Page 93 of Vicious Vows

"Call again!"

"Here! We're over here!"

Seconds later a small sliver of light came pouring from the side and I reached my fingers up to push through.

"Shit, okay, I'm here."

I heard Yuri straining as if he were trying to lift the slab off us but once again it didn't budge.

"Wait! We need to work together." Dominic stared down at me, those gray eyes jet black in the dim light. "On three." he ordered Yuri through the small opening.

I held my breath and waited for him to count down and when he got to three I pushed up with every ounce of strength I had right along with Yuri and Dominic. Slowly the heavy slab of concrete moved from on top of us and we were able to crawl out.

The smoke was just as suffocating as being trapped under the ceiling.

"We gotta get out of here, now." Yuri grabbed hold of both me and Dominic's arms and pulled us toward the only exit not engulfed by flames. It led to the back of the property where the deck was located. That part of the ceiling had yet to fall.

The closer we got to the outside the easier it was for us to hear the commotion going on outside. Apparently Lionel was still trying to get everyone to believe that he was the better leader.

"We can just go. We can leave and no one would ever know." I looked up at Dominic, pleaded with him to let this fight go.

When would it be enough? When would we be free of this?

"I wish I could. As long as there's air in that bastard's lungs I'll never be able to look at myself in the mirror. One way or another this has to end. Now." Dominic shook his head and tried to stand tall but it was clear that he was on his last legs.

I held him still for a second much to Yuri's dismay and looked into Dominic's eyes. I wanted to try harder to talk him out of it but there was no mistaking the look in his eyes. This needed to be done.

"You can leave. I'm releasing you. I no longer have a hold over you. You don't belong in my world but I'm so fucking grateful that you showed me even a small piece of yours." He leaned down and kissed me hard, pulling away just as another explosion rattled the building.

I wanted to pull him back, wanted to hold on to this man who had somehow burrowed deep into my heart and held it hostage. I wanted to admit how badly I never wanted him to let me go but I had to do just that, let him go.

I took a step back and he pushed me gently into Yuri's arms.

"If I don't make it out of this, your last order is to make sure Faye is safe. Keep her away from Lionel and everyone else." Dominic's eyes burned with determination.

"You know I will." Yuri pulled me toward the door and Dominic followed his eyes no longer on me but now they were zeroed in on his brother's back.

Yuri and I stepped out onto the back porch just in time for Lionel to deliver his closing remarks and wish his guests farewell. "I hope everyone has enjoyed the show." Lionel laughed and clapped his hands while the audience stared at him in horror.

That horror turned to amazement as they watched Dominic step out of the burning crumbling building like a phoenix.

"Who said the show was over?" Dominic growled in his brother's direction a second before he barreled straight into him.

A predator attacking his prey.

CHAPTER 38

Faye

My eyes filled with tears as I watched the absolute Armageddon-like scene unfolding in front of me.

Dominic's house, the grand massive structure that looked more like a mansion the first time I saw it, was crumbling section by section in front of me while flames licked up from various spots all around.

The guests that remained stared in awe at the scene while my eyes constantly drifted to the main event, the real main event. Lionel and Dominic were brawling like prizefighters. "Come on, we have to go," Yuri tried to tug me away, but I dug my heels in and refused to move. I needed to find out what would happen to him, needed to be here for him. There was no way I was leaving his side now, not after all we'd learned and been through together.

"I have a fucking job to do. I'll toss you over my damn shoulder to make sure that I do it," Yuri screamed in my face, and even though he was brusque, I could see the fear blooming in his eyes. He cared for Dominic too, a loyalty I hadn't expected from someone who was more or less just a hired hand.

If we made it out of this, I'd have to talk to Dominic about giving Yuri a raise. So far, he'd already risked his life more than half a dozen times, and now he was going to do everything in his power to make sure that he completed Dominic's last order to the T.

---