I’m focused on his words.

Or, the lack thereof.

I need to talk to him about it. To ask him if he sees a future with me. Because if not…

There’s a loud sound behind us.

I’m on my feet, turning to look, but Dino is faster. He shoves me behind him, and as soon as I peek from around his shoulder.

There’s a mud covered man.

Holding a gun.

Walking straight for us.

The soldiers are scrambling, but no one has weapons on an aid mission. The man comes closer, and my heart skips to a thousand miles a minute.

Underneath the mud, a familiar cold face glints back at me.

“Andrei,” I breathe.

“Stay back,” Dino barks at me.

Andrei comes closer, gun steady. He blinks, his eyes red and staring as he comes to point-blank range.

“Give her to me,” he growls.

Dino stiffens. “Fuck off,” he snarls.

“Give her to me,” Andrei repeats.

“No,” Dino growls.

Andrei shrugs.

Everything moves in slow motion after that. I hear the gun cock, see his finger on the trigger. My eyes go wide and a scream poses in my throat.

He’s going to shoot Dino.

I push, hoping Dino makes it out of the way in time, but he’s made of stone…

The sound of a gunshot shatters the moment, and everything moves at once.

People scream around us. The campis in chaos.

I’m holding onto Dino, hoping to God that he’s okay, that he’s not hurt too bad. I look over at Andrei, ready to beg for Dino’s life, when my jaw drops.

Andrei is on the ground.

He’s moaning, his hand clutching his shoulder.

Dino, next to me, standing, unhurt, is still as a statue.

“Dino?” I ask.

“Bernadino Drakos?” an unfamiliar voice calls.

I turn.