CHAPTER 159

CHAPTER 159
Dual Pov

Before Celine could even turn her head fully to see who it was, a brutal punch landed on her already battered face, sending her crashing to the hard ground.

The gun and car keys flew from her hand on impact, sliding about 10 feet away from where she'd landed.

A sharp groan escaped her lips and a sickening pain shot through her head and face, blurring her vision. But she could still see Marco's devilish face hovering just above her, the side of his neck where he'd been shot now covered with a blood soaked fabric that matched that of his shirt.

He leaned over and grabbed her by her clothes, jacking her up to her feet, then he brought her back close to his chest, wrapping his arm firmly around her neck.

“No one's coming to your rescue, Celine,” he whispered into her ear, her strangled coughs filling the air as she struggled carefully against his hold.

And at that very moment, the uncompleted building exploded outwards with a thunderous sound that shook the ground they stood on, wild fire and thick smoke capturing the entire structure.

Her pupils enlarged in horror and shockwaves travelled through every inch of her body, her knees buckling. 

What followed was a shrill scream of agony from the core of her aching chest, Marco's cruel laughter reverberating in her ears.

Endless streams of tears gushed out of her eyes as she screamed on and on whilst still struggling to break free and run in the direction of the fire, his firm grip on her neck the only thing stopping her from crumpling to the ground.

“Looks like your sweet mafia husband is gone,” Marco taunted, a spiteful scowl framing his face. “Don't worry, I'll make sure to take very good care of you in this stead.” He pulled out a gun from behind his pants, burying it into the side of her head. “Now move quietly.”

“Let her go,” A domineering voice ordered out of the blue, her screams and sobs dying abruptly on her lips as she recognised the familiar voice. 

And here came Antonio and the other Luna Nera brothers, stepping out from behind the bushes onto the open road Celine and Marco were on.

Pedro and Matteo supportively held on to him on both sides, his one hand over the latter’s shoulder, while the other gripped the side of his stomach where the rebar had punctured.

“Antonio,” she muttered with tears stained cheeks and wide eyes, letting out a shaky exhale of relief, even though his pale face and significant parts of his head was covered in minor cuts and thick layers of blood, and the red and blistered burn injury on his arm was visible enough for her to see from the shreds on his dusty clothes.

“Let her go, Marco,” Antonio added as him and his brothers all came to a halt a few feet away from them, fighting through the outrageous pain lacing his entire body, while Pedro’s gun aimed at Marco.

“Stay back!” Marco barked, his arms locking tighter around Celine's throat as the other Luna Nera brothers stylishly began to circle around him.

“I’m not FUCKING playing with you,” he added, driving the gun deeper into the side of her head as he backed up slowly towards the black SUV. “Make them stay the hell back, Antonio, or I'll blow up her FUCKING brains!!”

“Fine,” Antonio said, bringing his brothers to a uniform halt as he held his hand out to them. “Just don't hurt her,” he added, anxiety clawing at his throat as Celine's panicked gaze remained on him.

He couldn't afford to make any mistakes because he practically had her on chokehold, her strained coughs echoing in the air.

Marco continued to back up, coming to a stop as he reached the open driver's door of the SUV.

“Toss it towards me,” Marco commanded, signalling with his eyes to the car keys sprawled on the floor just beside Pedro's feet.

Pedro's gaze shifted to Antonio’s hesitant face, waiting on his instructions.

“Do it now!” Marco barked as he angrily slammed the side of the gun of Celine's head and placed the tip back on it, threatening to pull the trigger.

“Do what he wants,” Antonio said in urgency, then Pedro kicked the keys towards Marco and he caught it underneath his shoes, leaning down to grab it.

“Get in,” he ordered harshly, freeing Celine from his grip. Then he pointed the gun to her head, his eyes swirling hastily from her face to the Luna Nera brothers, making sure none of them were trying to sneak up on him.

She obediently hopped into the driver's seat, crawling towards the passenger side on his instructions, then she sat down on the chair, setting her feet down.

Immediately, he jumped behind the wheel, jammed the door shut and tucked the gun into the side of his left side of his pants waistband, the tires screeching loudly against the bumpy asphalt as he sped off.

“Don't let that fucking son of a bitch get away at any cost!” Antonio ordered as he forcefully tore out of Matteo and Pedro’s hold, half-running and half-dragging his leg towards his BMW M5 Sedan.

The Luna Nera brothers nodded fiercely, bolting towards the car, while Pedro marched in the direction of the Highlander, about three of them getting in with him while the others entered the other SUV.

“You’re in no condition to drive,” Matteo said as he ran after Antonio, bringing him to a forced halt just in front of the driver's seat of his car.

“I have to do this,” he said, dropping behind the wheel.

Matteo nodded to himself, hurrying around the car and getting into the passenger's seat. 

Antonio slammed his foot recklessly on the gas pedal and the car zoomed off at a crazy high speed, the others trailing right behind him.

About six kilometres ahead, Celine grabbed onto the strap of the seatbelt around her, her heart literally at the tip of her mouth as Marco thoughtlessly raced through the straight and partially lonely road, swerving from side to side in a bid to avoid the few cars zipping past.

Behind them, Antonio kept his gaze firmly locked on their car from the windshield, the speed at which his car went, sprinkling fragments of dust in the air.

His face was getting paler by the second as he'd already lost a lot of blood, but he chose to remain strong, determined not to let him have Celine.

Marco's car took a turn into a rocky street and Matteo hastily pulled out his phone from his pocket, clicking on Pedro's contact.

“He's taking the short route to the province in Barolo,” he announced the moment Pedro picked up, holding on to the compartment of the handle above the roof of the car as Antonio equally took a sharp turn into the rocky street. “There are diversions ahead. We can block him. Inform the others.”

“Roger that,” Pedro said, the line clicking dead.

He quickly passed the message across to his brothers and they separated at a T junction, Pedro's Highlander to the right, and the SUV to the left, while Antonio’s car continued to follow that of Marco.