Scarred Seductress

Blood and Fury

“I’m sorry, but you can't come in,” one of the nurses said as they held a bawling Selene back, wheeling an unconscious Leo into the emergency room, the door shutting behind them.

“No… no… no… not my baby, not my Leo,” Selene whimpered, shaking her head frantically, her eyes trailing over her blood-soaked hands.

“You have to calm down, Selene… you have to calm down.” She heaved as she paced, nodding to that, her fingers threading through her hair.

“Selene!” Ava's voice echoed through the hallway, drawing Selene's eyes in that direction.

Ava bolted on her heels, covering the space between them in no time, her eyes widening as they ran over Selene.

“What… what happened?” Ava panicked. “Where's Leo, Selene… you said he was fine just minutes after we spoke and—”

“Leo's unconscious,” Selene choked out, her tears falling freely as she started to tremble again.

Ava let out a shaky sigh.

“What actually happened, Selene? How did it even happen?”

“I don't know!” Selene whined, breaking down bitterly and squeezing her eyes shut.

One second she was taking her son to safety, the next second he was covered in blood, barely alive.

“You said he was with you, Selene… what could have gone wrong with you there?”

“It was an accident,” Selene shuddered, sniffing, her eyes blinking open and shifting to Ava.

“There was a car behind us, Ava… in… in full speed…”

“You had a child in the car, Selene. Don't tell me you couldn't spare a few minutes to slow down and let it pass.”

“I did, Ava… I swear I did.”

“Then how did it—”

A sharp gasp tore out of Selene as the realization crashed into her like a punch to the gut for the first time.

“Unless… unless it wasn't just an accident.”

Ava's eyes widened, her shaking palms flying to her open lips.

“You said something about your house not being safe, Selene… could it be—”

“Damien.” Selene spat, gritting her teeth as the pain inside her intensified into anger.

Ava’s fingers pushed into her hair as she started to pace, even more panic simmering across her face.

“I warned you against this, Selene… I begged you for Leo’s sake over and over, but you just wouldn't listen.”

Selene hissed, low and venomous.

“Moving to this city was a big mistake, Selene… I think it's about time we went back to—”

“Never!” Selene spat, silencing Ava.

“You of all people should know that I, Selene, would rather die than lose to these people a second time.”

“But—”

Selene snatched the keys from Ava's hand, dipping her fingers into the pockets of Ava's coat too.

“What are you doing?”

“As soon as the surgery ends, call me,” Selene said, shoving Ava's phone into her own pocket.

“Where are you going, Selene… Leo needs you now more than ever.”

“I'm not leaving him, Ava… I'm just going to find the man who did this to him.”

“And what do you intend to do when you find him?” Ava asked.

Selene proceeded past her, ignoring the question as her fist coiled into a tight ball.

“Selene!” Ava's voice echoed behind her.

“It better not be you, Damien,” Selene whispered, hastening her steps and exiting the hospital building, glancing over the garage and landing her eyes on Ava's familiar car.

She stumbled toward it and slipped inside, slamming the door shut and igniting the engine.

“You dare try to kill my son?” she chuckled, hollow and broken. “I'll kill that little brat of yours right before your very eyes before I let you take Leo from me.”

The car eased into the busy road, Selene's mind wallowing deep in thought as she sped toward the Moretti mansion, her lips curling between her teeth as her blood boiled.

The drive lasted only a short while, and soon Selene’s car was already blaring its horn behind the gigantic gates of the mansion.

“Ma'am?” A guard stepped forward, raising his brow as his eyes settled on Selene—blood-stained, disheveled, and considering the fact that she had just left minutes ago.

“Is everything okay, ma'am? You look—”

“I just had a minor accident and barely made it here in one piece. Can you just let me through? I… I… can't hold on for—”

“Of course,” the guard heaved, his face etched with genuine concern as he stepped aside.

Selene sped into the compound, halting the car to an abrupt stop as her eyes stretched to Damien on the balcony, oblivious to her presence, smoking.

She let out a bitter scoff and hastened out of the car, just about to head for the main door when her eyes caught a glimpse of the exact car from the accident slowly wading its way through the open gates.

Selene swallowed a tight breath, cold sweats breaking across her forehead as she waited.

The car crawled to a slow stop and the door clicked open, Marina's assistant stepping out and pressing a slight bow to Damien on the balcony.

Selene stumbled back, the weight of it all crashing over her like a tidal wave as she pieced it together.

It was never just an accident.

They had really tried to kill her only seconds ago.

Damien, Marina… or even Matteo.

Any one of them.