CHAPTER 33
Amara’s POV
“You think I’d leave you
here?” he
remarked, anger rising, though not at me.
“Never.”
He shifted, trying to lift me into his arms, but my broken body protested with a sharp cry of pain. Matteo froze, his jaw
tightening as he looked down at me.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly, his voice breaking as he apologized. “I’m so sorry, cara mia. I’ll be careful. I swear.”
The tenderness in his voice cut through the chaos around us, but before he could lift me again, the sound of gunfire exploded through the room. Bullets shot through the thin walls and onto the opened door and windows, and Matteo’s body moved on instinct, shielding mine completely as he leaned over me.
“Stay down,” he growled as he covered
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me, protecting me from the bullets coming our way. But no, I did no like it. He was putting himself in danger just for me. He should let me go.
“No… Matteo!” I rasped, desperately as I saw the blood soaking into his shirt where a bullet had grazed his shoulder. “You‘ re hurt, don’t! Just leave me! Go! Save yourself! Please!”
His sharp glare pinned me in place, his jaw clenched so tightly that I thought it might
snap.
“Don’t say that again,” he hissed. “I’m not leaving you. Not now. Not
ever.”
Another round of bullets tore through the room, and Matteo shifted his weight, keeping me completely shielded as he lifted his gun and pointed the weapon toward the doorway, his eyes narrowing as
he aimed.
A single shot rang out, and the room fell
CHAPTER 33
silent for a moment.
The quiet was shattered by a groan, followed by the heavy thud of a body. hitting the ground. Matteo did not lower his weapon as his gaze was fixed on the hallway beyond the door.
And then more footsteps closed in.
My heart raced, panic gripping me as I heard the sound of boots approaching. But then, I heard Jeoff‘ s familiar voice.
“Clear!”
Matteo exhaled sharply, the gun still in his hand as Jeoff entered the room, and immediately saw us on the floor.
“All of them are down,” Jeoff reported. “Some dead, some captured. We are taking the prisoners back for
questioning.”
Matteo’s lips pressed into a thin line as he
nodded and returned his focus to me.
“Get the car ready,” Matteo ordered.
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“And make sure those bastards don’t die. before I get answers.”
“Yes, boss,” Jeoff replied, stepping out of the room to relay the instructions.
I tried to speak, to tell Matteo he did not. need to carry me, but the words refused to form. My body sagged against the cold floor with every ounce of strength drained from me.
Matteo slid his arms beneath me, lifting met carefully and I hissed but endured the searing pain all over my body. His jaw clenched as he adjusted his grip, holding me against his chest like I was something fragile he could not break.
“Don’t…” I tried again with a faint voice. that I could only muster. “You‘ 11 hurt yourself.”
His lips brushed against my forehead as he whispered. “Hush, cara mia. I’d burn the world down for you. A bullet won’t stop
me.”
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The warmth of his body was the only thing calming me as he carried me out of the room. My eyes fluttered closed, exhaustion. pulling me under, I wanted to sleep, to rest, my body was giving out, and if I did, I was afraid that I might not wake up again. But his voice kept me tethered as he continued to whisper in my ears, his voice, his words. of reassurance, and his presence being the only ones keeping me fighting for my life.
