Unwanted Marriage with the Mafia Boss (Mob Boss’s Unexpected Twins Duet #1)

27. Adriano

CHAPTER 27

Adriano

I know that bike. I know who it is.

Matteo.

All I have to do is throw myself behind the car. But as I glance at Chiara, I know she’s not going to be fast enough. Her eyes are wide, like a deer caught in the headlights, and she’s not moving, even as a couple of bullets whiz close by.

I have a split second to make a decision as everything around me slows down. There’s no time to contemplate my choices. I just act on instinct.

I tackle Chiara down to the ground. Pain rips through my back.

“Game over! You should always save yourself, you idiot!” Gennaro’s voice rings in my head.

I broke all the rules. I broke all the rules for Chiara, and it was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. It’s going to cost me my life. I know it, and yet, I have no regrets.

It’s weird, but I almost feel... free in a way.

“Are you okay?” I ask and grunt as I push myself off her.

There’s blood on her dress, but it’s mine.

“Adriano! What...?” Chiara gets up on her knees next to me, looking at me in panic. “You... You’re...”

Everything fucking hurts and there’s blood everywhere. I grit my teeth as my fingers curl around my phone. I quickly send an SOS text, but it’ll probably be too late and Matteo might be back. Who knows where my guards have gone? Matteo might have staged a diversion or had his men attack them.

“The keys are in the ignition,” I say to Chiara. “Go. In the opposite direction, not after Matteo. He might be back.”

“But—” She gapes at me like a fish, reaching out for me.

“Go! You’re free! My men will release your parents. Go!” I type another text.

Luckily, it’s just a simple code word that will let my men know I want Paradossi and his wife free.

“I can’t just leave you here,” she chokes out.

“And you can’t stay here. Matteo will be back.”

“But... you... I need to call an ambulance.”

“No, you don’t. Just get the fuck out of here!” I grimace because the pain is getting stronger every time I speak.

This is her chance to be free of me forever. I don’t know why she’s even hesitating, probably because she’s in shock. But once she realizes what’s happened, she’ll be celebrating and dancing on my grave.

“Is there a place where I can take you?” she asks.

“I just told you—”

“And I’m not leaving you here to die! I’m not!” Tears fill the corners of her eyes, but she quickly wipes them away. “Come on!”

She grabs my arm, tugging me up.

“Chiara—”

“Stop wasting your energy. Come on! Let’s go!” She keeps pulling.

I groan as I force myself up. Why is she doing this? Is it just her good nature? Is she incapable of leaving another person to die? Even when that person is not a good man?

She all but drags me to the car. I use the last atoms of my energy to get in the passenger seat. Chiara closes the car door and races to the other side of the car. I’ve never seen her so... focused. I like it.

“Where do I go?” she asks as she jumps into the driver’s seat.

“Here.” I press a button on the dashboard. “It’ll take you... straight there.”

Rocco set up the GPS system and everything to make things easier, and right now, it could come in really handy. Dark spots appear in my vision, and the pain is too much to bear.

Chiara’s face is the last thing I see, and I can feel the corners of my mouth lift up.