CHAPTER 6 ~ BLOOD, BULLETS & BREATHTAKING LIES

DOOM’S POV

I adjusted the collar on my shirt, black silk stretched over muscle, the sleeves rolled just enough to show the serpent tattoo that curled down my forearm. The night was dressed in silence, only the low hum of the estate’s security system breaking through. My Glock rested on the desk beside me, fully loaded, because no good date ever started without a gun nearby... That's just my opinion.

I wasn’t a romantic guy, far from it but for Sally, I would pretend to be. She deserved one quiet night.

I turned toward the door, expecting her, instead, Victor walked in... He didn’t speak, didn’t need to. His expression said everything.

I cocked a brow. "Say it before I lose interest."

"I assume you are telling her tonight." He said.

"About?" I asked, my voice as bored as it was lethal.

Victor met my gaze. "About what you really want from her."

I chuckled, deep and dry. "Hell no, why would you assume that?" I asked curiously.

"You promised to hand her Kelvin and Pam." He said. "You are taking her out, so I figured..."

"You figured wrong." I cut in. "I said what I needed to say to keep her grounded, you and I both know you are not exactly looking for those traitorous fucks. We are not handing her anyone." He nodded.

"I will tell her what I want when she’s ready to hear it, right now? She’s not."

Victor’s jaw tensed. "Fine but it’s still dangerous out there. Luca Montero’s got new men in the city, you should be laying low."

"Luca Montero is a jealous little worm in a suit." I turned to the window, watching the moonlight cast silver shadows across the marble floor. "He wants what I have but doesn’t have the balls to build it himself."

"Yes but he wants you dead more than anything else." Victor warned. "He will shoot anyone close to you just to make it happen. Including her."

I looked back at him slowly. "Then I hope he brought body bags for himself and every bastard he’s sending because if Sally even gets grazed, I am tearing this city down to ash."

Just then, the door opened and the room lit up... Sally.

"Damn."

She was wearing red, my favorite sin. A wine red-colored dress that wrapped her like a fucking gift. One slit up her thigh, and heels that made her legs look longer, lips painted like cherries kissed by poison. I felt every ounce of blood in my body shift course just by staring at her.

Victor saw the look in my eyes and wisely excused himself.

"Fuck, princess." I muttered, crossing to her. "You trying to give me a heart attack before dessert?"

She grinned. "You said to look pretty."

"I see." I whispered, pressing my lips to hers. "You out did yourself , you are drop-dead gorgeous."

...

The restaurant was empty because I bought it out... I tried to impress her tonight.

Le Ciel restaurant, rooftop, golden lights, custom menu and our names engraved on the cutlery. The staff were trained to vanish when necessary.

The world belonged to her tonight.

She was glowing under the candlelight, her laughter soft, her eyes alive. I hadn’t seen her look like that in years, not since before the betrayals, not since before her father died and I stepped into Hell to wear the crown.

"Dante…" She whispered at one point. "Thank you."

I reached across the table, slid my fingers over hers. "For what?"

"For making me feel like I still matter."

"You do." I said, voice low and sure. "You are everything, princess."

She stared at me with a big grin on her face then, gunfire. The first shot shattered the window behind her.

I flipped the table and pulled her down. "Stay down."

Seven men stormed in, Luca’s dogs. Amateurs.

I dropped three before they crossed the threshold as Victor shot the fourth from the balcony. The fifth lunged at me and I gutted him with a wine opener, twisted it, and watched him fall.

The sixth and seventh came in tandem, so I pulled the trigger once. One shot, two bodies.

The last one? I looked around for him and there he was, aiming at her.

I moved without thought, tackled her and took the bullet to the shoulder.

"Fuck." I cursed as pain exploded through me, but I still raised my arm and took that bastard’s head with a clean shot between the eyes.

I landed on the marble floor, bleeding and she fell to her knees beside me, sobbing, pressing her hands against my wound.

"Doom! Dante, please stay with me."

I gritted my teeth, my vision blurry, and gave her a smirk. "He ruined my damn suit."

"You are bleeding too much... oh god, oh god..."

Victor ran in. "We are clear." He said just as I felt my consciousness fade.

But even as the pain dragged me down, I curled my bloodied fingers into hers and whispered. "Don’t cry, princess. You will ruin your makeup."

And then darkness.