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“Don’t go any farther” The faint voice caun Blood pooled down his sleeve from his left shoulder wound At least he could punch with his right, but what good would that do him now?

Carlos and Drago turned to the voice As she stepped closer, he recognized the old bitch It was Belle’s mother, the one who cared more about name brands than her own flesh and blood child He re a cigarette while Belle fought as a child No un on them On him specifically

“This was a long ti,” he said “Your husband won’t be able to hurt anyone else, and now that the one, neither will you”

“Or,Luckily, I used this gun in self-defense We wouldn’t want to mess up my dear Randal’s life insurance claim, would we?”

She pulled the trigger, clipping hirunted and dashed to the side as she wildly waved the gun, trying to get a better ai him this time Then she had him pinned between the house and shed, a wicked smile on her face

An odd calm flooded his body At least Belle and Ava were safe Belle was strong, and she’d be able to start over and live a good life At least he’d done one decent thing before he died

Then a dark shadowhis attention When she followed his gaze, a ht hook knocked her down to her ass Then another And another

Belle pounded her own mother into the dirt until the bitch didn’t stir at all

Once the initial shock wore off, Drago bolted forward and wrapped his good ar her off her mother

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

“You expected me to listen? You know I can’t control etic, but she had just saved their asses Belle was beautiful, strong, and had an unbreakable soul “You’re hurt,” she said when she noticed the blood on his coat “How?”

“The vest only protects the chest I’ll live”

“What if it had been your head?”

He ignored her “What about Ava?”

“I got Candice’s nuht,” she said

“Why? Were you jealous again? Planning to beat her up?”

She scowled “I needed a back-up plan for Ava if I decided not to listen again Don’t flatter yourself, old man”

He backed her up until she hit the shed Drago pressed his body against hers When she brought her hands up to his chest, he kissed her bloodied knuckles His little fighter

She daintily touched his wound He fought not to flinch “We have to get back to the hotel so I can check this out”