Ruined in Vows (Marchetti Family #3)

57. Allegra

Chapter 57

Allegra

W ith my eyes squeezed shut and my body shaking uncontrollably, I hold Mamma tightly to me. The distress and fear seeping from her, from both of us, is tangible and I am terrified we won't get out of this alive.

Gunfire, screaming, sirens, and loud voices are the soundtrack currently filling the rolled over vehicle.

And I am not afraid to admit that I am frightened of being hit by a stray bullet.

Though the SUV is bulletproof, the glass on every window is shattered, leaving openings for one of us to be shot.

“Fuck, get your asses up here and shoot someone. Or at least hold them off until I can fucking get Allegra and Valentina out of here.” Alessio barks out his orders to Gio and Dario, reloading his gun.

“We are outnumbered. By a fucking lot. It’s suicide at this point,” Gio points out.

Alessio glowers at him. “I don’t give a fuck. This is what you are trained for. We protect the famiglia at all costs. Even if it is our life that is the price.”

Gio glares, shaking his head. Just as he opens his mouth to speak, a bullet flies through the SUV, catching the side of his head and grazing him. He yelps out in pain, his eyes widening as he grabs his ear, cupping it to stop the bleeding before he slumps back in the seat.

Alessio grabs Dario by the neck of his shirt, getting right in his face.

“Get up there and shoot. I gotta get them out of here.” He all but screams the demand.

Dario nods, resolution in his steely gaze. He shoots up quickly, firing his gun a couple times before lowering again, then repeating.

Alessio looks at Mamma with a softness entering his eyes, which I have only ever seen when his gaze is on her. He reaches out, taking her hand in his. “We need to get you out of here.” Mamma trembles, her head jerking in agreement. He glances at me. “I’m going to push the seats out. Climb in the back and we will exit via the trunk.”

“But what if there are men waiting for us?” I ask.

“That’s where Dario comes in. He will shoot anyone that gets too close.”

Anxiety and dread swirl in my stomach at the thought of what we have to do. I swallow it down, mustering all the courage I can find. It’s a massive risk leaving the vehicle, but it’s the only chance we have of surviving this ordeal.

“Okay,” my voice sounds shaky, even to my own ears.

Alessio shoots me a look. One that tells me to be strong and not to break right now. I exhale a shaky breath, then inhale a calm one, determination settling in my veins.

I can do this.

I have to do this.

Seemingly reading my inner thoughts, Alessio nods once, then makes quick work of pulling the lever and maneuvering the seat to make enough space so we can climb into the trunk. I don’t know how he manages it in such a confined area, but he makes it work.

“Go,” he orders me first.

Without thinking, I crawl through the opening, hearing the ripping of material as I go. My wedding dress. Under other circumstances, I would snort at the irony. Ripped and covered in blood, it’s exactly how my marriage would have been had I married Riccardo.

“Two fuckers heading to the trunk.” I hear Dario shout and my heart pounds in my chest.

“Shoot them,” Alessio bites out harshly.

“I can’t. There are too many of them,” Dario growls.

My breath hitches when I hear the handle being lifted. “Alessio. They are here,” I cry.

“Breathe, Allegra. Take my gun.” He shoves his hand through the seat, handing me a gun. “Shoot if they open it.”

“What?” I take it from him. “But I have only ever practiced with Dante. I’ve never actually shot anyone.”

“Well today you will. Use what Dante taught you and fucking focus, Allegra.” Exasperation drips from his tone, as if we weren’t currently in a fight for our life and this is a normal everyday occurrence.

I mean, maybe it is for him, but nothing like this has ever happened to me.

The sound of bullets hitting metal fills the trunk before it stops and the lock clicks. My eyes widen, my heart jumps into my throat, and I think I stop breathing altogether. My hands tremble almost uncontrollably as I lift the gun and aim.

“Breathe, Allegra. Focus. You can do this,” Alessio instructs from the backseat. “I’ve got Gio’s gun and am here with you.”

“Help her, Alessio,” Mamma chokes out, sobbing.

Drowning out all the outside noise, I keep my gaze on where I know the soldiers will appear as soon as they lift the back door. My chest heaves, breaths coming in thick and fast. I am terrified, but at this moment I know I have no other choice.

Muffled male voices talk outside the vehicle, no doubt deciding how they are going to play this. Then the door lifts, a sliver of daylight lighting up the space. The gun wobbles in my hands but I aim it forward, ready to kill anyone before they can kill me.

“This is it,” Alessio warns, just as the backdoor rises slowly.

Male figures in all black appear, their faces covered with masks. Before I can shoot them or vice versa, they fall to the floor, as blood spatters against my dress. I scream, eyes widening in shock, and I hear the faint sound of my name being called through the ringing in my ears. But I'm not quick enough.

Someone grabs for me, seconds before a gunshot sounds. My body jolts, pain exploding inside of me as I slump against the window of the overturned vehicle.

My vision turns blurry, hands shifting to my side where the pain radiates through me. I pull my hand up, nausea rising in my throat at the blood coating my skin.

I have been shot.

I have been shot.

I have been shot.

The words play on repeat in my head. Dizziness, weakness and a whole lot of other things surge in my body just before I start to lose consciousness.

Familiar, frantic voices pull at the recesses of my mind, but it’s one in particular that catches my attention, begging me to live. He grips my face, pulling at me, making me promise things I don’t think I can.

Dante.

My husband.

The man I gave my heart to when I was a young girl.

The man I love.

Strong hands lift me, cradling me in his arms and close to his chest.

“Stay with me,” he repeats over and over, his distressed voice tugging at my chest.

A contented sigh leaves my lips as I breathe in his familiar scent one last time.

Then everything goes black.