“She’s mine!” The dark-haired, ruggedly handsome man, wild as a beast, lunged forward and grabbed Andriado by the throat in a flash.
With a subtle twist, Andriado broke free, landing a sharp blow to his rival’s gut, doubling the poor guy over in pain.
“Melania’s coming with me!” he declared.
“No way in hell!” Bass growled, shoving his long, jet-black hair out of his eyes. “You know who I am!”
“Yeah, I know you’re stronger, but I’m no rookie either! I won’t let you lay a finger on Melania! Get lost, or you’ll regret it!”
“You’re the one who needs to get lost. The girl’s mine! And I’m not letting you drag her into your dirty political games!”
“She’s not playing your games either! And she sure as hell won’t be your lover!”
“And you, you little punk, think she’ll be yours? Not a chance!”
Oh, for heaven’s sake! Is anyone even going to ask me what I want?
Then again, what do I want? Probably just for everyone to leave me alone… And for these two idiots not to kill each other, because I couldn’t bear another loss… Another? Damn this memory of mine! Or rather, damn this amnesia! The fear of loss stabs at my temples like an iron nail, but I can’t for the life of me remember who I lost or why it hurts so much.
And why should I care about these stubborn jerks yanking me back and forth like I’m some kind of toy? Let them fight, let them tear each other apart. While they’re busy, I’ve got a chance to slip away…
But these two morons charge at each other like bulls seeing red. Rage burns in their eyes. And despite all my rational thoughts, I step between them.
“Stop it!” I shout, squeezing my eyes shut in fear.
I thought these two freight trains would crush me like a blade of grass. But no, they stop.
“Melania, you know I don’t mean you any harm, and I won’t let anyone hurt you,” Andriado says, looking up at me with guilty eyes.
Bass extends a rough, calloused hand.
“I’ll give you the protection you need. Only with me will you feel safe. You know that…”
“I don’t know anything! Not a single thing!”