Page 545 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

It must suck to be caged up like that. Poor guy.

He barks at a few birds who swoop down into the parking lot to feast on some garbage in a nearby dumpster. They dive for whatever crap they sniffed out and then flee the scene before Vito can leap at them. He watches them flutter their wings and then runs around the empty lot. We go in circles, over and over and over, and still…nothing. He hasn’t stopped for a single second and I’m about to keel over from exhaustion.

I collapse on the ground, yanking a bit on the leash as Vito continues his morning jaunt. “Vito! Dude, I need a break!” I gasp. “Can’t you just do your business so we can go back inside? It’s like Africa hot out here.” I try to avoid being outside in Vegas during the day since the temperatures at this time of year rocket into the one hundreds.

Dry heat is still fucking hot, no matter what people say.

He stops and stares at me, a low growl rumbling through him. He creeps toward me, a menacing look on his worn face, and the fact that he’s an attack dog hits me just as he leaps into the air. His loud barks pierce the air, and I cover my head as he dives in my direction. I’m pretty sure I’m about to be shredded by Vito’s sharp fangs within the next few seconds, and I seriously doubt covering my head is gonna prevent any amount of damage.

Seconds later, the barking continues and I’m still in one piece, still with the leash wrapped around my hand.

I lower my arm to peer around and start to pull myself to my feet. “Hey, Vito, buddy. Let’s just go ins?—"

The sound of squealing tires against the pavement behind me makes me do a double take, and the barking gets louder as Vito drags me toward the blacked-out van entering the parking lot. He runs like there’s a lit candle shoved up his ass, dragging me behind him.

I tug on the leash to keep him away from the van with only one thought racing through my mind.

They found me.

Goddammit! I got lazy. I lost focus. I fucking failed my family. Again.

I grab for my gun and silence a groan when I remember that it’s still under the driver’s seat of my car. Not in my waistband where it needs to be right at this second.

I let go of the leash as two guys dressed in black jump out of the van, now blocking the exit to the parking lot. I scramble to my feet, my pulse throbbing against my neck as I charge for them.

Fuck it.

If they came for me, they’re gonna get me.

Lily is inside of the shelter. I have to keep her safe. That means keeping themout.

Vito attacks the men, digging his teeth into the calf of one of them as he fumbles with his gun. He points it at Vito and cocks it just as I launch my body at his.

He fires a shot into the air and two more follow as we roll around on the ground. I pound my fist against his jaw as Vito feasts on the second guy’s arm. The guy kicks, his legs flailing as he tries to get a grip on his own weapon.

Gunshots explode into the air as I fight them from my disadvantaged position on the ground. A whimpering sound follows and my throat tightens.

Did they shoot Vito?

Bastards.

I punch the one closest to me in the balls with every ounce of strength I can muster, sending him crashing to the ground with a loud roar. I roll around and jump at the second guy, locking my arm around his neck and tightening my grip so he gasps for air like a fish out of water. Just a few seconds more and his eyeballs will pop right out of his damn sockets.

His arms and legs kick and swing but I hold tight, cutting off all air.

Another shot explodes and a sudden fire ignites, raging through my shoulder. The force sends me flying into the cement wall before I crash to the ground, my skull cracking against the gravel. Searing pain tears through my flesh, shooting down my arm. I clench my teeth, rolling onto my back, my vision blurred from the sudden blast.

I blink fast, trying desperately to process what the fuck just happened.

My gaze falls to a pair of metal-tipped black boots before traveling upward to find a familiar face staring down at me.

Dark, ominous eyes, murderous expression, gun clutched tight and pointed at my forehead.

“Zeno Villani. I’ve waited a long time to meet you.” Domenico Messina lowers himself next to me, his black eyes demonic as they bore into my shattered body.

“I hope I was worth the wait,” I rasp, cringing as I try to move.

“I’m throwing a party and wanted to invite you in person.” He grins at me, tapping his gun against my head.

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