The Mafia Bride (Katrina and Silas)

Chapter

22

I sat on the floor with my head between my legs.

My breathing was shallow, each breath trembling as I tried to make sense of what I had just seen.

The walls of my room, which once felt comforting and familiar, now seemned to close in around me.

I was filled with the realization that I had just walked into something I could never unsee.

How could they?

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the image of that man's lifeless body on the chair where he was tied up.

The echo of Silas fists pounding against flesh repeatedly and the sickening sound of bones breaking

I'd heard stories.

I knew the rumors about what Silas did. How he was known to torture people without mercy.

The maids ways talked about it, and so did the guards.

They always talked about Silas going down to the basement and the screams of men rising with time.

But that knowledge had always stayed at a distance, somewhere far removed from my life. Up until today.

Now, that distance had shattered

The floor beneath me felt cold but I didn't move. I didn't want to.

The shock held me there, as if moving might make everything that much more real.

Maybe if I stayed at a spot, it wouldn't be real. I wouldn't believe that Silas had killed a man even after he information he was looking for.

What was I supposed to do now? Act Like I didn't see it?

Go back to pretending that everything in my life was normal.

From the day he had kidnapped me, normal was taken away from me.

I let out a shaky breath, my body slumping back against the edge of my bed.

gave

him the

My fingers gripped the blanket that was wrapped around me as though it could ground me, but it didn't help.

Nothing helped.

How was I supposed to come to terms with it all

That Silas, who had his fingers inside me a few moments ago, could so easily end a man's life with that same hand as if it meant nothing?

I blamed myself and my foolish curiosity for that.

had seen Silas and Phillip rushing over somewhere and curiosity got the better of me.

watched as Silas questioned him about the location of something. When he finally spoke, I thought Silas was going to let

III

Thu, Nov

Little did I know that he had planned to hit him till se died.

y stomach twisted in knots, and Helt the bitter taste of bile rise in my throat.

My

I had to push it away and stop myself from vomiting.

He was in the mafia for crying out loud.

What else was expecting from someone who had kidnapped me and killed men in the process?

Someone who killed was just like waking up to him.

But every time I tried to think of something else, my mind dragged me back to that basement, to the cold, detached Look in Silas' eyes as he beat the man to death Phillip had seen me following them. He had turned around and met my gaze while they were going down to the basement.

Even while Silas hit the man, he looked at me as if to say this is who he is

And the worst part: When Silas had locked eyes with me, there had been no remorse. No hesitation.

Only the silent acknowledgment that this was who he was. And deep down, I wasn't sure if I could handle that truth.

My head snapped up when I heard the sound of people outside my room.

It sounded like Phillip speaking quietly to someone else.

They were back already?

I wondered, staring at the door.

1 strained to listen, trying to catch pieces of their conversation, but their voices were too low.

A sudden, loud shout echoed through the hallway, making me jump to my feet.

What was that?

My heart pounded in my chest as I hurried to the door, pressing my ear against it.

I couldn't leave my or

my room just yet.

The shouts were growing louder and more frantic, and there was an undeniable edge of panic laced within them..

Did anything happen to them while they were outside?

I had heard Phillip's voice. If he was here then what about Silas

I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorknob

What was going on? I couldn't make out the words, but I knew something had happened, something bad.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, a sense of dread creeping into my gut

The shouts outside were getting louder, and my curiosity piqued.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

yanked the door open and stepped into the hallway, my feet moving faster than my mind could process.

11:35 Thu, Nov 21 t UB.

"Katrinal" One of the grands rushed past me, his face pale as he glanced over his shoulder.

gecie

"You have been requested to stay inside by Phillip until they get the situation under control," He tried to lead me back to my room, but I turned away from his hold. "What situation?" I asked, my voice shaky. "What's going on?"

He didn't stop to answer. He didn't have to. A cold rush of fear settled over me when I heard the next shout, louder and

more distinct

"Nas is back! He's wounded!"

My heart dropped. Silas

I didn't think I just ran.

My feet carried ine through the hallway, past the startled glance of the other guards and maids,

I ignored the concerned looks and the panic that filled the air.

My thoughts were only on one thing on one person.

I needed to see Silas.

burst through the doors and into the open courtyard, my eyes scanning the chaotic scene in front of me.

Maids and guards panicked, each person unsure of what to do.

I squinted my eyes to see through the dim light, searching for Silas.

At a distance, people gathered and the center of it all was Silas, slumped against the side of a car

His shirt was stained with blood, his face pale and slick with sweat. People crowded around him, shouting orders, but my focus narrowed in on him, and him alone. "Silas!" I yelled, my voice breaking as I ran to him.

I had forgotten what I had witnessed earlier, I forgot the dark look on his face when he hit that man.

All I could see now was his face squeezed in pain and my heart cenched.

He turned his head slightly at the sound of my voice, his eyes finding mine. For a moment, everything else faded away the soise, the panic, the chaos.

I was just us. Just him.

Katrina..." he murmured, his voice hoarse, as if the very effort of speaking drained him.

dropped to my knees beside him, reaching out to touch his arm

by fingers brushed against the fabric of his jacket, now sticky with blood. Too much blood.

could barely breathe as I looked down at the wound, the ragged tear in his side where the bullet had gone through.

What happened?" I whispered, my voice shaking as tears pricked at my eyes.

gas

las was supposed to mean nothing to me, so why were there tears in my eyes?

T

Silas tried to smile, burit eage out as more of a grimace. Just complication"

butiteage

A complication. That's what he called it.

As it getting

shot was just another minor inconvenience in his life. I shook my head, glaring at him slightly.

This was more

was more than a complication.

"You need help," I said, my voice trembling as I glanced around for someone, anyone who could do something.

They're... handling it, he muttered, his hand reaching up to grasp mine. Flis fingers were cold, far too cold. may hate

but I sliddy't want hims

to die.

I squeezed his hand tightly, my mind racing

How could he be so calm? How could he just sit here, bleeding on, acting like this was nothing? It infuriated me. It terrified

The

Maybe this wasn't the first time he had been in this situation.

And I didn't think it would be the last.

"I don't care. I snapped, my emotions boiling over. "You're not invincible, Silas. You're not-"

"I know," he cut me off, his voice sofer now, almost resigned.

I know, Katrina."

My heart clenched painfully in my chest as I stared down at him, at the man I had just seen ruthlessly take another life not even hours ago.

The man who had torn my world apart. And yet here he was, vulnerable, bleeding, and I couldn't stand the thought of losing

him

Wait, what?

Where did that thought come from?

Not being able to stand losing Silas... Was that true?

I didn't understand it. I didn't understand why I felt this way; even after everything I'd seen, I still cared.

Why did the sight of him like this hurt more than anything else?

"Put him into the stretcher and carry him inside," Phillip ordered his men."

I whipped my head around, anger bubbling in me

"Carry him inside? What he needs is a hospital!" I hissed, glaring hard at him.

Phillip's hard gaze fell on me, his face stoic.

You know the field of work we're in, what explanation would you give the cops when they ask how he got shot?" Phillip isked, staring at me like I was stupid.

And he made a point

dy mouth opened and closed, words struggling to come out

15

I didn't have any argument

Suddenly, the heavens opened

water falling from the sky Turiets.

Phillip stared at me wordlessly as they carried Silas inside,

-You

still have the chance to escape,"

Without saying any else, he turned away and walked off, leaving me battling with my emotions.