“Fuck,” I say as I begin to get myself away from Pippa. In a few seconds, we’ve gone from arguing to really showing how serious this moment is. I pull the knife from my leg and toss it aside. Thankfully, it didn’t go all the way in or this would be ending much differently.
I scramble to my feet as Pippa does the same. I’m in no mood for a full-on brawl in the middle of a fucking kitchen with someone whose better half had it coming. What I did for Zane might be seen as psychotic, but I only did it because I loved him and I was scared to lose him.
I loved to the point of death. That consuming blossom in my heart was addictive and tainted, and I took as much of it as I could out of greed. I wanted more time with the man I loved. All my actions derive from that one statement – I wanted a piece of my forever. No one would stop me.
Now, here I am with the biggest backlash of my life.
“You know, people like those in your family are who the devil looks forward to punishing,” she jests, provoking the anger in me now. “Your family is nothing but monsters and there is no hope for people like you. That knife was meant for your heart.”
I don’t get time to react. I’m speechless and at a loss of what to say regarding what my family is made up of. Yes, there are monsters, but not all of us are corrupt and rotten to the core. In my hesitating with thought, Pippa sees her opportunity and delivers a solid slap to my face. My head flies to the side, and I’m stunned as pain prickles to life before screaming out across my cheek. I hold my cheek before looking up at her. It’s now that I take my stand. I might not want to fight, but I won’t allow her to get away with any more than she has.
We fight, nails scratching, fists smacking against skin, and I know that there are multiple instruments I could use as an aid to finishing this, but that’s not what I want. Instead, I give Pippa one final shove, deciding not to continue to fight like two cats or opt to kill her. I’m supposed to be exuding power tonight, but that doesn’t mean I have to execute it as well. On her way down, Pippa slams into the countertop, winding her as she drops, and I watch her head quite literally bounce off the granite tiles.
When she doesn’t move immediately, my entire adrenaline level depletes and I’m left holding myself up. I start to mentally take note of what scrapes I’m going to walk away with and I think I’ve gotten away lightly, apart from my thigh – fucking ouch, is all I can think now that I’ve stopped moving! My leg feels weaker as I feel warm blood flow down it. I know I have to get out of here and fast before someone catches me. I just need to somehow get home and fix myself up. Thankfully, with the dress I’m wearing, the skirt helps to conceal what’s really wrong with my leg.
I walk around the kitchen to grab a towel and start to mop the blood away. As I draw up my leg and push down on the wound, I whimper. This is going to leave a mark, that’s for sure.
“Amelia.” I hear Enzo, and suddenly the room is filled with the noise from outside. I look to see him standing shocked in the doorway. “What the hell?” he asks coming further into the room.
“Cat fight,” I say, shrugging. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.” I take the towel away, trying my hardest to conceal it. When I notice movement from Pippa, I look down and nod at her. “Watch her,” I tell Enzo, looking over at Pippa as she grips her hip. “She hit her head pretty fucking hard on her way down.”
Enzo reaches for me as I leave, pulling me back with a gentle tug.
“Are you okay?” he asks me first, his tone low and comforting. “Don’t think I didn’t see the towel. What the hell happened in here? You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine,” I tell him, giving a forced smile. “I’m going home. This is all bullshit, and I can’t stay here. Will you cover for me?”
“Amelia,” he begins, trying to break me down slightly. When he sees I won’t relent, he sighs. “Sure thing. We won’t be home late.”
“Okay,” I say and finally slip away from his calm aura.
I leave the kitchen, trying hard to keep the limp I’m struggling with hidden from everyone. As I pass crowds of people, I see Zane and Carlo standing together, causing Manuel to laugh carelessly. When Manuel looks up at me, I wink and offer a small smile.
It’s then I decide to leave – just as Carlo and Zane follow Manuel’s glance. I walk through the rest of the building, out of the cloistered rooms, ones so full of expectation, memories, and alcohol, and down to our care where Matty faithfully awaits us.
As I slide into the backseat of the car, using the skirt of my dress to cover my wound, I look at the door and see no one following.
I should be thankful no one followed me out, but inside, I’m hurt that no one bothered.
***