Page 79 of Wounded King

"It's Alberto," Luciano announces.

Slowly, Marcello's weight eases off me; he pulls me up. "Are you okay?"

Numbly, I nod. His eyes roam my body to ascertain the truthfulness of my statement, and I notice a gash on his face. "You're bleeding."

His hand follows my eyes and comes back bloody. He grins. "So it seems. Guess I need my nurse back."

His nonchalance is a quick reminder of why I should stay away from him. For a moment, I falter. Just a moment. Because a man who can smile after he's been shot is just… just… suicidal, and I don't need that kind of grief in my life. But that moment fades as quickly as it came, because there is that arrogant smile that I missed so much. The one that screams,come hell or high water, I'll survive. My hand is shaking when I reach for a pair of scissors that someone has pinned to a wall, and I cut off part of my shirt to dab at his face.

Familiar butterflies spread through my stomach as he stills my hand with his, pressing his cheek into my palm. Tears sting my eyes. I don't think I have the strength to say goodbye to him again.

I just lived through my worst fear, and here I am, salivating over the man I should be running from.

Luciano's grunts as he moves the filing cabinets to the side bring me back to reality.

"Pippa?" My voice is laced with fear.

"I'm okay," she replies, helping Luciano move the cabinets so we can open the door. Outside, a group of ten men waits for us—all dressed in suits, all holding guns in their hands. I cling to Marcello's side as we exit, and my eyes fall on the dead bodies on the ground.

"Did anybody survive?" Marcello asks.

"We have two in custody," a man I haven't met yet answers.

"Good, take them to the warehouse, make sure they stay alive until I get there."

"Yes, boss."

We enter the main restaurant, where Pippa and I sat not even an hour ago, talking about the very same man I'm clinging to now. Thankfully, there are no bodies here; it seems all the waiters and customers got out. Still, the room is a mess. Overturned chairs and tables, broken glass, and dishes litter the floor.

I can hardly believe the sun is still shining when we step outside. People are standing on the other side of the street behind cars, phones up as they film everything, talking to each other as if they're watching a baseball game. In the distance, the wailing of sirens slowly becomes louder.

"Let's get out of here," Marcello says, leading me toward a large, illegally parked black SUV.

"Pippa?"

"Is coming with us," he assures me.

"I'm just saying I should have a gun too," Pippa pouts as she enters the SUV, giving me a glimpse into the conversation she and Luciano seem to be having.

"No," Luciano answers sternly, staring at Pippa the way I've never seen him stare at anyone before. A mix of respect and annoyance reflects on his face, and for the first time, I realize that Luciano, too, is a very handsome man. I've always known that on some level, but I've never looked at him in any way other than first as an annoyance and later as a friend.

"Who is your friend?" Luciano asks as he takes a seat.

"Her friendcan talk, and my name is Pippa," Pippa replies dryly.

"That's an idiotic name," Luciano replies.

As I snuggle into Marcello's embrace, my heart is still pounding too hard to fully enjoy the little spat between my two friends. Yet, I can't help but watch the show as Marcello barks instructions at the driver.

"Well, let's hear if yours is any better." Pippa challenges, crossing her arms over her ample chest.

"Luciano," he informs her smugly.

Pippa rolls her eyes. "So inventive," she snarks.

"Hey, don't insult my parents," Luciano advises.

"You did it first," Pippa doesn't miss a beat.