Kai.
Relief hit so hard I nearly sobbed. He'd come. He'd actually come, I scrambled out from under the bed. "I'm here! Kai, I'm here!"
He turned. Our eyes met.
He looked like he'd walked through hell. Blood spattered across his shirt. Dirt and soot on his face. His left arm hung slightly awkward, the bullet wound obviously still causing him pain. His dark eyes were wild. Frantic. Scanning the room for threats.
But when he saw me, everything in his expression changed. Relief. Love. Raw emotion so intense it took my breath away.
I ran to him. Didn't think. Didn't care about anything except getting to him.
He caught me. Arms wrapping around me so tight it almost hurt. His face buried in my hair. His entire body shaking.
"Are you okay? Did he touch you? Did that bastard hurt you?" His hands were moving over me. Checking for injuries. Making sure I was whole.
"I'm fine. I'm okay. He didn't...I'm okay now. You're here. You came for me."
"Always. I'll always come for you. Always." He pulled back just enough to look at my face. His hands cupped my cheeks. "I'm getting you out of here. We're ending this. Right now."
I wanted to respond. Wanted to tell him I loved him. That I'd never doubted he'd come.
Then I saw movement behind him. My eyes caught the figure in the doorway.
Salvatore with a gun in his hand aimed at Kai's back.
"Kai, move!"
The gun fired. The sound deafening in the enclosed space.
Kai moved fast. Shoved me sideways. The bullet missed him by inches. Buried itself in the wall where his head had been.
He pushed me behind him. Put his body between me and Salvatore completely. Human shield. Protector.
Salvatore stood in the doorway "This is touching. Really. My son playing hero for his little whore." Salvatore's voice was cold. Mocking. "But it's over, Kai. You've destroyed everything. Turned my own family against me. Brought the Council down on my head. For what? For her?"
"For justice. For freedom. For having a life that isn't built on murder and control." Kai's voice was steady. Strong. "You're done, old man. Finished. The Council has you. You're going to rot in a cell for killing my mother. For murdering Antonio Romano. For every crime you'vecommitted."
"Maybe. But you won't enjoy your victory." Salvatore's arm shifted. The gun now aimed directly at me. "If I can't have her, neither can you."
Time slowed. I saw his finger starting to squeeze the trigger. Saw Kai's body tense. Saw my death coming. Kai moved. Stepped fully in front of me. Blocked Salvatore's line of fire completely with his own body.
"Shoot me instead. You want to kill someone? Kill me. End this. But you leave her alone. She's innocent in all of this."
"Kai, no..." I tried to pull him back. He wouldn't budge.
"Touching." Salvatore's finger stayed on the trigger. "The son willing to die for his father's bride. Your mother would be so proud. She died trying to protect you too. Didn't work out well for her either."
Then another voice. Small. Broken. Desperate.
"Papa, please don't do this."
Lia appeared in the doorway behind Salvatore. Tears streaming down her face. Hands clasped in front of her like prayer.
I didn't know how she'd gotten here. Suspected Salvatore had brought her after our escape attempt. Used her as insurance. Another piece on his chessboard.
"Please, Papa.You don't have to do this. Just let them go. Let us all go.. Please." She was sobbing now. Full-body shaking. "Don't hurt them. Don't hurt anyone else. Just stop. Please just stop."
Salvatore looked at his daughter. For a second, something flickered in his expression. Something almost human. Almost like regret.
