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I kept my grip on his neck while using my free hand to pull my gun out of my waistline. I pressed it against his forehead. Desi froze, his life flashing before his eyes.
I loosened my grip on the arm around his neck, giving him enough room to catch some air. I didn’t want him to die of strangulation. I had a bullet for him. He struggled to catch his breath, and when he did, I clearly heard him say, “Shoot me!” His chest swelled with a sense of nobility that made me chuckle. I brought the gun down hard against his forehead. I pulled up onto my knees, then shoved the gun into his mouth.
Desi mumbled a plea, “Please, man. Just shoot me.” He had uttered his last words. Nothing else came from him, nor would it ever.
“As you wish, rat bastard.” I pointed the pistol at his forehead and squeezed the trigger.
“Vito! No—” Nicole rushed into the room with tears flowing down her delicate brown cheeks. She sighed in relief when she realized I was okay. “I thought he had shot you. I’m so glad you’re not hurt.”
I stood to my feet. “I’m fine, Nicole. It’s over.”
She tugged at my shirt. “He has tortured me for so long; it feels like I’ll never wake up from this nightmare.”
I smoothed down the runaway hairs on her head. “Did he hurt you again today?” I wouldn’t be able to handle it if he did, but I had to ask anyway.
She quickly shook her head. “He didn’t get a chance to.”
I gripped her puffy cheeks into my hands. Looking into her pecan brown eyes, I assured her, “It’s over. He’ll never bother you again.”
“I’m so ready to put my past behind me. I just am so tired of feeling like I’m always on edge,” she said.
“It’s behind us. You don’t ever have to feel scared or anxious or anything like that. He’s never going to bother you again,” I promised.
“Thank you, Vito—for seeing me at the store and realizing I needed someone to talk to. For following me home to help me. For buying me groceries. For taking me in. For making me feel whole again. For making me feel loved. For saving me. Thank you for everything.”
Bathed in my enemies’ blood and fresh out of a gun battle, I smiled like a man in love. “No, Nicole. It was you that saved me and gave me a new purpose. If you don’t know it by now. I will do anything for you.” I wrapped my arms around her, inhaling her aroma into my system. “I will protect you until the day I die.”
“I love you, Vito.”
“I love you more.”
I thanked my DeLuca Famiglia on my way out the door, then walked out of that warehouse with Nicole in my arms. Ishmael, Miracle, Prosper, Casper, and Teddy were in the van waiting for us.
“You think we need to help them with the clean-up or anything?” Casper asked.
“No, they have it handled. Clean up is on the way.”
No more words were spoken as Casper drove off and headed home.
