, and I continue to gasp like a fish out of water.
“Skylar, look at Daddy,” I hear Dad, but I can’t do anything but gasp through the horror.
Renzo walks closer and crouches in front of me. Gripping my chin with his forefinger and thumb, he pushes my face up so I’ll meet his eyes.
His expression is grim and unforgiving as he orders, “Breathe,topolina. I don’t want you dying on me yet.”
I continue to gasp as tears spill down my face.
“Breathe!” he snaps angrily.
Terrified, I try to suck in a painful breath, causing a strangled sound to come from my throat.
“Please untie me so I can hold her,” Dad begs. “She needs to calm down, and shouting at her won’t stop the panic attack.”
Renzo shoves Dad away, and then I’m in for the shock of my life as the merciless mafia boss wraps his arms around me, pulling me to his chest.
Lowering his mouth to my ear, he brushes a hand over my hair as he whispers, “Breathe, or your father dies.”
Another strangled sound is torn from my chest, but I manage to get air into my lungs.
When I take another breath, Renzo says, “You’ll never comfort your daughter again, Harlan. She’s mine.”
I try to pull back from his embrace, but he tightens his arms around me until I’m squashed against his chest.
I smell his woodsy aftershave.
I feel his strength.
I hear his steady heartbeat.
