Page 102 of Ruined in Vows

The sound of bullets hitting metal fills the trunk before it stops and the lock clicks. My eyes widen, my heart jumps into my throat, and I think I stop breathing altogether. My hands tremble almost uncontrollably as I lift the gun and aim.

“Breathe, Allegra. Focus. You can do this,” Alessio instructs from the backseat. “I’ve got Gio’s gun and am here with you.”

“Help her, Alessio,” Mamma chokes out, sobbing.

Drowning out all the outside noise, I keep my gaze on where I know the soldiers will appear as soon as they lift the back door.My chest heaves, breaths coming in thick and fast. I am terrified, but at this moment I know I have no other choice.

Muffled male voices talk outside the vehicle, no doubt deciding how they are going to play this. Then the door lifts, a sliver of daylight lighting up the space. The gun wobbles in my hands but I aim it forward, ready to kill anyone before they can kill me.

“This is it,” Alessio warns, just as the backdoor rises slowly.

Male figures in all black appear, their faces covered with masks. Before I can shoot them or vice versa, they fall to the floor, as blood spatters against my dress. I scream, eyes widening in shock, and I hear the faint sound of my name being called through the ringing in my ears. But I'm not quick enough.

Someone grabs for me, seconds before a gunshot sounds. My body jolts, pain exploding inside of me as I slump against the window of the overturned vehicle.

My vision turns blurry, hands shifting to my side where the pain radiates through me. I pull my hand up, nausea rising in my throat at the blood coating my skin.

I have been shot.

I have been shot.

I have been shot.

The words play on repeat in my head. Dizziness, weakness and a whole lot of other things surge in my body just before I start to lose consciousness.

Familiar, frantic voices pull at the recesses of my mind, but it’s one in particular that catches my attention, begging me to live. He grips my face, pulling at me, making me promise things I don’t think I can.

Dante.

My husband.

The man I gave my heart to when I was a young girl.

The man I love.

Strong hands lift me, cradling me in his arms and close to his chest.

“Stay with me,” he repeats over and over, his distressed voice tugging at my chest.

A contented sigh leaves my lips as I breathe in his familiar scent one last time.

Then everything goes black.

Chapter 58

Dante

Ishot my wife.

Chapter 59

Dante

The sound of the machines beeping is the only noise in the otherwise silent hospital room. My gaze doesn’t leave my wife as I watch her sleep. She hasn’t woken up since coming out of the operation she needed to remove the bullet and repair the tear in her skin where it hit her.

A bullet I put in her perfect body.

I clench my jaw, guilt and anger surging inside me.

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