Page 97 of Dominance

Watch your head …

Slapping the gun aside, I take his first strike on the side of my arm, tucked in tight. Still knocks the wind out of me. Hits like a sledgehammer.

Where the hell did they find a suit jacket to fit over this mook’s arms?

Makes Batista look like a shrimp.

Need to hit him hard and fast.

My knee pistons forward, my hands scooping his neck dragging his head down onto it?—

Only he doesn’t budge.

Stars explode in my head as he lowers that gorilla dome and headbutts me, resisting my downward pull and knocking my knee out of the way with insane strength. Two enormous fists twist into my collar, my jacket, and I’m off the ground, jerked to the side and flying through the air. Still seeing spots, I tuck, rolling my shoulder to minimize the impact.

The tumble still hurts, reverberating through my ribcage, knocking the wind out of me again. At least he put some distance between us…

Three thumping footsteps announce him covering the gap.

Flopping onto my back I raise my hands, looking up, watching the barrel of a gun rise. Sucks that the last thing I’ll see is a behemoth in a suit. A grin spreads across his wide, puckered face.

“Damn, you’reugly.” It’s the only thing that comes to mind.

The silverback’s underbite twists into a growl at my insult.

Right before he goes stiff, his mouth dropping open in shock. Then tipping over me, falling.

Oh no, no!

Thump.

“Mmmf!” I grunt, taking the dead weight of the massive thug right on top of me. Over one thick shoulder I see a dark form materialize out of the shadows, watching me with a bland expression.

“You’re late,” I snap.

“You’re out of practice. Sloppy.”

“Says the asshole who dropped a body on me. Donottell Ciro about this.”

“Don’t be ashamed, Adri. Everyone needs a weighted blanket every now and then.” Ero steps past me, not offering me a bit of help.

“Stay in your lane!” I grumble, rolling the body off me, dragging my aching body back to my feet.

“Stay on my six.”

“Giving orders now?”

“Sh.” Ero holds up a hand, halting our progress.

The room up ahead opens up, light from above illuminating the circular enclosure. Dark arches break the wall across from us, at least four other entryways.

“Trap?” Ero whispers, calm as can be.

“Definitely a trap. But they don’t know I have backup. Where is Ciro, anyway?” I hiss back, glancing up into the high-walled room.

Ero just shrugs, glances right, then left out of our shadowed cover. He nods for me to take the lead. Better for him to stay out of sight in case they jump me.

Just as I step out, I see him, Giuliano, standing across from me, just inside another doorway. The light illuminating the cylindrical space is stark, from a streetlamp above. The fresher air tells me the roof overhead is open to the night sky, an access point for the catacombs.

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