Explosive ( Bloody Heirs #1 )

Breakthrough

AIDA

Am I on fire? Is the first thought that crossed my mind when I felt my body waking up, every bone and organ aching inside me.

A quick peek to the real world told me I wasn't on fire but I was swarmed by people. I didn't even like any of them right now.

"I know you're awake," Ivan whispered softly, gently laying his head on my shoulder. "But I won't say anything to the others if you don't want to."

I internally cringed at his touch, my body recoiling at the contact with another being. You'd think in the last few weeks I would've gotten used to being touched more and more by people who knew better before - I obviously hadn't. I wanted my space, I needed my space.

"Can you please get up?" I said as loud as my aching throat would allow me. I felt Ivan nod and the weight of his head lifted off my shoulders. "Thanks."

I reached underneath myself, pushing up into a sitting position against the headboard, keeping my eyes closed still. "Can someone tell me who exactly is in this room?"

A soft voice replied: "Me - Karina, Natalya, Ivan, Romero, Stefan, Fiorella, Callisto, Cain, Domenico and some friend of Domenico's." A small shred of hope clung to Karina's words.

"All of you out."

"Aida-" Natalya started.

I opened my eyes, settling on a glare. "Yes?"

My little sister glared right back at me, her intensity almost out matching mine. "You aren't going to be alone right now and that's final."

A humorless laugh left me. "And since when do you make the rules?"

"Since you're incapable of making and following them!" She yelled, her eyes getting colder by the second. "You walk toward death with such courage and bravery and selfishness, you don't even think about the people who'll suffer if one day you won't make it out alive!"

Stefan had a hand on her arm, trying to pull her away from the room. He didn't know that once Natalya let loose, she let loose. "That's what you are, Aida. Selfish, manipulative and violent. You don't care what happens to me or to Ivan or to Karina or to anyone as long as you make it out safe."

A hand slammed on the wall, the furniture shaking with the force. My eyes moved over on their own accord, widening when they landed on a pale faced, shaking Romero.

"Your sister has sacrificed her life, her sanity and herself over and over again for you, Natalya. You don't get to speak to her that way one of the few times she chooses herself. Until you get a hold of yourself, get out of the room." He looked around at the people gathered. "All of you."

Everybody nodded and made a beeline for the door, Karina's lingering frame accompanied by her soft smile making guilt brew in the pit of my stomach before Domenico hauled her along.

"Thank you," I whispered into the silence that had enveloped us. I looked at Romero, seeing him nod.

My eyes raked over him, noting the way his shirt was wrinkled, his face was tired and he was barely hanging on. "How are you doing?" He asked, still not looking at me.

I smiled weakly. "I'm okay. I should be asking you that since you look like all of my dogs and their pups ran you over."

"Luckily, I haven't experienced that yet." A small chuckle left Romero. "Hopefully I won't ever experience that."

"They'll only run over you on occasion. And that if you either upset me or stand in the way of their food."

"I don't like dog food so I don't think that'll be a problem." He said, the ghost of a smile appearing on his face and my chest clenched at the sight of it.