Page 55 of Mafia Kings: Dario

The man froze on top of me and listened as the engine roared ever louder.

Tires squealed in the street, a car door opened –

And Dario’s voice yelled, “ALESSANDRA!”

The stranger tried to cover my mouth, but I jerked my head free and screamed, “DARIO!”

The stranger slapped me in retribution, then stumbled to his feet.

I looked over. Dario was running down the alleyway towards us, murder in his eyes.

The stranger reached inside his suit jacket and pulled something out.

At first I was afraid it was a gun –

And then I heard theclick!of a switchblade opening.

Dario stopped abruptly.

The man lunged at him –

Dario jumped back –

And then the man swiped again.

Dario caught the stranger’s arm and brought his knee up against the man’s elbow, breaking it backwards with aCRACK.

“AAAAAH!” the stranger screamed as he fell to his knees.

Dario pried the knife from the man’s hand, let it clatter to the cobblestones, and kicked it away.

Then he went absolutely insane.

He slammed his fist into the man’s face –

Again –

And again –

And again.

Blood spattered across the stones –

And still Dario pummeled the stranger’s face.

Finally he stopped and let the man fall limply to the ground.

When he finally turned towards me, Dario looked like a demon. His face was the personification of murder.

I thought for sure he would kill me in his fury.

As he reached down to me, I scrabbled backwards in the dirt –

But all he said was, “Are you alright?”

I stopped, trembling, and noddedyes.

“He didn’t hurt you?” Dario asked.

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