Page 132 of King of Omen

Despite his bravado, his face was sweaty, and he appeared flustered and a tad overwhelmed. His gun wobbled, and his weapon stance was off. Perhaps he’d been put out to market a little too early, for he was all confidence and zero competence.

I shrugged. ‘You Abrazzios missed the whole point of Omertà. I wasn’t going to talk, but the second you hurt us first, I had to act. Now step the fuck out of my way so I can fetch my woman.’

Tony’s eyes flashed. ‘Never. This one’s from Carlo. Occhio per occhio. An eye for an eye.’

He raised his weapon, as did I.

We fired at the same time.

The crack of the gunshot echoed in the hollowed parking lot, and the world around us appeared to slow down.

I saw his weapon fly into the air as the force of my bullet slammed into his shoulder.

His bullet hit my upper chest.

My body recoiled, a shockwave rushing through me.

I staggered back, clutching my torso as pain bloomed through me. My vision blurred, and I panted, struggling to breathe.

I caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye.

Saint, barrelling towards us in full swing.

He tackled Tony, sending them both sprawling to the ground with a clatter, the grunts of their struggle echoing in the small atrium.

Then, the roar of a second shot, followed by Saint’s harsh gasps.

I lurched to my feet and turned. To tag the Sovereign man on one knee, staring down at the lifeless body spreadeagled on the ground.

‘Fuck.’

He gazed up at me, brow furrowing as he raked my torso. ‘You’re not wounded.’

‘Impossible.’

I sheathed my weapon in my waistband and ran my hands over my chest.

My fingers stopped at the pocket of my leather jacket, frayed and flapping in the wind. I reached in and, with a huff, took out my cigar lighter. Below it, scorched at a second spot, was my precious envelope.

I brought the thick paper to my lips and kissed it, even though the vest underneath had done most of the hard work to keep me alive. ‘Cazzo, lightning does strike twice.’

‘Sounds like a story I’d like to hear,’ Saint drawled

‘Over a beer, mate, one day,’ I growled. ‘Right now, I need to find my woman.’

‘Go. I’ll take care of this and be close behind you.’

Thighs shaky, I sprinted up the stairs, taking them two at a time to the lobby. I slowed at the sight of a group of people huddled at one end of the space.

I headed toward them, and they parted, revealing Mia, half sat, part lying on the divan in the reception area.

I tagged the bandage encircling her head and charged towards the couch.

‘Bella,’ I groaned as I knelt before her.

My arms embraced her in seconds, ignoring the office workers who had helped Mia hover, their faces worried.

The sheer relief that surged through me was indescribable.

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