“Baby, stop moving,” I pleaded.
“Nico!” she gasped. “I can’t?—!”
“I won’t let you go!”
With every pull, I felt the sharp bite of pain from the wound in my leg, but Gigi, my heart and soul, was my priority. I would save her no matter what it took.
Behind me, Massimo continued to laugh. “Now this is a show! How about we make it more interesting.”
I turned slightly to catch him approaching me. He held a knife in his hand, twirling in between his fingers.
“Fuck.” My heart thundered as Gigi’s weight tugged me down. I turn my attention back to Gigi to see tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Nico,” she cried.
Suddenly, I felt a sting in my side; he’d stabbed me.
“Now let’s see how much longer you can hold her up.” The fucker leaned against the conveyor, watching this like it was some goddam movie.
“It’s okay, baby,” I managed to reassure her through my growing fear.
“Nico. I’m slipping. Let me go,” she whispered.
“Fuck no!” I pulled harder, desperation clawing at me.
“Nico.”
With every ounce of willpower, I tugged harder, ignoring the searing pain in my side, but I couldn’t ignore that I was getting weaker.
“Nico. It’s okay,” she cried.
I shook my head, refusing to give up on her. “Don’t talk like that. I’m going to get you out,” I grunted, still pulling upward.
“Nico.” Her soft tone broke something in me. “It’s okay. Let go. I love you.”
Tears sprung to my eyes. “No, baby. If you go, I go.”
She managed a smile full of love that melted the icy grip of fear around my heart.
My angel entered my life without warning. Our gazes locked onto one another; she was everything I ever needed. And I was not going to watch her die.
With the last bit of my strength, I yanked on her arms upward with a roar.
Half her body was teetering on the edge. I lifted her up until she was safe on the ground.
“Nico, watch out!” she screamed, and my eyes darted upward to see her uncle charging at me with a knife.
As he drew closer, I kicked him between his legs. He doubled over, the blade slipping from his grasp.
I curled my fingers into a tight grip, fueled by a burning rage, and wrapped my hands around his throat.
Reaching for the blade laying nearby, I plunged it into his gut. He gasped, his eyes bulging as he frantically tried to free himself. I leaned close to his ear. “The shows over,” I hissed.
I drove the knife into his stomach, not once, but several times, until his screams of agony were silenced. No mercy was shown as I hurled him over edge and into the hole.
My strength waned, and I faltered and collapsed to the ground, pressing my hands on my side as blood seeped through my clothing.
“Oh, god,” Gigi cried, and my heart tightened.
