Chapter 13 - The Emotional Barrier
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“I’m fine!” Dante gritted his teeth, pushing himself back up with his good arm. He fired three precise shots toward the rooftop, dropping one of the shooters.
Silas and the remaining guards laid down a massive wave of suppressing fire. The deafening roar of automatic weapons forced the assassins to retreat. The screech of tires echoed as Volkov’s men fled the scene before the Chicago police could arrive.
“Boss is hit! Get him in the car! Now!” Silas barked.
I scrambled into the backseat of the remaining functional SUV, pulling Dante in after me. The driver hit the gas, tearing away from the carnage and speeding back toward the safety of the estate.
Dante leaned his head back against the leather seat, his face pale, breathing heavily through the pain.
“Let me see it,” I demanded, my hands shaking as I tore his ruined suit jacket off his shoulder.
The bullet had passed cleanly through the meat of his upper shoulder. There was a lot of blood, but it hadn't hit an artery.
When we reached the estate, the underground doctor was already waiting in the medical bay. I refused to leave the room while he stitched Dante up. I stood in the corner, my arms wrapped around myself, staring at the blood staining my own hands.
Once the doctor finished and left, I walked over to the bed where Dante was sitting shirtless, a thick white bandage wrapped around his shoulder.
“I told you I would protect you,” Dante said softly, looking at my tear-streaked face.
“You took a bullet for me,” I choked out, a sob finally breaking free. “You could have died today, Dante. Because I wanted to leave the house.”
“I would take a thousand bullets before I let them touch you,” he vowed, reaching out with his good arm and pulling me between his knees.
He rested his forehead against my stomach, his strong arm wrapping around my waist. The indestructible mafia boss was holding onto me like I was his lifeline.
I sank to my knees, framing his face with my hands. I didn't care about the danger anymore. I didn't care about the darkness of his world. I only cared about the man who had bled for me.
May you like
I leaned in and crashed my lips against his.
Dante groaned, a deep, primal sound of relief and desire. His hand tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, kissing me with a desperate, all-consuming passion. The emotional barrier between us shattered completely, leaving nothing but absolute, undeniable devotion.
