Page 128 of Dirty Hearts

I looked around to see Jude go down again. Blurt spurted from the side of his head. Someone shot him, someone shot him preventing him from shooting me.

Someone…

Not just any someone.

A few metres away stood Alex, gun still held out, aiming at Jude.

He’d killed him.

He’d shot his brother and killed him, saving me.

The horrified look on his face pulled on my heart, and worse was the tear that ran down his cheek.

He didn’t look at me. He stared at Jude’s lifeless body then turned and walked away.

Chapter 32

Ava

* * *

Gio took me to the hospital.

That was where everyone was.

Yesterday I was taken to the hospital along with Marcus who had a few broken ribs.

I was physically okay, but he had to stay in.

Claudius took me back to his place and I slept and slept, drained from all that had happened to me.

I couldn’t believe I’d made it out alive.

When I woke up earlier I found Gio downstairs keeping watch, just in case.

The nurse directed us to a private room where Marcus was staying. I saw Luc and Dante first. Then Amelia. She was sitting on the edge of the bed with a bowl of soup, trying to feed Marcus.

He looked awful with all the bruises on his face.

“Pet, I swear to God I’ll throw the damn soup through the window. I hate soup,” Marcus complained, shaking his head.

“Marcus, I’m not leaving until you eat the soup.”

“Lucian, your wife is driving me crazy.”

“Pa, just drink it.” That was Claudius.

I saw him now as Gio and I stepped inside.

All eyes turned to us, but I couldn’t look away from Claudius. I thought Marcus looked bad, but Claudius’ face looked far worse than yesterday. Today there was hardly an area of his face that didn’t have a bruise or swelling.

“Are you okay, pet?” Marcus asked me, drawing my attention back to him.

I nodded. “Are you? I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

He reached his hand to me, and I moved closer to take it.

“I’ve had worse. I kind of needed some action. Things were too quiet.”