Page 152 of My Sweetest Obsession

“One of the fuckers caught him by surprise and clocked him over the head. Knocked him out. Don’t worry, he’s alright,” he replied quickly.

I scanned the bridge to find it empty and silent. “Where’s Massimo?”

“He ran into the plant. And there was another guy who took off. I started to go after him, but that's when I saw you pulling Gigi out of the water.”

I knelt down and pressed a desperate kiss to Gigi’s cold lips. “I love you. I promise I’ll be back. Just stay with Lo, okay?”

Her eyes glistened with tears as she nodded, and my heart ached at the sight. I captured her lips with one last, lingering kiss, hoping to convey everything I was feeling.

With my weapon firmly in hand, I moved forward through the open field. I focused on the steel plant and took off running.

A gunshot echoed sharply, its sound ricocheting off the walls. I dropped to the ground, the rush of air from the speeding bullet grazing past my ear.

“Is that all you’ve got?” I taunted, my voice dripping with malice.

I pushed off the ground and dashed toward the sound of Massimo’s laughter, weaving through the rusty machinery.

Massimo fired, taking another shot. I twisted away just in time.

I ran up a set of metal stairs and spotted Massimo at the top. I pulled the trigger, striking him in the leg.

“Fuck!” Massimo unleashed a volley of bullets in my direction, his eyes wild. I swung my gun with precision, striking him hard in the throat. He staggered, clutching his throat, his gun clattering to the floor.

I delivered a powerful hook to his jaw, sending him reeling. “You took something that belonged to me,” I snarled.

My fist connected with his ribs, eliciting a painful grunt. “How do you like it, motherfucker?” I rained down blow after blow until I heard his cheekbone crack under the force.

Rage clouded my vision as I gripped his cheeks. “I’m going to kill you for taking her from me. For touching her. For causing her pain.”

“Fuck you,” he slurred, blood spilling from his mouth.

With a fierce shove, Massimo knocked me off balance, and I stumbled back. In a split second, he seized a rusted pipe from the ground, raising it high above his head, eyes glinting with madness.

“Die!” Massimo hissed, lunging forward, the pipe aimed at my throat.

I dodged to the side, the pipe barely grazing my skin. I grabbed his arm, twisting it violently, but he was like a wild animal.

“You should've known better than to fuck with me,” I growled.

As I prepared to deliver the final blow, a searing pain shot through my leg.

“Goddammit!” I cursed, spinning to face the man who had pushed Gigi into the water now charging at me, my eyes fixed on the weapon in his hand. With a swift move, my palm knocked the gun aside, sending it flying to the first level.

Massimo used the brief distraction and struck my injured leg with the pipe, sending shockwaves of pain through my body, forcing me to my knees.

“Ceaser, grab him!” Massimo’s breathing sounded labored as he attempted to get up.

Ceaser loomed beside me and yanked me to my feet. I unleashed a punch to his ribs, making him double over. I landed another strike on his opposite side. He gasped for breath, stumbling backward.

With a feral growl, he pounced and tackled me to the ground. I crashed down onto the concrete. He rained blow after blow on my abdomen. He raised his arm, ready to strike me in the face, but I blocked it with my forearm and drove my elbow into his neck, momentarily stunning him.

The fucker came at me again and renewed his assault, his foot grinding into my injured leg.

“Oh, you fuck!” I spat through gritted teeth, my good leg lashing out in an attempt to buck him off me. Then he drew his weapon and shot me in the other leg.

Massimo staggered back onto his feet and swung the pipe overhead and brought it crashing down into my stomach. Notonce, but twice. Pain exploded through me, and I curled into a ball, struggling for air.

“Not so tough now, are you?” Massimo snarled.