Chapter 12 - The Broken Pawn
Clara froze, completely paralyzed by the sheer impossibility of what was happening.
Her own father, the man she had spent six years trying to avenge, had just ordered her execution.
The deafening roar of the suppressed shotgun echoed through the abandoned lot as Marcus pulled the trigger.
A heavy spray of buckshot tore through the empty air exactly where Clara's head had been a fraction of a second before.
Adrian had violently tackled her to the hard concrete pavement, ignoring the agonizing pain in his torn throat.
"Get down!" Adrian roared through the bloody plastic tube, shielding her body with his own.
Titan did not wait for a command.
The giant mastiff launched himself across the asphalt like a shadow of pure vengeance.
Marcus tried to pump the shotgun again, but the massive dog slammed into his chest with the force of a freight train.
The enforcer screamed in terror as Titan’s powerful jaws clamped down viciously on his right forearm, snapping the bone instantly.
The three other hitmen raised their automatic weapons, completely panicked by the giant beast tearing their leader apart.
Adrian did not hesitate to capitalize on the brutal distraction.
He rolled onto his back and fired his heavy silver revolver three times in rapid succession.
Three deafening cracks rang out, and the three hitmen dropped lifelessly to the pavement with perfect headshots.
Marcus managed to kick the dog away, clutching his mangled, bleeding arm.
The giant enforcer scrambled backward toward the SUV, terrified of the bleeding mafia boss advancing on him.
Adrian raised his revolver to finish the job, but the weapon clicked empty.
Marcus saw his chance, throwing himself into the driver's seat of the armored SUV and slamming the vehicle into reverse.
The SUV screeched out of the parking lot, disappearing rapidly into the dark coastal highway.
Titan barked furiously at the retreating taillights, his black coat covered in the enforcer's blood.
Clara slowly pushed herself up from the cold concrete, her mind completely shattered by the revelation.
Her entire life, her thirst for vengeance, and her loyalty to her family had all been a beautifully constructed lie.
Adrian slowly turned to face her, his chest heaving as he dropped the empty revolver to the ground.
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He reached into his jacket, pulled out his tactical pocket knife, and held the bloody blade toward her neck.
"Give me one single reason why I shouldn't let my dog finish you right here," Adrian rasped, his eyes burning with absolute fury.
