Then like a saving fucking grace Luke appears out of nowhere, wrapping his arm around the guys neck, while pulling him backwards. The gun goes off again, but Dante just fires into the air above us. Ivan raises his gun, and I see the apprehension in his eyes. He can’t shoot knowing that if he does, he’ll most likely hit Luke as well.
I’m about to rush over and help him when Luke’s eyes meet mine and I freeze. Pure rage fills his gaze as I watch him tighten his hands around Dante’s neck. There’s an inhuman look to Luke as he grapples with Dante.
He’s already struggling for air and then he drops the gun, trying to use his hands in a last-ditch effort to get Luke off of him, but it’s already too late.
Luke’s grip on him is like a boa constrictor. His arms keep tightening around Dante’s neck until his eyes bulge out of his skull and turn vacant with death. Luke grits his teeth, squeezing tighter and tighter. He releases the fucker with a shove, his body making a loud thud as it hits the ground.
Luke exhales a ragged breath, but doesn’t look as if he’s phased by anything that just happened. Most people would be freaking out, but he seems calm…calmer than normal.
I didn’t understand why Xander was insisting on Luke working for Ivan until this very moment. He must have seen in him what I’m just now seeing.
Luke is a natural born killer.
“Well, fuck kid. I think you just saved our lives,” Ivan smiles.
“Don’t get used to it,” Luke smirks back at us, rolling his shoulders.
They both turn their attention to me. I’m clutching on to my shoulder as blood seeps through my clothes, soiling the fabric. It hurts, but I’ve felt worse. I want to go get Sophie, but when I get to my feet and start walking, I know I won’t last long. I can already feel my strength withering away, black dots line my vision, and I start swaying unsteadily on my feet.
I grit my teeth…fuck I need to get to Sophie…I’ve got to make sure she’s okay.
She’s all that matters. The words ring out in my ears.
“Fuck, they got you good. We got to go. Mac can take the bullet out hopefully. I really don’t want to have to make a run to the hospital.” Ivan murmurs, grabbing my arm and dragging me to the SUV.
“I need to get her, make sure she’s okay…” I growl, the pain in my shoulder lances through my body as he deposits me on the backseat.
“Luke’s going to get her. Just sit tight, everything will be okay,” Ivan assures me, turning on his heels to go and get Violet. Luke is already halfway up to the plane and when I lean back against the seat. My skin feels clammy, my stomach twisting into a knot.
A few moments later everyone appear at the planes exit door. My vision is blurry, and I can barely make out the images. They make their way down the steps and toward me. Ivan is on the phone, probably having a cleanup crew sent out before anybody sees this fucking mess. My heart thuds inside my chest, the sound vibrating through my veins.
Sophie opens the door, and up close, I see the fear and hysteria in her eyes. She slides in next to me and cradles my head against her lap.
“Oh my god, are you okay?” Her tiny hands feel up and down my body like she’s checking for any injuries. “Where are you hurt? There’s blood…you’re bleeding Roman.”
“I’m fine baby, we just need to go see Mac,” I smile. I can’t help but smile even in the midst of the shitstorm we just went through.
“You’re not fine. You’re bleeding, there is blood everywhere…” I know I should probably be more worried, but I’m not. I’ll be okay. I know it. I feel it in my bones.
Violet and Ivan get into the front seat while Luke lifts my lower body and slides in underneath it. I couldn’t care less how we all get back to my place so long as we do.
“You okay?” Ivan calls from the front seat as he peels out of the parking lot.
“Never been better…I was thinking about heading straight to the gym and going a few more rounds.” My voice cracks as I speak, and Luke looks over at me with a grin.
“Even after being shot he still jokes.”
Sophie shakes her head. “You have no idea.”
It doesn’t take long for us to arrive at the house. Ivan called Mac from my cell somewhere in the time span, but I don’t know when. I was too caught up in Sophie’s ocean blue eyes to care about anything else. We all get out of the car, Mac and Dev halfway carry me into the house all the way into the kitchen. At this rate I should just build an infirmary here.