Page 156 of My Sweetest Obsession

“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.