Page 132

Expecting to feel a bullet tear through her, she put every ounce of her strength into swinging the plank at the back of Marco’s head, gaining additional satisfaction when the end struck Bruno’s forehead.

A shot rang out.

The expected pain never came.

At the sound of a body hitting the floor, Natalia cast a fleeting glance toward Antonio. He lay staring sightlessly at the ceiling, a bullet hole between his eyes.

Realizing he was dead, she returned to beating Marco and Bruno. Focused on ensuring neither man got up, she kept swinging, unaware that the door had been kicked open.

A hand caught the plank in mid-swing.

“You can stop now, sweetheart.”

Turning at the sound of Wizard’s husky voice, Natalia released the plank and threw herself into his arms. “They were going to kill you!” she cried, glancing at the group of men storming through the door. “Is Rocco okay?”

“He’s fine. He’s outside.”

“I want to see him!” She believed Wizard, but she knew Rocco would be worried until he saw her.

“Okay.” Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Wizard led her outside.

Natalia stopped when she saw the destruction surrounding the building. “Did you set off a nuclear bomb?” The sight of the charred remains of dozens of men turned her stomach.

“Don’t look,” Wizard told her.

“I’m okay. They wouldn’t have cared if you and the people who helped rescue me were the ones lying on the ground.” Stepping around a burned foot, she ran when she saw Rocco rushing toward her.

He caught her and hauled her into his arms. “Where are you hurt?” Pulling back slightly, he looked her over. “Have you been shot?”

“No. Other than my face and head, I’m okay.” She raised a hand toward her swollen eye.

Rocco frowned. “Then why are you covered in blood? Let me check—”

“There’s no need.” Wizard came up behind her. “The blood isn’t hers. She beat Marco and another man to death.”

Natalia whirled to face Wizard. “I didn’t.”

“You did.” Wizard nodded, an upset expression on his face.

“I didn’t,” she protested, unable to believe she had killed two men.

“To a pulp,” Wizard confirmed with another nod.

Rocco appeared as upset as Wizard.

“I didn’t see you checking… Perhaps…” she argued.

“I don’t have to be a doctor to pronounce them dead. They look like rats caught in a trap.”

Both Rocco and Wizard looked as if she had stolen a precious heirloom.

“I didn’t mean to …”

Why were they upset that she had killed two men when a field of dead bodies surrounded them?

“It’s okay.” Wizard placed his arm around her again. “We just wish you’d left Marco to us. I had plans for that motherfucker.”

“So did I.” Rocco shrugged. “I suppose it’s okay. At least one of the Amatos delivered the justice he deserved.”