Page 65 of Promise Never

His guards already have their weaponsdrawn, prepared for any surprises.

I take mine from my jeans.

It’s too bad we don’t have enough men,andRuniisn’t here.But,understandably, he’s still healing.

We continue moving slowly towards theboat. It’s a bit larger than the previous one and not as worn.

The cabin door opens, bringing us to astandstill.

My jaw drops as that bastard walks outand stretches his hands above his head, enjoying the bright day.

I think we’re all stunned that he’shere after he’s been so hard to locate.

He turns to go back inside andfreezes, his face becoming ghostly pale when he spots us. “Cazzo!”

“Zeno!” Alessandro growls and opensfire.

Zeno dashes over the boat as the restof us start shooting. He manages to dodge every bullet, swerving betweenstacks.

We disperse for cover as he fires inreturn. He uses the opportunity to peel off.

“Non questavolta!” Alessandrochasesafterhim.

I delay, feeling a sudden dip in mystomach.

“Alessandro, stop!” I cry out just asbeeping comes from the boat.

The blast takes out the vessels next toit and sends us all flying.

I plummet to the boardwalk withanother guard.

Alessandro hits the water.

I have no idea where the other guardsended up.

There’s a ringing in my ears, and myheart is thrashing wildly like a trapped animal. Not only from the explosionbut out of fear that I may have lost the man who has undoubtedly shifted myworld in ways I can’t explain.

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I push myself from the wood, coughingfrom all the smoke and flames as I make my way to the edge.

My breathing stops when Alessandrofloats to the top of the water. He’s not moving.

“Oh god!” I jump in without hesitationand grasp his body, dragging him to the dock.

“Alessandro!” He doesn’t budge.

I’m struggling to get him out of thewater when the guard that landed beside me scurries over, pulling him out.

I kneel at Alessandro’s side.“Please... I can’t lose you.” I attempt CPR, begging in between, “Open youreyes! Dammit, Alessandro!”

Relief rushes me when he coughs upwater, groaning as he sits up.

I grip his arm, overflowing with somuch joy that all I want is to burrow into him and never leave.

“Are you all right, Ales?” his guardasks.

I’m too overwhelmed by my immensefeelings to formulate a sentence.

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