I gazed up at the three men, surprised to see them dressed as our security team. Though I didn’t recognize them, that didn’t mean they hadn’t been here all along, as many had been hired by my father. I was sick to my stomach at the thought that we’d put our trust in these men, only for them to betray us in the worst way.
And on my wedding day, no less.
Rage.
It was hot and tasted sweet on my tongue, or maybe I was anticipating the smell of their blood at the end of my blade. I extended my hand to Helena and squeezed hers, hoping she’d understand that we only had seconds to act and that whatever we did had to be lightning fucking fast. No matter how much training we’d had, they could overpower us if we were disarmed, and I knew that was their next objective.
When she squeezed my hand back, I knew it was go time.
With no parting words or sarcastic comments, I slid my blade from where I’d hidden it between my thighs in the grass and went for the most vulnerable spot that would bring him to his knees.
Gripping the leather handle, I plunged the knife into his ball sack. His partner hesitated for a second when he heard his howl, and it was just long enough for me to slash and puncture the second man’s thigh and disarm him.
A gunshot went off, piercing the dirt next to my leg. He didn’t have the opportunity to try again. Leni buried her blade into the third man’s gut, sliding the steel in a vertical direction, until his insides poured out and landed on his boots. Dropping his gun with panicked eyes and shaking hands, he attempted to put himself back together, but he knew it was pointless.
The first man cupped his dick and spewed every derogatory word he could think of. Unfortunately for him, his voice irritated the hell out of me, and he needed to be quiet in case more were on their way.
I cut into his throat and severed his vocal cords, blood spattering on my face and chest and down the front of my dress. With a smile, Leni was about to do the same to perp number two, but I shouted, “No! Leave him alive. I have questions.”
“You won’t get shit out of me,” he spat, saliva dribbling from the corners of his mouth.
“Maybe. But that doesn’t mean I won’t have fun in the process.” I noted Leni’s eager expression as she hovered over him. “Make sure he can’t escape.”
“Perfect,” was all she said before slicing through the back of his ankles. The Achilles tendon made an interesting sound when severed and snapped out of place. Though it was nearly impossible to hear over the man’s wails.
24
Iwas thankful I’d kicked off my shoes earlier as I ran through the grass and even as my feet collided with the path’s hard cobblestone. Leni was beside me, keeping up despite bleeding profusely from her arm. I held her hand as we dashed toward the reception area, and my heart stuttered when we came upon a body. I didn’t recognize the older woman, but I assumed she was a friend of my parents. She’d been shot through the forehead and maybe her neck. There was too much blood to be sure.
“Fuck, Leni.”
“No…” she gasped, lifting her eyes to the other three bodies scattered on the pathway. “Silas.” She tore her hand from my grasp and bolted, and when she reached the opening of the tent, she came to an abrupt stop.
My mind raced a mile a minute, chest tightening as every twisted scenario crossed my thoughts. “No…no…”
I squeezed the handle of the gun I’d taken as I cautiously stepped toward the entrance. Silas was first to come into view, covered with spatters of blood. Desperation was etched onto hisface like he couldn’t reach the woman he loved fast enough. It was then I saw Kai. He’d been running to Leni as well, but the moment our eyes connected, a host of emotions passed over him all at once. He mouthed something I couldn’t quite make out, but I stopped trying the moment his body crashed into mine.
“Did they hurt you? Baby, please tell me you’re okay.” His hands were frantic, patting me down, searching for the origin of the blood painting my skin. At that moment, I was almost too stunned to speak. “Amalia, look at me. Look at me, baby.” He cupped my cheeks. “Where is it? Tell me so I can help you.”
My hands came up around his, a frail smile on my face. “It’s not mine. The blood…it isn’t mine.”
Kai released a haggard breath and tugged me to his chest, arms wrapped around the back of my head as he squeezed and kissed my hair. “I thought they… And then, when I saw Leni and not you. Fuck—don’t ever do that to me again.”
“What happened? Is everyone else okay? My parents? Gio? The baby?”
“Fine. Security is doing a sweep. Two men attacked me and Silas.”
“Kai, this is an inside job. The men who ambushed Leni and me were part of the security detail. We can’t trust anyone.”
“Shit. We have to get these people out of here. The kids and Milly are in a safe room in the main building—” He froze, eyes wide. “Can we trust her?”
“Of course. She’s been with me since I was Valentina’s age.”
He sighed another relieved breath.
“Eva and Derek are on the north side of the property with some of your father’s men. Should we be worried?” He was punching in messages to Derek before I could reply.
“I wish I knew. But we left one of them alive. He’s down near the lake. Leni made sure he wouldn’t escape.”
