Page 144 of Unbreakable Thread

My gaze doesn’t leave the gun pointing directly at me. From the corner of my eye, Max fights the men off him, regardless of the guns out.

“She has nothing to do with this. Get. Her. Out!” The last word is a plea.

The violence on Carlos’s face is pure evil; there is no ounce of good in him. The floor quakes under me from my trembling legs. I wrap my hands protectively over my belly.

Please protect my babies, I silently pray.

“Guns down,” Daniel shouts an order. His men tuck the guns in their holsters, but Carlos idles. “Carlos,” he warns.

His gun is still drawn on me. The look on his face says he’ll pull it. Who’s in charge? Carlos or Daniel?

The anxiety settles deep in my chest. My stomach churns, and my babies move as if they can feel my discomfort. “Please,” I beg, my voice not my own. How many times can a person escape death? I’ve come close so many times.

“It’s okay, baby.” Max’s voice is a soothing comfort. If those are the last words I’ll ever hear, then I’ll take them with us and treasure them. “Carlos, put the gun down. She’s pregnant.” Max’s voice is raspy as he thrashes in the arms of three men holding him down. “What is it you want, and I’ll do it,” Max begs, and he’s never been one to beg at anyone.

“Anything?” With his free hand, he rubs his chin. “Marry Annette and train with me.”

No, please, not that.

Carlos chuckles. “Come on, Max, don’t tell me you haven’t thought of Annette in bed? Mmm. Damn, I’ve had her plenty of times. I tested her out for you. You don’t know what you’re missing out on. This bitch right here will hold you back. I’ve already tried ending her a couple of times for you. Paid to have her pushed at the warehouse. So close. Then the fire. She’s like a pestering fly. Won’t die.” He licks his greasy lips. “Annette, on the other hand, will do anything you say. She will spread those legs for you and give you the heirs that will create a legacy of Canos. Marry Annette, Max.”

From my line of vision, Xander scrunches his nose. If I weren’t frozen in place, I’d do the same. Carlos slept with Annette? What a disgusting slut. Although it doesn’t surprise me. He’s been so close to her.

“I have a wife. I’m not interested in your whore. Watch it, the bitch might have her other arm broken.”

“Had!” Carlos’s gun clicks, the metallic sound sharp and final in the tense silence, like a key turning in a lock.

Nobody moves. The gun remains on me. Max is fighting the men holding him. The room is completely still. My life flashes before my eyes. Something moved at the edge of my vision. Fast. Too fast to understand. A hard body pushes me sideways. I hear the shot before I understand what had happened. Then I’m on Xander.

Where’s Leo? What happened to Leo…?

The thunder and desperation in Max’s cry pierce my ears. “Leo!” he roars, shaking the men off him. My breathing is heavy, trying to get off my knees to see his line of vision. Once I’m up, I see the pool of blood. My heart gasps and shatters in one. “Leo!” I drop to my knees beside him. “No, Leo, please, no.” Taking off my cardigan, I apply pressure to his chest with it.

“Call an ambulance,” Xander roars.

Drake’s voice thunders, screaming for help.

Max rushes to us. “Come on, brother, stay with us.”

Leo’s lips curl into a smile. Even now. Even bleeding on a ballroom floor. “You’re my brother?” Like he needs to hear himself say it.

Tears swim in my vision.

“Yeah, through and through, you’re my brother. I love you, man. You’re going to make it.” Max’s eyes find mine. “Are you okay, baby? Are you hurt?” His voice trembles.

Leo saved me. He took the bullet aimed at me. “No…no.” I shake my head violently. “I’m not hurt.” My voice trembles.

“S…Sol,” Leo says in a painful breath.

“Shhh, honey. Don’t talk. You stay awake. You’re going to be fine.” I look to Max. “Do you think we can carry him out? It will be faster if we take him.”

“We can try.”

Leo moves his head slowly from side to side. “I…I’m going to miss you.” He looks at me, then at Max.

“Don’t talk like that. You’re not going anywhere.” I choke on my sobs. I refuse to lose him. He has so much to live for. Leo is young and energetic. He became my best friend. “I love you.” With the back of my hand, I wipe the tears. “The twins need their uncle.” My cardigan is soaked with blood. No matter how hard I try to apply pressure, it won’t stop. “Stay with me.”

“The ambulance is on its way,” Drake shouts, kneeling next to us, lifting Leo’s head to prevent him from choking.