Chapter 9 - The Race Against Time
I squeezed my eyes shut, expecting to feel the bullet tear through my skull.
The hot spray of blood hit my face, but the pain never came.
I opened my eyes and saw Clara stumble backward, clutching her bleeding shoulder.
Dante had fired his weapon from his knees, his hands shaking violently from the poison.
Clara screamed in frustration and fled back into the chaotic ballroom.
I did not care about her escape.
I ran to the edge of the balcony and looked down into the dark alley.
The glass vial of antidote had landed perfectly inside a canvas laundry cart without shattering.
I left Dante leaning against the stone railing and sprinted down the fire escape stairs.
My red gown tore on the rusted metal, but I did not stop until I reached the alley.
I dug through the filthy laundry and found the glowing blue vial intact.
I raced back up the stairs, my lungs burning with every step.
I found Dante lying flat on the balcony floor, his eyes rolled back in his head.
His pulse was incredibly weak, fading away like a ghost.
I ripped the cap off the vial and poured the bitter liquid directly down his throat.
For a terrifying minute, nothing happened.
Then Dante took a massive, shuddering breath, his chest heaving violently.
The color slowly began to return to his pale face.
He looked up at me, his dark eyes filled with genuine gratitude and raw emotion.
He reached up and pulled me tightly against his chest, holding me like I was his lifeline.
We had survived the poison, the traitors, and the ambush.
He whispered that he would protect me and my brother for the rest of his life.
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I finally felt a true sense of safety in the arms of the mafia boss.
But as the police sirens began wailing in the distance, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
