Page 54 of Blood Heir

My stomach flips. The bile rises to my throat, but I force it down and lurch to my feet. “Enough!”

My voice cracks louder than I expect. My hands shake as I pull my phone from my pocket, holding it up like a weapon.

“I have a recording,” I shout. My breath hitches, but I plant my feet. “I recorded everything. If you touch her again, I send it straight to Serevin!”

The words hang heavy in the air.

Gustavo freezes, his face draining of color. His mouth opens, but nothing comes out.

Monte doesn’t flinch. Instead, he smiles. Slow. Crooked. Dangerous.

“Baby,” he says softly, stepping closer, “do you want to join her?”

I flinch but don’t move.

“We can make you forget too,” Monte whispers. “I can delete that silly little recording. You’ll wake up tomorrow like nothing happened. Or maybe not wake up at all.”

My pulse roars in my ears. My grip tightens on my phone like it’s the only thing keeping me alive.

“You really want to hurt two people Serevin cares for?” I shoot back, voice shaking but sharp. “You think he won’t burn this entire city if you do?”

Monte studies me. The grin fades, but his eyes still glimmer with something cold.

I keep going, desperate now. “Just give me the pill. I’ll give it to her. I’ll take her home. You’ll be in the clear.”

The silence stretches. My knees threaten to buckle under the weight of it.

Finally, Monte turns to one of the guards. “Bring me the pills from my bedroom.”

The guard rushes off and returns quickly, placing the bottle into Monte’s outstretched hand. He tosses it to me like tossing scraps to a stray dog.

“Your little act better work,” he says.

I don’t answer. My throat’s too dry. My hands fumble as I scramble to Fioretta’s side. She’s barely conscious now, her head lolling as I prop her up.

“Stay with me, Fee,” I whisper, voice breaking. “Please.”

I slip two of the fake pills into her mouth.

“Water,” Monte orders, and another guard appears immediately with a glass. My fingers tremble as I tip it to Fioretta’s lips, coaxing her to swallow. She chokes slightly but gulps it down.

Gustavo looms over us. “I want to be sure she swallowed.”

Without hesitation, I open Fioretta’s mouth and tilt her head back for him to see. He nods reluctantly.

Monte watches me for a beat longer. “Don’t let the door hit you on your way out,” he says. “You used to be fun.”

I bite back the scream trapped in my throat.

Hoisting Fioretta up, I drag her limp weight toward the door. My muscles scream under her weight, but I keep moving. Each step feels like I’m pulling us both out of quicksand.

Finally, the door shuts behind us, sealing their laughter inside.

I shove her into the backseat and slam the door. My hands tremble so badly I nearly drop the keys as I shove them into the ignition.

Tears stream down my face as I speed toward the hospital, the weight of what almost happened crashing down on me.

Chapter 13 - Severin

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