FULL NOVELXO Chapter 34
Gunfire rings out, and immediately, I’m in motion.
Aiden and Sammie, two of our servers, dart past me into the kitchen for cover. My heart’s racing but it’s Patrick I’m worried about.
I charge out of the kitchen, my voice slicing through the noise. ‘Call 911!’ I bark at the waitstaff scrambling around me.
Staying low, I hustle into the main dining area, where gunshots are pinging off the walls. The room has become a disaster scene straight out of a movie—chairs overturned, glasses shattered. Guests ducking and running for cover, gunmen with their weapons pointed with one outstretched hand.
Then I spot him—Patrick—down on the floor with a growing stain of red on his pants that screams trouble.
My stomach flips with fear, but I can’t freeze now.
I take a split second to assess the scene—locating the shooters, the exits, and Luca and his men. Patrick’s lying there bleeding, and every instinct is screaming at me to run to him, but I’ve got to be smart. I can’t help him if I get taken out, too.
The gunfire has ceased for the moment. Breathing deep, bracing myself against the fear, I’m ready to make my move.
Across the ruined dining room, I spot Luca and his crew, standing firm and armed to the teeth. Conflict and anger etch deep lines on the older man’s seasoned face.
Then, Luca’s voice cuts through the chaos. “Donnie! What in God’s name do you think you’re doing?” His hands are out in front of him in question, trying to piece together why his son has turned a business dinner into a shootout.
Donnie, all reckless energy, smirks. “Don’t you see, old man? We’re just taking what’s ours.”
I barely register what’s being said as they continue to exchange heated words. I’m too focused on Patrick. He’s still on the floor, his face tight with pain, trying to keep Sophia safe.
“Allie, back to the kitchen—now!” Patrick screams despite his pain. His tone brooks no argument.
He turns to Sophia. “Go! Get behind the bar!” With a push, she scrambles behind the structure to safety. A flush of relief hits me.
But my heart stops as I am able to see Patrick’s wound better. He’s obviously been shot, yet I don’t know the extent of the damage. I feel panic tightening its grip on me, but I have to stay focused.
“Patrick!” I yell and start toward him, my only instinct being to scream and get him out of there.
“Stay back!” he orders again, the authority in his voice mingling with a sharp grunt of pain.
I hesitate, torn. My legs are primed to sprint to him, to drag him to safety, but his commanding tone and the mayhem unfolding around me hold me back. I need to be smart.
Behind the bar, Sophia peeks out, her eyes wide with fear. I give her a nod, signaling to stay down. It’s up to me to figure out our next move. Patrick needs help, but I need a plan.
Donnie and his goons crouch close to the floor, clearly trying to stage a mob-style mutiny as Donnie and Luca continue to shout at each other. It’s like watching some twisted family drama unfold on TV, except I’m watching it in real time.
‘Donnie, what the hell do you think you’re doing?’ Luca asks. His voice is cold, controlled anger spilling over each word, and his posture is commanding even under such dire circumstances.
‘It’s my time now, old man!’ Donnie retorts, the reckless energy in his voice painting a stark contrast to his father’s calm demeanor. He crouches behind a pathetic makeshift barricade of chairs, a wild grin on his face as he brandishes his weapon. ‘Time for new blood to lead!’
Luca shakes his head, disbelief and fury mingling in his expression. ‘You call this leadership? Turning on your family like a rabid dog and placing innocent people in danger?’
‘It’s the only way to show strength!’ Donnie yells back. ‘You’ve gone soft, protecting outsiders more than your own!’
Luca strategizes with his men, who have barricaded themselves behind several heavy tables. As they shout back and forth, Patrick remains wounded and bleeding on the floor.
Our eyes meet, and without a word, Patrick starts dragging himself toward me, leaving a scary amount of blood behind.
“Hang tight, babe, I’m coming!” I shout, preparing to sprint to where he is to scoop him up.
“Don’t even think about it!” he replies.
Two of Donnie’s buddies, one after the other, stupidly pop up from behind the chairs and get shot down like ducks in a shooting gallery. Apparently, Luca has run out of patience and refuses to play ball anymore. Both men hit the ground with thuds that send a shiver down my spine.
Donnie is left alone, looking like the last kid picked for dodgeball, realizing he’s out of allies, out of options, and out of time. His eyes dart around wildly before landing on me. My blood runs cold as he starts barreling my way, a determined, crazed look in his eyes.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Patrick furiously dragging himself toward me. Each pull of his body leaves a smear of blood on the floor, painting a gruesome picture of his determination. He’s shouting something, his voice raw with pain and urgency, but it’s hard to make out over the ringing in my ears.
“Stay back, Donnie!” I finally hear Patrick say, his words a desperate command. But his leg is doing him no favors, and he’s moving about as fast as molasses in January.
Seeing Patrick struggle, I know it’s up to me to avoid falling into Donnie’s grasp, but I can’t seem to get my feet to move before Donnie closes the distance between us, grabs me by my hair, and yanks me to my feet.
“Come here, you little bitch,” he snarls.
His grip sends a spike of pain through me, but I don’t let it register on my face. He roughly shoves his gun against my temple. Across the room, Patrick somehow pulls himself up with more grit than I’ve ever seen, using a nearby table for support.
‘Put the gun down, son. This isn’t the way,’ Luca’s voice cuts through the tension, calm but firm. He remains barricaded with his crew, their weapons aimed at Donnie but holding their fire.
One of Luca’s men tries to reason with Donnie. ‘Think, Donnie!’ he urges. ‘There’s no walking away if you do this. Even your father can’t help you then.’
But Donnie’s eyes grow wilder by the second. They flick around the room, calculating his slim chance of survival.
‘Everyone just shut up!’ Donnie snaps, his voice cracking with desperation. He tightens his grip, and his gaze makes me stop struggling. ‘Nobody has to get hurt if you just back off.’
Patrick is edging closer now. The pain clearly written on his face is overshadowed by raw, protective anger. ‘Let her go, Donnie.’
As the standoff continues, I can hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. I’m locked in Donnie’s uncertain grip, both of us caught up in a crazy moment that’s spiraled way out of control.