A yelp sounded above the staccato beat just as I slid behind the car.
Bullet had been shot.
“Leo, cover me,” I ordered as I crept along the side of the car toward the mound of bloody fur by the front left tire. Risking my life for a goddamn dog. My father had better have a harem of women waiting for me after this.
I glanced at the scene in front of me. Smoke, bullets, and gunshots—I stood a decent chance of getting to the mutt. Half the lackeys were laid out on the ground—well done, Leo. He kept up the cover fire as I darted out, grabbed the dog with one hand, and shot back beside the car.
A bullet shot by too close. I didn’t have time to dodge it, and it ripped through my side. Son of a bitch, that hurt.
I spotted the asshole who’d shot it, took aim, and put him down with a bullet through his throat.
The dog whined as I moved behind the car. Good, the thing was still alive, but the blood soaking my hand probably wasn’t a good sign.
“I’m taking Bullet to the vet. You get to the warehouse, Leo,” I said. “The Porsche is inside. Take it, and get back to the house. Let them know what happened.”
Leo nodded as I turned to lay down cover fire. He didn’t look any more ruffled than he had when we’d first arrived. He was more ready for this than I’d thought.
“Drive fast, and don’t look back, fratello,” I called as his footsteps thudded toward the building’s side door.
“I drive fast no matter what,” he called back. “Vivere, fratello.”
Only two men were left standing amid the Cadillacs. I aimed and fired.\
Now, there was only one.
He took a step back, eyeing his driver’s side door. Little did he know, it was his lucky day.
“You tell your boss he’d better not try to fuck with me again,” I said, keeping my gun aimed at him.
Though his jaw was clenched tight, he nodded.
“Get out of here.”
The second I heard the warehouse door slam shut behind Leo, I headed for the driver’s side of the McLaren, ignoring the holes and dents in the car. For the moment. Those sons of bitches had shot up my baby.
With Bullet tucked beneath my arm, I slid into the driver’s seat and revved the engine. Despite the damage, it purred for me. The dog whimpered and whined while his small body trembled against me. I kept him on my lap as I shoved the car into reverse and sped out of the parking lot. Outside of a flesh wound, I’d made it out unscathed, but if the damn dog died, my father was going to skin me and Leo alive.