Chapter 42: Sniper

Third POV

Ethan threw himself toward the corner at the same moment a gunshot shattered the room. The bullet broke through the glass window and missed Ethan by inches before striking the door behind him. Fabio pulled Marco down with him, and the two landed on the floor with Marco ending up directly on top of him.

For a few seconds, neither of them moved.

Marco was still shirtless, wearing only his pants, while Fabio was in the same state beneath him. Marco slowly lifted his head and looked down at Fabio. Despite the gunshots outside, the corner of his lips curled into a small smile.

"I feel like your little bitch being protected like this," Marco whispered. "And honestly, it is not that bad."

Fabio raised his eyebrows, struggling to maintain a serious expression while Marco looked at him with that irritating amusement in his eyes. "We are about to die. You still have the guts to be a bitch?"

Marco chuckled before pushing himself off Fabio and lying beside him. He glanced toward the shattered window before looking back at him.

"Then what do we do? Last kiss, maybe? Or maybe..."

Fabio rolled his eyes when he saw Marco glancing down at his dick, although the corner of his mouth still lifted despite himself. "You are impossible."

Before either of them could say anything else, a vase suddenly flew across the room and smashed against the floor not far from them.

"If I fucking die while you two are flirting, I will haunt you forever!" Ethan shouted from his hiding place.

Fabio turned toward him with a glare. "Turn off the lights first."

Ethan looked toward the switch. It was only a few steps away, but those few steps suddenly felt much longer with a sniper outside. He began dragging himself toward it.

"Careful not to die young," Fabio called out.

Ethan scowled. "Very funny." ℴ

He reached the switch and turned off the lights. The room immediately fell into darkness, leaving only the faint moonlight coming through the broken window.

"Move," Fabio ordered.

The three of them quickly left the bedroom. Fabio grabbed his own shirt and Marco’s from the floor before following Ethan into the hallway. They reached the living room, where the wider glass windows allowed more moonlight to enter. Fabio stopped briefly, studying the outside before guiding them through the room.

He knew where the blind spots were, and he kept them away from the areas where the sniper would have a clear view. They moved quickly but carefully, staying close to the walls until they finally reached the exit.

Before leaving, Fabio bent down and reached beneath the living-room table. He pulled out a Beretta, checked it quickly, and held it firmly in his hand.

"Come on."

They rushed toward the lift. The doors opened, and the three of them quickly stepped inside. The moment the lift reached the parking lot and the doors opened, bullets came flying toward them.

Fabio reacted without thinking. He immediately pushed Marco behind him, using his own body as a shield.

Marco did not argue.

Ethan pulled a gun from his waistband while Fabio raised the Beretta. The two men began firing toward the shooters, forcing them to take cover behind the cars. The sound of gunfire echoed through the parking lot as bullets struck the vehicles around them.

For several minutes, neither side gave the other an opening. Eventually, the shooting became quieter, and Fabio leaned toward Ethan.

"We need to distract them. You take one car and leave first."

Ethan stared at him with wide, accusing eyes.

"You are making me bait?" Ethan asked in disbelief. "I thought we were bros. How heartless can you be, you dick head!"

Fabio rolled his eyes lines forming upon his forehead. "Do not be dramatic. We got Marco involved in this. His safety comes first."

Ethan looked toward Marco and saw the "clueless" expression on him. Ethan almost teared up. After a moment, he sighed and nodded.

Before leaving, however, he turned toward Marco again this time with a smile.

"I have not forgotten what we talked about last night. Do make sure to consider being mine once you break up. I promise I’m a hundred times better and richer."

Fabio immediately kicked him.

"Go!"

Ethan stumbled out of their hiding place and ran toward one of the cars. The moment the shooters saw him, bullets followed. Ethan quickly ducked behind another vehicle before firing back. He managed to hit several of the men before reaching the car. He jumped inside, started the engine, and sped out of the parking lot.

The shooters immediately followed.

Fabio waited until the vehicles disappeared from sight before looking at Marco.

"Now."

He grabbed Marco’s hand and led him toward another car. Fabio quickly unlocked it and opened the passenger door before turning around.

"Get in quickly."

The words had barely left his mouth when his expression suddenly changed. His eyes widened in shock.

Fabio grabbed Marco and spun him around. A gunshot rang through the parking lot. Both men fell to the ground.

Fabio’s gun slipped from his hand and landed beside them. Marco remained still for a moment, his mind taking a second to process what had happened. Then his eyes moved toward Fabio.

Blood was spreading across Fabio’s right shoulder.

Marco’s expression went completely blank.

He looked past Fabio and saw a man stepping out from the corner with a gun still in his hand.

Marco moved without hesitation. He reached for Fabio’s fallen gun, grabbed it, raised it, and fired one clean shot. The bullet struck the man’s throat. The shooter dropped almost instantly.

Marco remained still for a moment, scanning the parking lot for anyone else. When he saw no other movement, he immediately turned toward Fabio.

"Come on."

He helped Fabio to his feet and guided him into the passenger seat before moving around to the driver’s side. Once inside, Marco started the engine and sped away from the building.