Chapter 9

"You..." Darson exclaimed, lowering his gun in astonishment. "Primo Semion Lombardi?! What in the world..."

Semion paid no mind to the bewildered Darson and turned his attention to Celeste, who was struggling to catch her breath. He gently took her right arm and helped her to her feet.

She felt as fragile as a leaf in the wind, so he supported her waist and leaned her against him for stability.

"A-Anna... where are you... Anna?" Celeste whispered weakly, tears streaming down her face as she clung to Semion.

Semion kept his gun aimed at Darson from a distance, his eyes burning with fury.

"Where's she? This Anna?" he demanded of Darson, his tone deadly serious.

Darson looked utterly bewildered and frantic, probably wondering why Semion was interfering. But Semion couldn't care less.

"Spill it," Semion growled, his finger twitching on the trigger.

"What the..." Darson stammered, still trying to process the situation.

"Aaahh!! How dare you?!" An older woman, fear and anger etched on her f