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“Slide the guns to me.”
I pushed our guns to the center of the room. The life drained from Alex’s eyes as she stared at me. Her gaze shifted between Marcello and me, begging for help. She thought we had given up on her.
Not a chance.
We had sworn an oath to protect our queen. No way were they leaving our house with her.
“Viktor’s daughter is alive,” I said, which gained the leader’s attention. “She looks just like her mother. I have proof of life… if your boss wants to make a deal.”
He reached into his pocket and raised his cell phone to his ear. We only needed one slip-up. A small window of opportunity to get her away from him.
I watched the rise and fall of his chest, noted the doubt in his eyes. He handed the phone to the man behind him, and they exchanged a few words. His hand slipped on the knife, and as he lowered his guard, I drew my gun from the holster and shot at his elbow.
It was enough to loosen his grip on Alex without hurting her. He staggered backward, grabbing his arm and howling in pain. As I rushed across the room, Marcello shot the man behind Roman. I launched myself at Alex, clutching the back of her head as I tackled her to the ground to shield her from the gunfire.
Her life was worth more than mine.
I would gladly die for my queen.
Bullets rang out, and I waited a few seconds before I rolled off Alex. I brushed my thumb across her cheek, which was soaked with tears. “You okay, baby?”
Chest rising and falling, she nodded.
I helped her up from the floor and surveyed the destruction. The man who held Alex at knifepoint was on the floor on his back, gasping for air. Blood dripped from his mouth as he attempted to speak.
He looked up at me, eyes wide. “Is Viktor’s daughter really alive?”
I tipped my head back and laughed. “Fuck no, that stupid cunt is dead.”
A lie.
I wanted him to leave this world thinking he’d failed his boss. Viktor’s daughter was exactly where we wanted her. She was Bastian’s cousin on his mother’s side of the family. The only living granddaughter of Fitzgerald Archibald Adams IV, the highest ranking Elder and the Grand Master of The Founders Society.
Old Fitzy had promised both Damian and Bastian revenge for their parents’ deaths. Even his own flesh and blood weren’t safe. That old bastard only cared about money and power, and he had more to gain from my brothers than the girl.
“Call Wellington!” Damian hunched over a body on the floor. “We need a fucking doctor. Now!”
I moved to the center of the room with Alex clinging to my side, stepping over their bodies to get to my younger brother. Marcello laid on his back beside Roman, his hand on his stomach. Blood stained his white dress shirt, leaking onto his fingers. He had one eye open, taking shallow breaths as he struggled to speak.
My chest tightened as fear rushed over me. I’d been so worried about Marcello taking Alex from me. Even considered pushing him out to make room for me. But as he bled out on the floor, I realized I couldn’t lose him either.
“Marcello.” Alex dropped to her knees beside him. “No, no, no… Keep your eyes open.” She wiped the hair off his forehead and shrieked. “You’re not allowed to die on me.”
He stared at her, the life slowly draining from his eyes. She unbuttoned his dress shirt and studied the bullet wound. There was so much blood it stained her skin.
Alex looked up at me. “Luca, go get help.”
We had left Carl in my office with my dad. Alex’s grandfather was a skilled surgeon. He didn’t become the CEO of Wellington Pharmaceuticals until after he retired.
I removed my phone from my pocket and dialed Carl, who answered on the second ring. I explained the situation, and he said, “I’m on my way. Assemble the mobile triage in the ballroom. Collect the Knights, get them to help you move Marcello’s body, but be careful.”
“Is that Pops?” Alex looked up at me with tears streaming down her cheeks. She wiggled her fingers for me to hand her the phone. “Pops, he doesn’t have much time. He’s losing too much blood.” Wiping blood away with the bottom of her shirt, she appraised the wound. “I think the bullet hit his liver…” She choked on her words. “He can’t die. Just tell me what to do.”
I ordered Bastian and Damian to ensure the medical staff made it onto the premises. They ran out of the room without a word. Then I wrote a group text message to the Knights, telling them to get upstairs with a stretcher. After several attempts on his life, my father had spent millions on a mobile triage unit. Within minutes, we’d have medical staff on site if they could get past the armed men still firing shots outside.
I hovered over my brother and Alex, my eyes flicking between them. “Stop touching him. Your grandfather said we have to be careful.”
“Just sit down and shut up.” She pointed at the floor. “Let me take care of Marcello until we can move him.”
