by my muscles falling limp with relief as I recognize the voice. Torn between wanting to strangle and hug Dom, but unable to move, I groan in anger and frustration.
However, my anger doesn’t last long because Dom’s next words send a chill down my spine. “Paulie’s here, and he brought a friend.”
Chapter Three
Della
Stilling, my heart beats heavily against my chest. Any more intense and it would tear through my skin. He found me already. How?
Slowly releasing his hand from over my mouth, I spin in Dom's arms. “How is that possible?”
Dom stares at the door and rushes out his words. “A rat, luck, a silent tail, I don’t know.”
“What the hell is a silent tail?” I demand, my shaky tone betraying my false bravado.
Dom's impatient gaze turns back to me, but I don’t take it personally. His stiff posture and wild eyes tell me how on edge he is. “I’ll explain later. Right now, we need to make a run for it to the Dodge. You need to stay to my right at all times, got it, Dell?”
Swallowing roughly, my dry throat makes it impossible to answer so all I do is nod.
As Dom reaches for the door, I pull his hand back. “Why can’t we wait here until they leave?”
“I’ll explain all that later. We need to leave now , Della.” His tone impatient but his words a plea.
“I need to understand before I run off into possible gunfire, Dom.” I want, no, need more information. I’m sick of being blindsided in my own life.
He grasps my elbows and squeezes. “We don’t have time for this. Just trust me.”
Trust me. Those words said so carelessly by many who have used and abused me. All of them having their own sick and twisted meaning to the words.
Unclenching my arms from his grip, I step backward. “Never.”
“This is not the fucking time, Della,” Dom argues.
“Then talk fast,” I grit out, “because faith no longer lives inside this girl.”
Dom’s eyes widen, and he jerks back as if my words burned him. It takes him a moment, but he recovers and begins to explain, “They’ll have your picture. They're probably showing it around right now saying you’ve been kidnapped or that you’re a fugitive, whatever will scare people into talking. Any second now, they could learn the green Dodge is ours, and they’ll come through this bathroom door or just start shooting, not giving a shit if anyone else was in here with you. There’s no rhyme nor reason to guys like that. There’s only running as fast and as far away as we fucking can, because you gun them down, choke them until their last breath. That’s another reason why Lucini will never stop. He’ll send double the men next time.”
Clearing my throat, I ask, “And if they start firing at us?”
Dom grabs my good hand and places the keys in my palm. “I’ll return fire to give you cover. You will make it to the car unharmed. I promise.” He doesn’t remove his hand. Instead, he pulls me forward and opens the bathroom door. I’m thrust outside, and my heart nearly bursts. I swing my head left and then right, peering around wildly for our enemies.
Warm hands press into my back, and Dom is pushing me toward the pumps. Palpitations explode through my chest. I’m not ready. What does "I won’t be harmed" mean? Does that mean he might be?
Abruptly, Dom halts me by placing a hand on my stomach and stepping in front of me. He peers carefully around the corner of the building. Agonizing seconds pass as if there is a large clock hanging over my head, and every tick dongs loudly and vibrates dread and anxiety all over my body.
Shakily, I tighten the grip on my handbag and twist the keys in my hand, positioning the driver's key, so all I have to do in a split second is push it in and turn the car on.
Dom turns toward me with clear and focused eyes and says in a strong voice, “Stay to my right. Now, run .”
My first step is a stumble; it matches exactly how my