Page 39 of Ruined

TEN

DOMINIC

Did I go too far?

Luca’s murderous expression seemed to say yes, but he faced the wrong direction. His sights locked onto someone across the restaurant, a guy with a shaved head. He looked directly at Luca.

I nudged Luca. “Who’s that?”

“Alexei,” Luca growled.

His body coiled like a spring, and then he bolted. He shoved people aside as he sprinted toward the back.

Shit.

I ran after Luca, my shoulder slamming into the employees-only door. I burst into the kitchen, my vision filling with stainless steel before I registered Luca, yanking the fire alarm. A piercing shriek sliced into my ears.

The pale man stood, his face twisted in fury as he gritted his teeth and drew a gun.

I reached for mine.

Luca slammed into me, knocking me off balance. My back hit the rubber floor hard, the impact exploding through my ribs and stealing my breath.

Luca pushed himself off me. He drew his gun, aiming. He fired around the corner, his face taut with focus.

Gunfire cracked like thunder. Shots ricocheted off the walls. I rolled onto my side, scrambling for my Glock. My fingers wrapped around the grip. Another shot rang out, too close. Sparks hissed across the countertop.

I ducked, swearing as I sank back behind cover.

Luca sprinted toward Alexei.

I swung out from cover, laying down suppressing fire. The shots erupted from my Glock, but I barely heard them. My focus was on Luca—stupid, reckless, infuriating Luca—darting between stainless steel cooking stations like he’d lost all sense of self-preservation.

What the fuck are you doing?

I needed to drag him back. His shadow slipped in and out of sight as sparks skittered across steel surfaces. I gritted my teeth, my pulse thundering.

He was going to get himself killed.

He didn’t even flinch when another bullet hit the counter inches from his head. A sick knot tightened in my stomach.

“Luca, stop!” I squeezed off another shot, emptying a round at Alexei to give Luca cover.

Luca bolted.

Alexei kicked open the back door and disappeared into the dark, the metal frame swinging behind him. Luca was on his heels.

“Luca!”

Swearing, I holstered my gun and ran. I shoved the back door open. It slammed against the wall. Cold air stung my face as I stepped into the alley, my gun drawn.

Where the fuck is he?

My gaze darted through the shadows. There—Luca sprinted away from me, his figure backlit by the weak glow of the streetlight. I took off after him.

Dark shapes peeled from the walls, swarming him. A sickening crack split the air as a fist connected with his face. Luca staggered, his arms jerking up, but there were too many of them.

Boots. Fists. A knife flashed through the air.