Page 52 of Promise Maker

“It was only four bottles,” an older man insiststo Domenico. He seems harmless enough. There’s no one else around.

Domenico clicks his tongue and slants, sending afurious look in my direction. “Nonascolti.”Youdon’t listen.

“Don’t kill him,” I plead. “He stole liquor fromyourshipment?Is that it? That’s not enough to killsomeone.”

“Fanculo.” He dashes forme as men with machine guns emerge from behind a container on the other side.

Martelli guards disperse to safety.

The other men open fire just as Domenico shoves meto the ground and rolls with me to a container.

Hand pressing on my back to keep me low, he startsshooting along with his guards.

I cover my ears, whimpering and trembling fromhorror.

Shouts of anguish echo every few seconds until thegunfire ceases.

Domenico waits a bit longer before straighteningfrom me.

I slowly look up at him.

He casts me a chastising glance before gripping myarm and pulling me to my feet.

The air smells like guns and death.

I cringe at the bloodshed, pushing back bile as itzips to my throat.

Two of the guards are dead, along with theshooters and that older man from before.

Guilt smacks my face when I realize Domenico’sdriver is lying in a puddle of blood.

It’s my fault.

Had I stayed in the car, he wouldn’t have chasedafter me.

“La scena è chiara,” Rodrigosaysto Domenico.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Rodrigo harrumphs at me before heading to the car.

I deserve it.

Domenico tugs me along with the other guards. Heall but tosses me into the back, gets in, and slams the door shut.

Rodrigo peels off behind the second SUV.

The air in the car is intense, consumed with fury.

Picking at the fabric of my dress, I draw for thecourage to apologize. “Um, I’m—”

“Donotspeak,” Domenico grunts andaggressively wipes his face with the palm of his hand. “What the fuck were youtrying to accomplish? I suppose it’s my fault for bringing you here. I let youget under my skin.” He snaps his head to me. “You do not understand the ways ofmen. No one is innocent. You spare a life today. Tomorrow, they return to killyou. Your father taught you none of this. He’s wrong for that.”

“Domenico, I—”

“I said do not speak!” he snarls. “That man youwanted me to forgive, I’d already given him a chance without my father’sknowledge. That is how he repaid me.”

My shoulders slump. Softly, I tell him, “I’msorry.”

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