“He’s down!” James shouted. Jer jumped over the couch as Casey and Haley emerged. Dean lifted himself off me and my hands ran down the length of his torso in a panic. “Are you—Areyou okay, baby?” I stuttered, gasping for breath as I looked up into his hazel eyes.
His jaw was tense, his blonde hair falling down from his bun, his pupils dilated with anger. “I’m fine,” he grunted as he rolled off of me and stood. His dark jean covered thigh was shiny…It shouldn’t be shiny.
“Dean! You were shot!” I cried, scrambling up and reaching out for the wound. His hand snapped over my wrist, pulling me into his chest. His lips met mine in a brutal, painful kiss before he pulled away and growled, “I told you to run.”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t—I—” He shut me up with another kiss.
“Aiden cannot lose his momma, Gwen. I cannot lose his momma!” he roared, shaking me. Tears fell down my cheeks, and I shook my head again.
“Gwen…”
Haley’s voice pulled me away from Dean. She was standing by James, Casey, and Jer across the room. Swallowing, Dean and I made our way over to them, shoes crunching the glass and debris on the floor.
My heart pounded in my ears as my eyes landed on what everyone was staring at.
Ray Romano.
Dead.
His dark eyes were void of his fire and life, his jaw slack as his corpse faced the ceiling. A river of blood flowed from underneath his body. Bullet holes were scattered across his body, but that wasn't what killed him. Those were just for good measure.
What killed the devil, the king of the mafia, the man who tormented me and my family for generations was the dagger sticking out of his chest, directly in his heart.
My dagger.
The Black Death.
Collin threw that dagger.
He had it the whole time.
My hand flew to my mouth to stop the sob.
“They are gone!” Jer’s eyes were on the small pool of blood where Collin and Kay once were, his jaw jumping.
“We have to find them,” he growled as he left the room.
James cleared his throat and re-loaded his gun. He looked at Dean. “You find him. You arrest him.” The agent turned to Haley and kissed her forehead.
“Are you alright, princess?” His eyes did a quick once over of her body. She nodded, her lip trembling as she did the same.
“Don’t hurt him, please,” she begged.
He sighed and looked to the floor. “I have a job to do.”
“James—”
“Medical is on their way up. Casey, you good?”
“Peachy,” she answered as she looked from the door down to Romano.
The men left in search of the bleeding demon and his angel. I looked to the girls.
“We have to find them before they do,” I said firmly, pulling my dagger from of Romano’s body.
They both smiled, and as we ran out of the room, I casted one more look at the body.
Kiss my ass, Romano.
