Page 111 of She Belongs to Me

Commotion sounded from where Mattia’s men were positioned. This was going to be dicey as fuck, but if she could get away, that was all that mattered. We pitched and rolled, Mattia managing to grab the weapon.

I’d never been in this kind of a struggle, matching strength for strength. I used a wrestling move taught to me by Domino, getting the upper hand and straddling his legs. But he was stronger than he looked, managing to regain traction almost instantly.

With our fight continuing, both of us grunting like animals, the enemy soldiers were fast approaching. There was no time left. This had to be finished.

I threw my head back and roared, using what was left of my agility to drive my finger across the trigger.

As my father had always told me, those who hesitated even for a split second were the first to die.

That wasn’t going to be me.

Pop! Pop!

The close shots immediately echoed in my ears, preventing me from hearing anything else. After a deep breath, I said a silent prayer thanking whatever divine being had provided me with another day to live.

But as with all things as of late, there was no time to rest on my laurels. I shoved the bastard’s body off mine. There was only enough time to roll onto my stomach before the four thugs appeared in close proximity.

All four were ready and eager to fire. I was a damn good shot, but I wasn’t positive I could eliminate all four prior to being shot myself.

Pop! Pop!

The first two I fired were completely accurate, catching the two intended targets between the eyes.

But the fourth fired off a shot. I rolled, trying to reposition myself, but I didn’t have another chance to fire.

Pop! Pop!

But someone else did.

I pushed myself away, certain I would feel explosive pain then nothing but cold as the life began to ebb from my body.

But there was none of that, just additional heat from the continued rage.

What the hell had just occurred? Who’d fired off the shot?

“Jesus Christ. I really can’t leave you alone for a minute. Can I?”

Domino. I wasn’t certain I’d ever been so happy to see him. He headed toward me, offering his arm.

“Are the motherfuckers dead?”

“Yeah,” he said. “What the hell is going on?”

Once on my feet, I moved toward the man I’d killed at point blank range, kicking him onto his back. “Mattia.”

“Well, fuck. Do you want me to send some of the men out to pick off as much of his crew as possible?”

I grinned, the shadows unable to block out the light. “Yeah, do that. And here I thought you’d become such a playboy you forgot all about your upbringing.”

“Bullshit, brother. You’re the weak one.”

Another sound drew both of our attentions, the sharp cry coming from only feet away. As Alexandra bounded from a clump of trees, I could feel her terror.

“You’re alive. Oh, God.” She jumped into my arms, wrapping both her arms and legs around me.

“I ain’t going anywhere, little flower.”

She pulled away, shaking her head. “I thought. I just…”

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