Leo turned to his men, his voice flat and commanding. "Take him. Keep him alive."
His men moved quickly, dragging Nicolas's limp body away. Nicolas's protests were weak, his struggles futile, his eyes wide with disbelief. He tried to speak, tried to shout, but the words came out as choked gasps. His hands clawed at the floor as they pulled him, leaving faint streaks of blood on the polished wood. His head lolled to the side, his eyes still fixed on Dominique's crumpled form.
Bella stared at Leo, her heart pounding. She had never seen him like this, so cold… so deadly. His gray eyes were like ice, his jaw set in a hard line. Then she looked back at Dominique, who lay crumpled on the floor, his blood pooling beneath him, staining the floor a deep, dark red.
