# SHE TOOK A BULLET FOR THE MAFIA BOSS’S TWINS — THEN HE REALIZED THE WOMAN HE HIRED WAS SENT TO SAVE HIS SOUL

Time stood still. Julian froze. He slowly lowered his rifle, kicking it away.

"Smart boy," Dante sneered. "Now, get on your knees."

Julian sank to his knees on the concrete floor. The almighty mafia boss, brought low. Clara sobbed against the gag they had just shoved in her mouth. She shook her head wildly. Don't do this.

"You ruined my family, Calveti. Now, I ruin yours," Dante said, his finger tightening on the trigger against Clara's head.

But Dante made one fatal mistake. He looked away from Clara to gloat at Julian.

In that split second, Clara, who had spent the last hour working a loose nail out of the wooden chair, snapped her restraints. She lunged forward, knocking Dante’s arm upward.

A deafening BANG echoed through the room.

Julian drew a hidden pistol from his ankle holster in a blur of motion, firing three shots directly into Dante’s chest. The rival boss crumpled to the floor, dead.

Julian scrambled to his feet, running toward Clara. "Clara! You beautiful, insane—"

His voice died in his throat.

Clara stood swaying, her hand clutching her stomach. Blood poured through her fingers, staining her shirt a bright, horrific crimson. During the struggle, Dante's gun had gone off.

She hadn't just knocked his arm away. She had stepped in front of the barrel. She took the bullet meant to break Julian's heart.

"Julian," she whispered, her eyes rolling back.