Page 56 of Relentless Pursuit
I locked my jaw and did the same with him, dropping him in the same spot next to his wife.
When her hands touched me, my anger tried to subside, but I held on to it, turning my frustration toward her.
“This will never work.”
“What will never work?”
“You and I.”
Her eyes widened. “Dominic, how could you say that?”
“I told you there would come a time?—”
“Ooooooooow,” the mother wailed. I gritted my teeth, left my spot, and retrieved my first-aid box.
I cleaned and tended to the hole in her mother’s hand, wrapped a gauze around it, then moved to her father and did the same with his wounds. Once I finished, I grabbed Penelope’s arm and led her across the room.
“I told you there would come a time when you would have to make a decision—a sacrifice because of who you are and who I am. You chose them.”
Her eyes widened. “No, I didn’t! I chose all of you.”
I shook my head. “That’s not a choice.”
“Says who? You?”
“Yes.”
“And why do you get to make the rules?”
My nostrils flared. This rhetoric exhausted me. I angled my head left, then right, and cracked my neck.
“You don’t seem to understand, so let me be clear.” I kept my eyes locked on her. “This is the underworld, goddess. The enemy of my enemy is not my got damn friend. That includes them.” I pointed to her parents.
“Riccardo will meet my wrath. But it won’t be like your Uncle Benjamin. It will be long, excruciating, and exhausting. I gave Uncle Benjamin mercy—mercy that he didn’t deserve. Riccardo won’t get that.” I swept my eyes across her and noticed her body language; the uptick in her breathing, the widened eyes.
“You will never be able to forgive me for what I’m about to do to your family. And you’re pure-hearted; why would you?” I sucked my teeth. “I never had fears until I met you. I fear you will finally see the monster that I truly am, and I cannot stand to see your hatred once you do.”
I left her side and walked across the room, rummaged in a compartment, and returned to stand before her. I grabbed her hand, opened her fingers, and dropped a set of keys in her palm.
“The Benz outside will take you anywhere you want to go. You should take them to the hospital. Those bandages will only hold for a few minutes before they bleed out.”
“You cannot leave me like this,” she said, her voice shaky and tears filling her eyes.
My heart squeezed, but I had to stand my ground. “It’s what's best for both of us.”
“You don’t tell me what’s best for me!”
I glared at her. “Did you just hear what the fuck I said?”
“Did you hear me?” she screamed.
I grabbed her throat and slammed my mouth against hers. Our kiss stung, and we melted into each other. My heart ricocheted, and all my love for Penelope fought against my decision. I drew away before I could change my mind, and she grabbed my shirt.
“Dominic, I am having your child. You cannot leave me.” Tears ran down her face.
“You and my child will be protected and cared for forever. I promise.”
She lifted her hand and assaulted me with a slap.