Shit. Shit. Shit.
Shkelzen’s face darkens. He grabs my wrist and yanks me up.
Glasses knock onto the floor. Shocked gasps erupt in the room.
He twists my arm, and pain steals my breath. Fabric rips—the bastard tore off the strap of my dress. I gasp, clutching the tattered silk with my free hand.
“You fuckingwhore, how dare—”
Bang!
I flinch. Wetness splatters my face. The shot rings in my skull.
Everything freezes for a heartbeat. I look down.
Shkelzen’s hand has a gaping hole in it.
Screams of terror erupt. Chaos descends. Chairs knocked on the ground. Guns drawn, the security rushes in.
Movement comes from my right. A flash of black and green—Elias. He slams Shkelzen’s face on the table and grabs a steak knife.
Then a gurgled scream and blood.
Lots of blood.
Elias tosses something red onto the floor.
“A tongue!” Someone gasps.
My stomach lurches, but I can’t look away.
“What did I tell you last time?” Elias rasps into the bleeding man’s ear. “Touch my wife and lose a hand.”
Shkelzen howls in agony. He swats at Elias, but it’s useless.
“Because you didn’t listen, I threw in a tongue removal.” Elias yanks Shkelzen up and drags him to my feet.
“Didn’t your mom tell you, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all?” Elias looks up, pinning me with his blazing green eyes. “Apologize to my wife. Wipe the blood from her shoes.”
I shake my head, but my husband’s glare roots me.
I’m to stay put. This is a matter of respect.
Shkelzen crawls, his bloody hand grazing my shoe. He smudges the blood away with a napkin.
“I-It’s fine,” I whisper.
When I look up, five guns are pointed at Elias. Edon’s face flushes, eyes murderous.
“How dare you?” he rasps.
Agron snarls, his aim unwavering. “I’ve been waiting a long time to do this.”
Elias wipes his hands with a napkin. He stares at his dirty tux in clear dismay.
“Fuck.” He tsks under his breath. “Such perfect craftsmanship. Ruined.”
Agron jams the muzzle harder into his temple.
