Page 14 of Ruthless Vengeance
Clara trembles in his grip, her eyes darting to mine, silently pleading with me.
I want to run to her, to wrap her in my arms and tell her it’s all going to be okay, but I can’t. Not when there’s a gun aimed right at her head.
Tommaso’s fingers tighten around her, his smile morphing into a scowl. “You think I’m a fucking idiot?”
Clara flinches.
The fact that he’s close enough to touch her has my blood boiling. I want to rip his throat out with my own hands for daring to take what belongs to me, but I can’t let my rage cloud my judgment.
I know Tommaso is hoping I won’t risk firing in case I hit Clara. If I wasn’t so furious, I’d be insulted that he thinks I’m that bad of a shot.
All it takes is one bullet, and this will all be over.
I just need to make sure that I’m the one to make the final shot.
“No. I think you’re a dead man.” I don’t give him a chance to react before I aim low and pull the trigger.
The bullet slams into Tommaso’s leg.
His leg buckles, his gun faltering, and his grip instantly loosens just enough for Clara to break free.
“You fucker!”
I lunge, grabbing Clara around the waist and pulling her behind me as Tommaso stumbles.
Blood pools around his foot as he raises his gun, his face twisted as he aims right at my chest.
I don’t hesitate before I pull the trigger and shoot him between the eyes.
As his body drops to the floor with a dull thud, I’m finally able to take a full breath.
It’s over.
Clara collapses against me, and I turn to catch her before she falls to the ground.
Her body is wracked with sobs as I hold her close, my heart pounding against my ribs as I realize she’s safe.
“It’s over,” I murmur against her hair. “You’re safe.”
She clings to me, her fingers digging into my shirt.
She’s freezing to the touch, so I wrap my arms tighter around her, hoping to warm her up with my body.
“We need to get you out of here. There’s clothes and blankets in the car.”
Clara shakes her head as she pulls back to look at me. “There was…another man,” she whispers, her voice hoarse. “Ben. Is he…is he dead too?”
Ben? Who the hell is Ben, and why does Clara care if he’s alive?
“That’s not my priority right now.”
Clara shakes her head again. “Please. “I-I need to know.” Panic flashes in her eyes as she looks over at the door.
It seems Clara’s not going to listen to me until I agree to find this guy.
Is he the one who took her, is that it? If he is, I’ll make sure he wishes he was dead.
“What does he look like?” I try to keep my expression relaxed. I don’t want to scare her even more than she already is.
