The sun dipped low on the horizon, bleeding shades of orange and pink across the restless waves. The distant cries of seagulls faded beneath the sharp inhale I drew between clenched teeth.
"Ahh, uhm, ahhh! Oh my god!" I gasped, my hands clawing at the damp sand beneath me.
"Jesus Christ, stop moving." Nathan's voice was sharp, edged with an authority I didn't dare question. His brows furrowed in concentration as he knelt between my trembling legs, one hand gripping my thigh just above the angry puncture wound.
"How—uhm—how can I not make any noise?" I managed to choke out between ragged breaths.
His eyes flicked up to mine, dark and stormy. "This isn't my first time doing this, you know?"
The pain was unbearable, white-hot and searing, radiating from the snake bite on my thigh. Tears streamed down my face as Nathan's grip tightened.
"Oh, for God's sake, let me suck it out!" he barked, frustration flaring in his voice. "If you keep squirming like this, the venom will spread faster. It'll hit your bloodstream, then your heart, and you're going to die. I didn't drag you all the way here just to watch you die, okay?"
His words cut through the haze of panic clouding my mind. For a moment, all I could do was stare at him—at the sharp angles of his face, the faint scar on his brow, and the desperate fear in his eyes.
"Will you let me save the love of my life?"
There it was—raw and unfiltered. I could see it in the way his voice cracked slightly, in the way his fingers trembled against my skin. Without hesitation, I nodded.
Nathan didn't waste another second. His lips pressed firmly against the wound as he sucked at the venom, spitting out the poison with precision. The pain intensified, a sharp, burning agony that made my vision swim. Darkness crept along the edges of my sight, and before I could stop it, I slipped into unconsciousness.
"Kat, Kat... baby, wake up."
His voice was soft, coaxing me back into reality. My eyes fluttered open to see Nathan crouched beside me, his face inches from mine.
"Nathan?" My voice was weak, barely above a whisper.
He let out a breath he must have been holding and smiled faintly. "Hey. It's time to get moving."
I pushed myself up, wincing as the dull ache in my thigh protested. "What time is it?"
"Around seven," he replied, glancing towards the darkening sky. "But we can't stay here. It's not safe."
Before I could respond, faint voices echoed across the beach. Nathan's entire demeanor shifted in an instant—his body tensed, and his sharp gaze scanned the surroundings.
"Stay down," he whispered urgently. He pressed a finger to his lips as his eyes darted back to me. "I'm going to lead them away. Whatever happens, do not move. Do you hear me?"
"Wait—" I grabbed his wrist, my eyes pleading with his. "They'll kill you."
Nathan's lips curved into a humorless smile. "They can't kill me, Kat. Not yet. I'm the Mafia boss's son. No matter how much they want me dead, they won't pull the trigger. But you… I can't risk them finding you. I love you."
The words hit me harder than the venom ever had.
Before I could respond, he stood and turned towards the voices, his voice rising into a taunting shout.
"Come and get me, motherfuckers!"
The world froze as Nathan sprinted down the beach, his silhouette disappearing into the fading light. The voices erupted in chaos, and the sound of footsteps thundered past me as men with weapons gave chase.
I stayed still, just as he had told me, my heart pounding in my chest.
Was I worth this? Was his life worth risking for someone like me?
The ocean roared in the background, but all I could hear was the sound of my heartbeat—and the faint echo of his voice in the wind.
I love you.