Chapter 8 - Blood and Iron
A deafening gunshot shattered the air.
Dominic threw his body between Julian’s gun and Maya, tackling her to the marble floor as the bullet tore through the shoulder of his suit jacket.
They hit the ground together, rolling behind a fallen marble column.
“Dominic!” Maya screamed, seeing blood soaking through his dark jacket.
“I’ve got you,” Dominic gasped, his face twisted in pain, but his arms wrapped around her like steel bands, protecting her head from falling debris. “I’ve got you, Maya.”
The foyer erupted into total chaos.
Victor and the remaining Valenti guards, seeing their leader make his move, stormed the foyer from the side entrances, opening fire on Moretti’s men. The sound of gunfire was deafening.
Julian stumbled back, frantically trying to press the detonator button.
Before his thumb could make contact, a bullet from Victor’s shotgun tore through Julian’s hand, sending the detonator flying across the slick marble floor. It landed three feet from where Dominic and Maya were taking cover.
Julian screamed in agony, clutching his ruined hand, while his remaining men began to retreat toward the shattered entrance.
Dominic dragged himself out from behind the pillar, grabbing the detonator and crushing it under his boot before Julian’s men could retrieve it.
Bleeding heavily from his shoulder, Dominic stood up, his pale eyes burning with an unholy, terrifying vengeance. He picked up his fallen handgun from the floor and walked slowly toward Julian Moretti, who was crawling backward in terror.
“Dominic... wait...” Julian choked out, backing against the ruined doorway. “We can make a deal... the territory... everything...”
Dominic stopped above him, looking down at the man who had threatened his daughter and tried to murder the woman he loved.
“There are no deals for men who threaten my family,” Dominic said quietly.
He raised his weapon.
Bang.
The war between the Valenti and Moretti families was over.
Dominic stood over his fallen enemy for a moment as the remaining Moretti mercenaries surrendered or fled into the night.
The gun slipped from Dominic’s hand, clattering against the floor. He stumbled, his knees giving out from blood loss.
“Dominic!” Maya rushed to his side, catching him before he hit the marble. She dropped to her knees, pulling his head into her lap, pressing her hands tightly against his bleeding shoulder.
“You’re okay... you’re going to be okay!” Maya sobbed, tears streaming down her face, mixing with the dust on her cheeks. “Dr. Mercer! Someone help him!”
Dominic looked up at her, his vision blurring, but he raised his blood-stained hand to gently touch her face.
“Maya...” he whispered, his voice weak. “Did I... did I keep you safe?”
“Yes,” Maya wept, kissing his bloodied fingers. “You saved me, Dominic. You saved all of us.”
May you like
Dominic offered a faint, tired smile before his eyes closed and his hand slipped from her face, falling limp against the floor.
“Dominic! DOMINIC!” Maya screamed into the smoky air.
