Page 127 of Ruined

We reached the bottom of the stairs, and the scene made my blood boil. Dominic was tied to a chair in the center of the room, his head slumped forward, blood streaking his face and pooling beneath him. Two men hovered nearby. One paced. The other leaned over Dominic, gripping his hair.

The pacing man, lean with slicked-back hair, glanced toward the stairs. “I told you this would go south!”

“Shut up!” The other man was stockier, his dark features twisted in frustration as he shoved Dominic’s head back. “We need to get the hell out.”

I stepped off the stairs.

Both men whipped around. The stockier man straightened, his hand inching toward a knife at his hip, while the other one froze.

“Who the fuck are you?” the lean one stammered.

“Drop the knife,” Santino said.

The stocky man’s lips curled into a snarl. “You think you’re walking out of here alive?”

“Not a thought,” I shot back, stepping closer. “A fact. Now step the fuck away from him.”

My hands were steady. The Bratva had trained me for moments like this. They taught me how to rip through anyone who stood in my way. I hated every second of that training.

But now, I didn’t hate it

I wasn’t fighting for them. I was fighting forhim.

The lean man edged toward the wall. “I told you this was a bad idea!”

“Shut your mouth,” the stocky one barked.

Dominic’s head lifted, blood dripping from his mouth as his eyes met mine. “Luca…”

I took another step forward. “You have two choices. Leave him and walk out of here alive, or you don’t leave at all.”

The stocky man snarled, raising his knife. “Like hell I’m walking away with nothing?—”

I fired, and the stocky man jerked back, clutching his chest before crumpling to the ground.

The lean man bolted for the stairs. My shot caught him in the back. He stumbled, hitting the stairs hard before sliding to the floor.

I rushed to Dominic. He slumped in the chair. His shirt was torn, and his hands were bound tight. I tore the ropes off, my hands shaking.

“Dom. Are you okay?”

His eyes opened slowly. “You’re here.”

I cupped his face, my thumb brushing over his flushed cheek. “What the hell did they do to you?”

He grimaced. “Just another day in the life, right?”

It tore me up to see him like this. My hands tightened on his face, and my relief that he was alive broke me. I leaned in, pressing my lips to his.

Dominic stiffened, then melted into it. His lips parted as he kissed me back. Every inch of him was battered, but his hands slid over my shoulders and held me. Somewhere behind us, Santino coughed.

I pulled back, breathing hard. “I thought I lost you.”

He smiled. “Not that easy to get rid of me.”

A raw laugh escaped me, and I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tight. “I swear to God, Dom, I’d tear this place apart if it meant keeping you safe.”

He pressed his forehead to mine. “Guess you already did.”