Page 145 of Fortress of the Soul

I never once thought that she’d be in a position where she would have to shoot a target for real, and potentially have our lives depend on it.

I take a deep breath, trying to lower my hands, but it’s no use. His attention is solely focused on me and not what Valentina is doing behind my back.

“Oh, I think I do. I have a thirst for vengeance. Now turn the fuck around!”

I shake my head. She needs to get a handle on that fucking gun, and even if I get shot in the back, at least she’ll have a weapon to defend herself with. I feel her pull against my jeans and all of a sudden, the gun is gone.

Relief washes over me, but not for long. If I don’t do as he says, I think he really does have the chops to see this through.

“Posso prenderlo,” Valentina whispers.I can take him.

“Ti Amo,” I whisper back as I begin to turn.

The noise is loud, the whirring fast. All that matters is that I block Valentina, and as I face her, I see her pointing the gun over my shoulder and she’s already shot it.

I hear her scream.

I turn quickly, pushing her farther into the wall as I see Yuri drop to the ground.

She fucking did it, she fucking shot him.

I clutch her face. “You did it, Val.”

Her face has a look of horror as she drops the gun and then looks down at me. At the same time, my eyes drop too, and I see red flowing through my shirt.

I don’t understand what’s happening until my feet give way. She tries to catch me as I fall, and we both sink to the ground.

“Enzo!” she cries. “Oh my God, no!”

They shot at the same time. He fucking shot me in the back.

“Valentina?” I say, holding a hand up to my chest as she presses against it, her face as white as a sheet.

“Hold on, E,” she says, pulling out her phone as she dials. “Please, oh God,please!”

Everything turns black and all I can hear as I fall is the sweet sound of Valentina’s voice.

I promised Angelo.

Until my heart stops beating.

27

VALENTINA

I seethe light go out in Enzo’s eyes as he sags against my body.

Screaming, I ease him down to the ground onto his side, glancing at his back as the blood pours out.

Yuri Petrov lies dead on the floor.

I’m freaking out. Even though I know I need to call an ambulance, I pull out my cell with a shaky hand and dial Angelo. He answers on the first ring.

“Val?”

“ANGELO!” I cry out between hysterical sobs, trying to catch my breath at the same time.

“Valentina, what’s wrong?” he barks.

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