“You’re doing this because you’re jealous?” I scoffed. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Shut up,” Rourke snapped, his hold tightening. “You don’t know what it’s like trying to work your way up from nothing. They handed you this job, the best assignments like it was nothing. Fuck you and your asshole father.”

Enzo lowered his gun and stepped forward.

“What the hell are you doing?” I demanded. “Enzo, move!”

He didn’t say a word. Everything moved at a snail’s pace, and I was left helpless as I watched. Rourke leveled his gun, squeezed the trigger and horror shot through my veins. I stared, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, as the bullet tore through Enzo’s body. He wheeled back, his eyes opening to the size of saucers.

My ears rang, and I heard nothing else as Rourke’s finger curved around the trigger. Heart racing, I threw myself on him. We went down in a heap, a ball of flailing limbs and pounding fists. My knuckles split on one of his teeth, blood gushing onto his face. Everything was a blur around me as my instincts took over, and I fought with Rourke. My back hit the unforgiving ground. Pain rattled up and down my spine, but I continued to swing. My limbs grew heavy as Rourke’s hands wrapped around my throat and squeezed. Air became scarce, and spots danced in my vision.

“Get off him!”

I blinked as a blur shot past me and tackled Rourke to the ground. My throat ached, raw and throbbing as I choked and tried to drag air into my lungs. I looked up and watched as Enzo and Giancarlo stomped on Rourke’s head. My partner tried to reach for his gun, only for Benito to crush that hand beneath his shoes.

“Tex,” Rourke called out.

I stared at the man I’d spent so much time with. How many nights had we sat together at some dingy bar, destressing after the horrors of work? How many times had we called each other late at night just to vent? How many beers had we shared, cups of coffee, fucked up home life stories? And he was willing to kill me.

My body stayed glued to the spot as they turned him into something that didn’t even resemble a human being anymore. I couldn’t turn away, no matter how much my brain screamed for me to do just that.

Enzo grunted, his knees hitting the ground. That shook me from my stupor. I was up on my feet and over to him before I could think about what I was doing. There was blood on his once-clean shirt, and his eyes were unfocused.

Boom!

“Shit, they’re trying to get through,” Giancarlo muttered. “You okay, Enzo?”

I crouched down and brought Enzo to his feet, using my shoulder to support him. “I’ve got him. How do we get out of here?”

“You disappear, and they’re going to have some questions for you, kid,” Benito said.

“I don’t give a fuck! I’m not leaving him,” I snapped. “Enzo isn’t looking good and he’s losing blood. We need to get out of here. Now.”