CHAPTER 158

CHAPTER 158
Celine

“What about you?” I asked, concerned for his safety. First it was his jacket, now his gun.

“I have this,” Leo answered, showing me the bloody, spiked baton in his grip.

Even at that, the idea of me having his gun still didn't sit right with me. I felt like I was leaving him somewhat defenseless.

“I can handle myself,” he added, having noticed my concerns. “So you don't have to worry about me. It's my duty to protect you when boss can't.” 

I nodded slowly, tucking the gun into the waistband of the back of my pants.

With him in the lead, we began to dodge through the heat and flames raining down from the roof, heading towards another passage which hadn't been entirely grazed by the fire, whilst his eyes darted around every now and then in a bid to ensure that the coast was clear of danger.

I could barely walk properly, limping and gripping the side of my belly Marco had kicked repeatedly. But soon enough we safely arrived at the end of the passage and stepped out into the ground floor, my stomach churning on the inside as my gaze landed on the tiny fragments of blown up flesh on the sunken part of the building.

I tossed the smoky jacket draped over my shoulder down and quickly threw my face away, fighting the nausea threatening to force a vomit out of my throat.

When we finally reached the metal gate, Leo peeped through the tiny space in it in order to survey our surroundings. 

After that, he opened the passenger side of the gate, signalling with a raise of the hand for me to wait as he peered carefully into the outside premises.

Certain that there was no sign of danger, he waved me over and stepped out, and I moved along with him, walking right behind him, while his sturdy body acted as a form of protective shield. Then we ducked low and began to follow a bushy path at the back which he said Antonio and the guys had taken earlier when they arrived.

We moved codedly and quickly, my uneasiness growing with every passing second as I couldn't help but look back, hoping that Antonio and the others were somewhere behind us. 

On getting to the end of the path, we crossed over the bushes and broke out into the open road where four familiar cars were parked, halting beside one of the SUVs.

Leo brought out the car key from his pocket and unlocked it, then he hurriedly pulled the passenger door open for me to get in, his entire body freezing dead on the spot as his eyes drifted to a distance. 

“Alessandro,” he muttered almost inaudibly, stopping me in my tracks before I could get in, as I noticed his eyes watering up slightly. 

My eyes traced his gaze to an old hotel building slightly opposite the uncompleted one. And right on the slab of the rooftop was the sniper, Alessandro, dangling from the edge with his eyes wide open and multiple bullet wounds to his forehead.

“Oh my God,” I muttered under my breath, my hands flying up to cover my mouth.

“This explained why the sniper didn't take a shot while Marco was in there, threatening to press the detonator on his phone,” I thought as I lowered my hand gradually, my heart beating really fast. 

Leonardo and Alessandro weren't just Luna Nera brothers. They were blood brothers from the same papà and mamma, so I could understand just how he was feeling at this moment.

It also left me wondering who could have done this to him when all of Marco's bodyguards were inside at the time.

My thoughts were interrupted as I felt Leo’s hand on my upper back, gently guiding me towards the car seat.

“We have to leave now,” he said in urgency, clearly shaking his grief off even though I could still see the agony in his cold eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Leo,” I said softly, sympathising with him.

He merely forced out a shaky smile in response, then I quickly hopped into the passenger seat and he shut the door, hurrying over to the driver's side. But just as he pulled the door open, a gunshot reverberated through the air, my shoulders jerking in reflex.

Leo’s body slammed against the door as the side of his head smashed like a watermelon, my eyes shooting wide open in sheer horror as he slumped on the floor.

I let out a thunderous scream, feeling the veins on my forehead sticking out as I did. 

To my greatest shock, Armando appeared by the driver's side and crossed over Leo's body, leaning against the foot of the car for support.

“I finally got you, you little bitch,” he said, a sinister smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. Then he tossed the rifle in his hand to the ground, swiftly extending his hands into the car in a bid to grab me.

I quickly dodged his hold and hastily reached for the door handle, pushing it open.

He speedily hopped into the front seat and landed on his bleeding knees, stopping me from jumping out as she grabbed me by the legs, forcing me to fall onto the seat on my back.

I screamed at the top of my legs, swinging my legs wildly as he began to violently drag me towards him.

“Let go of me, Armando!” I yelled, struggling to reach for the gun tucked in the waistband of the back of my pants.

“Stay put!” he growled, aggressively pulling me towards him while carefully drifting backwards.

Seeing that he'd reached the edge of the seat, I sprang up to a sitting position and slammed my head against his with brutal force, his grip on my legs faltering a little as he growled in pain.

I swallowed my own pain as well the sickening thumping in my head and yanked one leg out of his grip, slamming it into the exact spot on his hand where he'd been shot.

A sharp yelp tore out of his throat as he fell off the seat and landed on the floor on his back, taking me along with him as I equally fell beside him on my side.

I swallowed my pain and ache yet again, hurriedly reaching for the back of my waistband just as he sat up, ready to attack me. Then I pulled out the gun and aimed it at him, letting out a series of furious screams as I fired continuously into his chest, his shoulders twisting with each shot. 

I paused, painting heavily as his entire body stiffened, his watery and reddened eyes fixated on me. Then he coughed out a huge chunk of blood from his mouth, slowly collapsing to the ground.

I lowered the gun gradually, my shoulders jerking gently as I broke into hot tears.

With tears smeared cheeks I crawled weakly towards Leo’s dead body and covered his opened eyes with my palm, taking the keys to the SUV from his open hand. Afterwards, I got up on my feet and quickly made my way towards the driver's seat, just about to step in when I heard a sharp whistle right behind me.