Page 72 of Something Borrowed

Rufino turns into a beast at the sound of my pain.

He flies at the man closest to him, slamming his fist into the guys face. I hear the crack of bone as his nose splinters under the force of Rufino’s punch.

Rufino doesn’t stop. From the floor he grabs another man’s leg and yanks it out from beneath him. He falls hard onto his back, causing his gun to fire.

My father ducks to the ground yelling something I can’t make out.

Three other men fly towards Rufino. One of them kicks him in the face and his head snaps backwards, but it doesn’t stop him. He’s back on his feet as their hands grab at him and try to force him back down.

“Rufino, stop.” I scream. “He’ll kill you.”

Tears are streaming down my cheeks.

My entire body is shaking, and my voice is breaking.

“Stop.” I scream again.

Someone lifts the butt of his rifle and slams it into Rufino’s head.

He collapses to the ground, semi-unconscious, groaning and lifting his hand to touch his skull at the point of impact.

I try to run to him, but hands grab at me and pull me away.

I stand with my eyes on him, my back against the guard, his hand around my throat and a gun against my head.

Inside my body is raging. I want to go to Rufino. I want to know he’s ok.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Rufino

The world is spinning in and out of darkness while I fight against it. She needs me. She needs me now more than ever. I can’t let them take her.

I promised to keep her safe.

I push myself up onto my arms. Squeezing my eyes shut for a second to force away the fog infecting my head.

Pain shoots down my neck and into my shoulder. My skull is about to explode with pain.

It doesn’t matter.

All that matters is her.

I push myself up onto my haunches and then stand on shaky legs.

Her voice is swimming in and out of my mind.

“Rufino - are you ok - Rufino?” There’s a quiver of tears in her words.

They fuel me, driving me and giving me the strength I need to stand.

When I spin around, I throw another punch at the guy standing closest to me.

He falls to the floor.

“Enough.” Luca screams.

Two men lift their rifles to my head, the barrels pushed against my skull. I freeze and look towards Verity, trapped against another man, his gun against her temple. “No.” I mutter, hopeless to save her.

---