Chapter 34 34

Chapter 34 34

His mother was pretty much convinced nothing was going to save them again. The fear inside her was so much it had clouded her brain and ears.

She couldn't hear the furious commands of the robber even as little Domenico tugged at her, asking her to get down.

The man was just about to pull the trigger when suddenly, a woman appeared out of nowhere.

She ran at the robber from behind, like she had nothing to lose. And before the man realised what was happening, she threw herself at him. It was at that moment that he fired. The shot hit her shoulder.

A cry ripped out of her throat, but she grabbed the man and fought him with everything she had. In the process of fighting him, the gun clattered, falling off the man's hand. She went on top of him and clawed at him everything she had. It was the first time Domenico had seen anyone so desperate and hysterical in an attempt to survive.

Seeing that the robber was no longer wielding the gun, the men immediately ran towards the two of them and grabbed the man, beating him down until he couldn't move, pressing his face against the floor and tying his hand around his back. After that someone called the police.

The worker that had been shot was bleeding but soon got some medical help. She'd risked everything for a child and his mother, people she never knew. Domenico still remembered the smell of blood and the wet noise of it on her sleeve.

He remembered the way his mother's gave went white and the way she held him tighter than she had before. But before the police arrived, a shocking twist of events happened.

The mafia security soon found out what had happened inside the mall and came in. They waited until those who were running out of the mall were done before they stepped in and took charge like they owned the place.

The robber was spitting and begging to be let go, his face red and swollen with the punches he'd relieved during the course of the lynching. The police arrived not long after but when they got in and met the mafia, they stopped. In their world, law didn’t always mean the end.

Or the right way to settle things. At times it required blood. And that was exactly what happened.

The men from the family threatened the police not to involve themselves in what was about to happen, and warned the two officers not to call for backup. Just to make sure of that, their walkie-talkies were seized before the men were asked to back off a little.

Domenico's mom who was still in tears tried to turn him away from the sight but one of the men growled at her to let the boy watch. His mother tried to complain but the man quickly walked towards them and pulled Domenico away from his mother's hands.

And when the woman tried to stop them, she was restrained. The men had been asked to get out of the mall with threats. So it was just the robber, the Stone family guards and the police watching, together with mother and son.

The robber got up, having been released, and staggered a few steps towards the door but they didn't let him get there. One of them fired a gun into the man's knee, flooring him instantly.

The man cried out in pain as he crashed on the floor, holding his knee. After that, the same man who'd shot him stepped forward, pointed the gun at the robber while looking up at Domenico who watched as their shots were fired at the robber.

One went to both chests and the third left a hole in his head, leaving a sticky mess of blood and brain matter splattered all over the floor. Domenico had felt nothing.

He was used to it. And that was one of those moments that initiated him into the real circle. He couldn't forget how proud his father was of him after the men had told him what happened at the mall.

Years later, Domenico could still remember the face of the lady who'd rushed in to save them. He remembered the woman every time he remembered the moment.

He still remembered how shaky his mother's fingers were as they were being led out of the mall towards the car that was waiting outside.

A year or two passed after that incident before he got to see her again. He usually longed to see her during those years, but he knew it was for the best. They had to keep the women safe by hiding them from their enemies who could use them against the family.

Domenico never forgot the woman's bravery. He had never forgotten how close death had been to him and his mother that day.

He had never forgotten the way his mother had begged and tried to keep him safe. And that was why when he saw Lucy later, years and years after the mall, he saw a sharp of that fear in her face.

That same smallness and that same need. He'd thought it was pity in the first place. And then he thought he was going crazy. He'd thought maybe it was something like care that pushed him to reach for her in the chaos. But that feeling ran way deeper.

It was raw, especially now realising that that woman was Lucy's mother. Her face flipped a switch inside him and that had been the reason for his behaviour this whole time. Because of that, he was determined to save her from the path her family had put her on.

Determined to stop any more blood from spilling because of a ledger, or because of an always drunk man with gambling problems, and from men who saw her as nothing. He shut his eyes, letting out a loud sigh as the memory faded like smoke. But the feeling didn't go away.



On the other side of town, however, Blaze was already moving on his own plan to make sure Domenico regretted touching Nicole. He'd gotten the message, and now it was his time to send one back by putting a bullet in the woman's head.

"Get me Lucy's mother." He said. "Bring her to the warehouse and make sure she's all tied up."