Page 49 of Rejected By My Shifter Billionaire
Domenico might not give a damn about his pride or that of his pack, but Alessandro did.
In less than a minute, he was out of Kassia’s room, once again using her window to leave, and on his way to where the ambush was set to take place, an intersection far from the city, with only darkness and shadows as witnesses for what could be a bloody exchange.
Alessandro arrived just in time, his Lyccan senses allowing him to see everything even from afar. There were a dozen of them, and they smelled of cowardice and intoxication, a combination that Alessandro had always found repulsive. Even so, he didn’t let himself underestimate the threat they posed, having also smelled the weapons they had armed themselves with. Every one of them had guns, and each was loaded with silver-coated bullets.
Alessandro watched the group of Lyccans force Domenico’s limousine to a stop as they landed in front of the vehicle. The limousine’s wheels screeched as Domenico’s driver slammed on the brakes.
A second later, Domenico stepped out of the limousine alone. It was expected, and Alessandro knew his brother had ordered his chauffeur to stand down, a command that no Moretti soldier would be able to disobey without risking exile from the pack.
“What is your purpose for blocking our way?”
The other Lyccans laughed jeeringly at his brother’s polite tone, and one of them even mockingly imitated his tone. “Our purpose, Your Highness, is to rid the world of dogs like you.”
Domenico’s expression didn’t change, and neither did his tone. “I see.”
It angered the other Lyccan, who had obviously been hoping to see Domenico cower. He spat at Domenico. “Fucking dog.” When Domenico didn’t react, his fury turned into triumph, and Alessandro knew it was because the other Lyccan had realized all the rumors were true.
Domenico wasn’t going to fight.
The other Lyccan laughed. “Fucking wimp.” He spat at Domenico again.
Alessandro saw red.
Domenico might not be willing to fight, but he was.
The other Lyccan turned towards his companions. “Let’s teach this dog a lesson, boys.” None of them moved, fear flickering in their eyes, and he scowled. “What the hell? Didn’t you see? He’s nothing to be afraid of!”
He turned to face Domenico again, and that was when he saw Alessandro standing behind him.
Alessandro bared his teeth in a smile. “Perhaps this will make you feel fear.” He drove his fist into the bastard’s face, and at the sound of his cry of pain, pandemonium erupted, and the other Lyccans began firing at Alessandro and Domenico.
Either of them would be down for the count if any of the silver bullets hit them, but panic and fear made their opponentssloppy. In silent, mutual agreement, Alessandro and his brother worked in tandem, shifting into Lyccan form for added strength and speed. Twisting and leaping to avoid the rain of bullets, they loped towards the other Lyccans. They took the bastards down one by one, landing powerful kicks direct at the head to knock them unconscious with one blow.
When it was over, Domenico and Alessandro returned to human form and changed back into their clothes.
“You will ride with me.” Domenico’s words were more a statement than a question. Normally Alessandro would have bristled at it, but now he realized a combination of tiredness and anger had made him almost numb. He only nodded and listened quietly as Domenico followed protocol to ensure that the unconscious Lyccans they were leaving behind them wouldn’t wake up in a human hospital and their blood samples revealing their non-human lineage.
When Domenico finished his call, he looked at his younger brother, saying quietly, “Thank you.”
The words only made Alessandro bitter. “I’ve tried, you know.” He shook his head grimly. “I’ve fucking tried to understand where you’re coming from, but I just don’t see the goddamn point of making yourself look pathetic and weak even when you’re not.”
Regret darkened his brother’s gaze, but instead of answering him, Domenico asked in the same quiet tone, “Is this about Esmeralda?”
Alessandro wondered why he was even surprised that Domenico already knew about their sister’s trouble. “So you know she was suspended because of you?”
“Yes.”
Again, there was no apology, and Alessandro found himself exploding. “Why won’t you fucking fight?Why?Do you love Misty so much that you no longer love your own family? Your pack? Does your own honor no longer matter?”
“It does, Alessandro. It is for my honor that I’m doing this. It is because I love my pack, you and the rest of our family, and yes, it is because I love Misty that I am doing this. I know you believe I was...emotionallystronger before, but I wasn’t. My arrogance, my need for vengeance – all of it made me weak, and it was only when my wife disappeared that I realized the truth. And that is why I’m doing all of this. It may not seem so, but the penance I’ve subjected myself to is also meant to make me stronger.” Domenico’s voice turned steely. “I’m doing this to be strong for everyone depending on me—-”
Alessandro cut his brother off, snapping, “Letting someone spit on your face will make you stronger?”
“Yes.”
“Bullshit.”
His brother didn’t flinch, and the patient expression on his face didn’t change. It was like talking to Buddha, Domenico powerful and resilient in his peace, and Alessandro’s fists clenched in vicious frustration.
