To Burn for His Betrayal

The door was thrown open, and a familiar figure rushed in.

But I was fading fast. Blood loss sent black spots swimming in my vision. My blood-stained hand was pressed tightly against my abdomen, where the dark red stain bloomed on my white gown like a wilting rose.

"Felix," I choked out, my voice cracking. "Help me."

Felix rushed toward me. Scarlett's gaze shifted to him, clearly intimidated by the sheer menace rolling off him.

"Brother or lover?" she sneered, feigning bravado. "This is Jonas Owen's territory. No one in Chicago touches me."

Felix ignored her, rushing to my side and shielding me with his body. His hands trembled with rage, but his touch was gentle. "I'm Felix Delgado," he growled, his voice heavy with the quiet lethality of a man who had killed before. "Who hurt my sister?" His cold gaze swept the room like the barrel of a gun.

The noise in the shop instantly died, leaving only my suppressed groans in the dead silence.

Scarlett flinched but quickly puffed out her chest. "I did. So what? My man is Jonas Owen. You touch me, he'll make your whole family pay!"

I coughed, and blood spattered onto Felix's shirt, a stark stain on the white fabric. I asked weakly, "You didn't bring anyone?"

The pain was unbearable, my consciousness beginning to drift. "Her dagger wasn't clean. I don't think I can hold on."

His voice softened for me, but when he turned to Scarlett, it was razor-sharp. "I was close, so I came alone. Papa's on his way with his men. He'll be here in ten."

His gaze fixated on my wound, his expression turning lethal. "Who the fuck gave you the balls to touch a Delgado Principessa?" He advanced on Scarlett, each step a hammer blow to her nerves. "Jonas Owen, right? You're the stray he keeps on the side?"

"I'm his wife!" she shrieked, whipping out her phone. "Who do you think you are? I'm calling Jonas right now to come break your legs."

I grabbed Felix's sleeve and shook my head. I wanted to see, when it came down to life and death, if Jonas would choose his lover or his own life.

"Hospital first," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Scarlett blocked our path, her voice a syrupy whine into her phone. "Darling, some asshole named Felix Delgado is here, saying I hurt his sister. He's trying to kill me! You have to get here now!"

Jonas's voice crackled through the phone. "Who the fuck is bold enough to cause trouble on my territory? Where are you?"

"In the shop you set up for me," Scarlett replied, a venomous glint in her eyes. "He said he's going to make the Owen family pay the price."

Jonas paused. "Who? Felix Delgado?"

"Yes," Scarlett said, lifting her chin. "He's with that bitch Aurelia, and he said..."

"Impossible!" Jonas's voice was sharp with fear. "You tangled with Felix? Are you sure it's him?"

I smiled bitterly. The stabbing pain in my abdomen was nothing compared to the ice in my heart. He hadn't mentioned me once. He was only afraid of the power the name Felix Delgado represented.

Our relationship was a joke. It weighed less than one of Papa's business cards.

My body went limp, and I nearly slipped from Felix's arms. He swept me up into a bridal carry and roared into the phone, "Jonas, your bitch stabbed my sister. Now, get your ass over here!"

Scarlett stared in horror at the now-disconnected call. "This is impossible... Why would Jonas be afraid of you?"

She waved a hand, a pre-arranged signal. A hidden door behind the VIP room swung open, and a dozen thugs armed with iron pipes and knives swarmed us. "Even if you are from the Delgado family, you're not walking out of here today!"

A desperate madness flickered in Scarlett's eyes. "As long as I kill you both and get rid of the bodies, Jonas can clean up the rest!"

Felix, holding me, looked at them with contempt. "With this trash?"

But I knew Felix was alone and had to protect me. I struggled to stand, grabbing a sharp shard from the shattered mirror on the floor.

"Anyone who takes another step closer dies!"

I pointed the shard of glass at Scarlett. Blood dripped from my hand, but I felt no pain. My heart pounded, my eyes burning with hatred. "You want me dead? Then I'll drag you to hell with me!"

I lunged forward, slashing the sharp glass across her cheek.

A deep gash tore open her cheek, from the corner of her eye to her chin.

Scarlett's bloodcurdling scream tore through the shop.