Page 95 of Savage Don's Captive

“I need to put him in the corner, boss. By the foyer.”

The foyer is a few paces away, and from the looks of it, Raffy is almost out of ammunition, but his grip doesn’t falter, and Alessa doesn’t stop from thrashing against him, her white shirt now an ombre of crimson, her face dirty with blood.

“He’ll get to the foyer, TJ. Just make sure you—”

I don’t get to finish my instructions because my heart fucking stops. Alessa breaks loose, and she cries out loud—in terror or relief, I don’t know. But she sprints faster and faster towards me. Raffy scowls, running behind her. TJ’s men swarm around Raffy, but the asshole is quick and has a flawless aim. He annihilates every single one of them with a single bullet, aiming at their heads or chest. Fatal shots.

“No!” I scream as if everything will stop moving if I yell loud enough. She doesn’t grasp how dire her situation is. But her eyes are locked on mine as she pushes herself to run, her arms stretching in front of her as she draws near.

Tears roll down her face as she sobs, her mouth gaping and trembling. I can tell she’s frightened for her life, that she’s clueless about what she can do to protect herself.

That’s when I see Raffy behind her, like a fucking executioner raising his gun in my direction, at Alessa. “Take the shot, TJ!” I command on the earpiece as I run towards her, closing the distance between us and jumping over the lifeless bodies on the floor.

“Dominic!” she sobs, her voice filled with so much pain I can feel it deep in my bones. Almost there. She’s almost there. I approach her, praying I’m quicker than any bullet flying her way.

When my hand reaches her pale, cold skin, it’s like a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders. A thick, choking sob escapes her the moment — her body slams against me, and I wrap an arm around her, dragging her to the side of—

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three shots ring in the air. Alessa’s body arcs against mine just as I hear her breath hitch. Her eyes are wide when I look down at her, her mouth shaking. It doesn’t take long before her body goes limp. “Alessa?” My voice sounds like gravel crushed under a truck. Her breath comes in short, ragged gasps. She wheezes as she inhales, as if she’s drowning.

“Alessa.”

She doesn’t respond. Instead, she continues to fall against my touch. I snake my other arm around her waist, discarding the gun. The world around me falls into a deafening, deadly silence as Ifall on my knees to support her weight.

That’s when I feel the wetness on my palm. I lay her down on the floor, her body uncontrollably shaking next to me. I withdraw my hand from her back.

What the fuck…. Sticky and warm, her blood coats my fingers. She’s been shot.

“Dominic,” she whispers, her voice quivering in pain. Her breath goes labored, struggling for air.

“No.” I shake my head at her, moving loose strands of hair from her face and wiping away as much blood as I can. Tears roll down the side of her face as she coughs. “We’re going to get you to the hospital.”

“It hurts,” she winces, her face scrunching in agony.

“LUCA!” I roar, pressing my palm against her wound to stop her from bleeding further. “Call Gabriela and get a car ready!”

“Is he dead? Is it over?” She’s slipping away, her words drowsy and slurred. It’s the only time I look up. The gunshots have ceased, and only the stench of blood and dead bodies lingers in the air. Raffy’s body lies on the floor—his brain splatters against the wall in the foyer. His head is propped up against the entrance wall, and I can faintly see two bullet holes in his skull.

TJ has taken the shot. Twice. Yet he’s a split second too late. Again. “He’s dead,” I say softly to Alessa. Good. She’s pale, nodding her head. Her eyes grow heavier with each passing second, fluttering shut as her lips fade to a chilling shade of blue. “No, no. Keep your eyes open, piccola.”

“You gave me away,” she mumbles, her forehead creasing as more tears cascade down her face and onto my lap. “Were you going to let him have me? Is that it? You don’t need me anymore?”

The accusation stabs deeper than any knife could. Even now, bleeding out in my arms, she’s still thinking I betrayed her. “No, baby. I would never give you up.”

I don’t tell her just how much I need her. “Then why—”

“I needed to stall. I knew TJ and Luca were coming back.” I didn’t even realize I was crying until I felt something warm streak down my cheek. “I’m never going to let anybody else have you, Alessa. Do you understand me?”

She faintly nods her head. Through the pain, I see a flicker of trust return to her eyes—just enough to break my heart all over again.

“Did they find Marco?”

“They did.”

“I did a good job, then?”

“You always do, baby.” I bring my lips to her forehead as I look around for any signs of my brother. Or TJ. “Now be a good girl and stay awake, okay? For me. Just a little bit more.”

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