"Yes! The couch is perfect!"
"No going in the bedroom."
"Fine."
"And absolutely no watching me sleep."
"I swear—"
Before he could finish, chaos erupted outside.
Glass shattered, followed by screams and shouts.
"What the hell?" I tensed.
Kholod's face darkened as he yanked me behind him. "Stay put." It was an order.
"But—"
The door exploded open.
A crowd surrounded the entrance. Lorenzo stood in the doorway, eyes blood-red, hair wild, radiating pure madness.
"Noelle!" he roared, reaching out. "Come with me! Now!"
"Lorenzo?" I stared in shock. "How did you—"
"Come with me!" he repeated. "Get away from this monster!"
"Lorenzo Conti." Kholod's voice was ice-cold as he shielded Leo and me. "Do you know what you're doing?"
"Of course I know!" Lorenzo bellowed. "I'm taking Noelle! Taking her away from you!"
"She won't go with you."
"That's not up to her!" Lorenzo pulled a gun from his waistband, the black barrel pointed straight at Kholod. "Kholod Morozov, let her go!"
My heart stopped.
"Lorenzo!" I screamed. "What are you doing? Put the gun down!"
"I won't!" His hand shook. "Noelle, come with me! I'll take you somewhere he'll never find you!"
"Lorenzo, calm down..."
"I am calm!" he roared, madness blazing brighter in his eyes. "Noelle, he destroyed you! You can't forgive him! You can't be with him!"
"Put down the gun." Kholod's voice was arctic. "Lorenzo, last warning. Put it down."
"No!" Lorenzo's finger tightened on the trigger. "Unless you let Noelle go!"
"Never."
"Then die!"
The gunshot rang out.
I instinctively shielded Leo, then felt strong arms wrap around me.
