Page 145 of Ruined

I gritted my teeth as I tried to move. The room spun, but I forced myself forward, clawing toward my weapon.

Heavy footsteps closed in, and a boot slammed into my ribs. The air punched out of my lungs, the room swimming in red shades.

I wheezed, curling onto my side.

Alexei loomed over me. “You’re nothing but a broken weapon. That’s all you’ve ever been.”

A door at the far end of the hall crashed open.

Gunfire erupted like thunder.

“Luca!” Dominic’s voice roared.

Dominic.

I forced my eyes open, pushing through the haze of pain. Dominic stormed into the room, his gun raised. Santino was right behind him, taking out one of Alexei’s men.

Alexei turned to Dominic. I lunged, my fingers scraping against the cold floor as I grabbed my gun.

I fired.

The recoil jarred through my arm, the shot cracking like a whip. Alexei staggered, a guttural noise escaping him as he clutched his stomach, blood soaking through his tailored shirt. His eyes went wide, his mouth twisting.

Dominic dropped to his knees by my side. His hands were on my face. His wild eyes scanned me. “What are you doing here?”

“Couldn’t… let you face him alone.”

Dominic’s jaw worked. “You stubborn bastard.”

Santino stepped up to Alexei’s crumpled form. He put another bullet in Alexei’s chest. The crack echoed. Alexei slumped, blood pooling beneath him.

Dominic didn’t look back. He held me, his arms like iron as though he could keep me from falling apart. I sagged against him, my cheek pressing to the solid warmth of his shoulder.

“Is he gone?” Dominic asked.

Santino nudged Alexei’s lifeless hand with his boot before kicking the gun away. “Yeah. He’s done.”

Dominic exhaled sharply, his hand sliding beneath my knees. “Hold on.”

“Don’t.” I gritted my teeth as he lifted me. “Don’t carry me.”

“Shut up. You’re not walking out of here on your own.”

I let my eyes fall shut as he carried me, every jolt of his step rattling through my battered body. Santino followed silently, his presence a steady shadow at our backs. The cold night swallowed the glow of the building as we stepped outside.

Dominic’s hold tightened. “You’re safe. I’ve got you.”

I let out a shaky breath, the tension finally bleeding from my chest.

The weeks after Alexei’s death passed in a blur.

I didn’t remember much of the first week, just the steady hum of Dominic’s voice and the warm weight of his hand holding mine.

Dominic insisted I move in with him while I recovered. He hovered more than I liked, but I didn’t mind too much. Not when he kissed my temple every time he thought I was asleep.

Once I could move around without Dominic threatening to tie me to the bed, I spent more time with family.

Delilah’s kitchen was a mess. Flour dusted the counters, my sleeves, and probably my hair. Delilah sat across from me, rolling out uneven circles of dough with too much flour.