Page 233 of Maddening Fixation

Because pain exploded through my stomach.

My hand flew to my belly.

My knees weakened.

I staggered backward, reaching for the wall to keep myself upright.

The world blurred.

My baby.

My baby.

I looked toward Romeo.

For one desperate second, I thought he would see me.

See the blood.

See the fear.

See that I needed him.

But he was already moving.

Straight toward Yarina.

He dropped to his knees beside her, his face changing as he saw her blood-soaked body.

“Yarina.”

His voice was filled with panic.

He pressed his hands against her wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

I stood there frozen, one hand against the wall and the other protecting my stomach.

Then his eyes found me.

And everything changed.

The panic disappeared.

The fear became anger.

Pure, violent anger.

“Do you have no heart at all? How can you do this to your own sister?”

His voice cut through the room.

Before I could answer, he was on his feet.

He crossed the distance between us in seconds.

His hands grabbed my arms and slammed me against the wall.

Pain shot through me.