Page 7 of Ruthless Oath

A loud snap blasted through the room.A firecracker?

“Fuck.” Marchello drew his gun but didn’t make eye contact with me.

I followed his gaze to a muscular man with neck tattoos trailing up his jaw. The frightening guy pointed his gun in my direction.

The room exploded into confusion. People who had been laughing and drinking a few seconds ago now screamed and took cover behind the cars.

Everything unfolded at a rapid pace. The imminent danger didn’t occur to me.

“Get down.” Marchello shoved me, knocking the wind out of me when my bottom hit the ground. “Stay there.”

I glanced up at him just as he pulled the trigger. Crossing my arms over my chest, I closed my eyes, hoping this would be over soon.

Glass shattered around us, followed by more wails of terror. I pulled my knees to my chest and leaned against the driver’s side door.

When.I opened my eyes, Marchello dropped down next to me and peered around the corner of the car, aiming his gun across the room.

I inched closer to him. “What the hell is happening?”

“Milo’s got it.” He looked me over. “Are you okay?”

“I think so.” I wasn’t hurt, but my stomach churned and my body trembled like when I was in school and I had to stand up and speak. I fucking hated public speaking, but I disliked being shot at more.

“Come on.” He stood amid people fleeing toward the exit.

“You said to stay down.”

“Now I’m telling you to get up.” He placed his gun back in the holster. “Let’s go.”

“What? Where? Get down. You could get shot.” I looked around wildly, waiting for the next round of bullets to fly. “You could get me shot. Are you crazy?”

“My brother and our security team are handling the situation.” He extended his hand to me. “I took out the first shooter. The second one has been disarmed.”

“You did?” Did I want to take the hand of a killer?

If the killer looked like him, I did. Call me shallow, but I was a slut for a dark and dangerous older man who knew how to wear a custom suit. Well, maybe not a slut since I’d never actually cashed in my V-card, but still, I could be his slut.

I took his hand and tried to get off the floor with some dignity as I tugged on my dress. My shaky legs were no help, and my heart beat faster than normal.

All I wanted to do was win the Gucci bag. I should have left with my mother.

“Your ass was hanging out before you hit the floor.” Marchello guided me around the Corvette, not at all affected by the fact that the people who were supposed to be here for an important evening were now leaving. “I wouldn’t worry about it.”

“Why were you looking?” I asked.You crass jerk.

“Isn’t that why you flaunt it?” He guided me up the grand staircase and to the landing that overlooked the showroom floor. “So men like me can admire you?”

“No, I dress like this for me.”

He glanced over his shoulder and gave me ayeah, rightlook.

Why is he so sexy?

“Wait.” I turned and pointed across the room to the body on the ground. “There’s a dead man on your floor. Doesn’t that concern you?”

“The police will be here soon.” He punched in a code on a keypad, and a door opened. “We’ll pull the security footage, and they will see I acted in self-defense. My lawyer will take care of it. I pay him enough.”

He nudged me into a large, fancy room with a mahogany desk and black furniture. The crisp aroma of leather and spice surrounded me.

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