Page 78 of Promise Never

The only way from the port is back inthe direction we came.

He has to be out here still.

Grasp tight on the gun, I turn atanother corner and check the back of a container that’s open.

Zeno isn’t inside.

Frustrated, I grit my teeth and backout, moving through the rows quietly.

I’m about to check another openedcontainer when Zeno charges from the bend, knocking the gun from my hand.

“Vaiall'inferno!” He lands a punch, drawing blood.

I elude his next attack and nail him inthe stomach hard. He doesn’t wallow long from the pain, blocking my attempt tograb my gun.

Guttural grunts jerk out of me as hechucks into my body, slamming my back against the container.

The impact dazzles me, and my guardslackens.

Zeno socks my jaw.

I arch over and spit blood.

“Tiucciderò,” he snarls as he charges at me again.

I sidestep his attack, yank the knifefrom the strap at my ankle, and slice him across his back.

Zeno plummets on his stomach, heavinglike an animal.

I’m about to haul him from the groundto drive the knife through his throat when the bastard flips over suddenly.

My body freezes.

He’s holding my gun.

“Die,Fattore!”

A shot fires. But I don’t shuffle backor feel the instant anguish from a bullet.

Tiana hastens over.

I sputter an air of relief as crimsonpools at Zeno’s chest. He’s gurgling blood while peering down at himself.

Grabbing the gun from his loosenedgrip, I aim it at him while looking across to Tiana.

She swallows hard, then asks, “Are youallright?”

I nod and focus on Zeno.

He coughs up blood and flattens hishead on the ground, laughing ruthlessly through his pain. “Even if you kill me,you’ll still be weak.Fattoreis a joke! Your familyhas fallen to nothing!”

“You’re wrong,” I seethe. “We’llrise.”

That wipes the smirk from his face.“Fuck you, AlessandroFattore!”

I fire a shot at his head.

Tiana touches my arm while staring atZeno’s lifeless body. “You know, he caused one good thing.”

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