Page 161 of Vow Of Fire

He led me outside, where the wind was even colder and the rain was coming down hard. It seemed fitting for what was about to happen.

Up ahead, the slick black water glistened uninvitingly. It looked cold, and I didn’t relish the thought of falling into it. Not that I’d feel it, I reasoned grimly.

“Stand there,” Vincent ordered, pushing me toward the edge of the dock.

A strange calm settled over me, almost like I was having an out-of-body experience. Then, somewhere in the back of my head, I heard Dante’s voice.

Turn. Plant. Strike.

I drew in a breath as what he’d taught me came rushing back. I had a split second to decide whether I was going to act. Seconds before he pulled that trigger and my head exploded all over the side of the dock.

What the hell. I had nothing to lose. I was going to die anyway.

Bracing myself for stability, I spun around and slammed my elbow into his shoulder. The gun went off but the shot went wide. He cursed as the weapon went flying. I’d landed a solid jab, but not enough to cripple him. I knew I should have aimed for the temple, but Vincent was too tall and from where I was standing, I wouldn’t have been able to reach.

Instead, I turned and kneed him as hard as I could in the balls.

He dropped like the sack of shit he was.

Somewhere behind us, I heard the screeching of tires. I turned to run, but Vincent, now sitting on the ground, had picked up the gun and was lifting it with his injured arm.

“You fucking bitch,” he snarled.

So much for the genteel Vincent Calabria, I thought, freezing.

He got slowly to his feet. “Goodbye, Evelyn.”

I let out a sob when, out of nowhere, a dark figure exploded from the darkness and the rain and hit Vincent like a missile.

One second he was standing in front of me with the gun raised, and the next, Dante slammed into him hard enough to send both men crashing across the wet concrete of the dock.

The gun discharged with an explosive crack.

I screamed but, once again, the bullet disappeared into the mist, missing Dante by inches.

He didn’t seem to notice, too busy beating the hell out of my kidnapper. Punch after punch drove into Vincent’s face with horrifying brutality. His silver eyes were black with rage, while blood sprayed across Vincent’s white shirt, Dante’s hands, and the ground around them.

“I told you I’d find you, you fucking creep. This is what you get for touching her.”

Vincent barely managed to shield himself as Dante grabbed him by the throat and smashed his head against the floor hard enough to break bone.

“Dante!” I screamed, shocked at the uncontrolled rage. I’d never seen him lose it like this before. I’d known what he was capable of, but I’d never seen it with my own eyes.

I made to go to him, but found a strong pair of arms around me, holding me back.

“Don’t, Evelyn,” said a voice I recognized.

I blinked and looked into a face I knew well.

“Mikhail?” I was so confused. “What are you doing here?”

His hold was gentle, but firm. “Helping. You need to let him do this.”

“But he’ll kill him.”

“No he won’t. Not yet, anyway.”

I gulped as Mikhail passed me to one of his men and walked over to where Dante was still hitting Vincent.