The Stench Of Death III

Luca watched in horror as Dimitri slumped against his wheelchair, blood spluttering out of his mouth.

"What are y'all looking at? Get him to the hospital!" He yelled to the men on his right side and turned to the ones on his left. "You guys should form a cover." 

Throwing a glance at his friend, who was busy slaughtering everything and everyone his eyes came in contact with, he knew it would do no good to try and convince him. When Adonis got like that, no one could stop him. He wasn't in his right mind, but this time, Luca was in support of his actions.

An eye for an eye.

When he was sure that Adonis could hold out on his own, he went after Dimitri. Knowing even if he couldn't, the men would step in

Dimitri was the priority. 

Cara was still behind the pillar, only this time, she wasn't peeking or trying to. If anything, the way her legs were pulled tightly to her chest and her shoulders trembled with her eyes tightly closed, it was obvious that she didn't want to be there. 

Her body kept jerking each time a gun was being fired.

She had seen Dimitri slump unconsciously. The battle that seemed to be just a confrontation had become real.

Would they be able to save Dimitri?

He was the only family Adonis had left. Adonis was just beginning to live outside the shell his trauma had built around him. How could this happen?

And to think she was involved in making it happen... there was no way Adonis was going to let her go free.

The fight was gruesome. Adonis was a beast, a menacing and dangerous beast that revelled in the blood of his enemies. 

All he could see was red as he tore them apart. They were fighting back; he wasn't getting away unscathed, but even with the injuries he sustained, he didn't stop. He was being fueled by rage and had lost all sense of reasoning. Having just one goal in mind as he advanced, 

Vengeance.

His eyes searched for Antonio amidst the chaos, but he couldn't find him. He had disappeared the moment Dimitri was shot. So had his father and Carlo. His men were unskilled and fought with only brute strength, so they were unmatched against Adonis's well-trained men. All around they dropped like flies.

But to someone like Antonio, their lives meant nothing, yet he took the life of someone who meant everything to Adonis. 

There was no way he'd get away.

Then Adonis's eyes found Carlo and Sebastian, who had just reached one of their vans and were preparing to leave. 

"I need cover!" He growled, and two men swiftly ran to his side. "Take care of any bastard that comes my way. I have a debt to pay."

He instructed as he pushed forward.

In less than a minute he had gotten to the van and was pulling it open.

"Fratello, attento (brother, watch out)!" A voice vaguely yelled, but Adonis already had his gun raised, and the moment the door was pulled open, a bullet went flying and lodged itself into Carlo's skull, killing him instantly.

"Adonis!!!" 

The voice screamed, and Adonis turned back to gaze at the familiar face. Their eyes connected, and Antonio raised his gun towards him, but he was too far to get a correct angle.

He'd finally decided to come out of hiding.

Still staring at him, Adonis's lips curled up in a sadistic smile. From the corner of his eye, he could see Sabestien scrambling around, to pick Carlo's discarded gun.

But before he even had the chance to aim, Adonis fired again and this time, he didn't stop.

His head.

His chest.

His arm.

His shoulder.

Shot after shot, he released until he emptied the gun of all bullets. Finally satisfied, he picked up the discarded gun from his side and headed towards Antonio, who was vibrating with a murderous look in his eyes as he beelined for Adonis.

He could still feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He had envisioned this day for so long. The day when he'd finally get to settle scores with Antonio, but something whoosh passed him, and he fell to the ground, clutching his arm as blood began to seep through his clothes.

Someone had shot at him.

Adonis faltered in his steps and looked in the direction of the gunshot to see that Luca had returned with medical help.

It was then it occurred to him that the fight had ended the moment he killed Carlo and Sabestien.

They had truly won.

What was left of Antonio's men had fled, and it was just his men left. A lot of them were gravely injured, but they would be fine with some help.

Pride filled his heart. All that remained was to crown his victory by finishing off Antonio, but as he took a step towards him, Luca held his arm in a firm grip.

"There's no time for this." He swallowed and, with great difficulty, said his next words. "Your grandfather...." 

Adonis didn't need to hear the rest; he was barreling down towards the mansion. By the time he got to Dimitri, he was out of breath and the state he was in only made breathing harder.

He eyed his grandfather, whose entire abdomen and chest were wrapped in a bandage as he barely hung on.

The doctor walked over to him.

"The bullet has been taken out, but there's nothing more we can do. He asked to be brought home." He gave him a pat on the shoulder and then left the room to give them some privacy.

"Come here, nipote (son)," Dimitri called in a frail, tired voice, but Adonis refused, watching his dying grandfather with a hard, grim look.

"Figlio...(son)" Dimitri called again but in a weaker voice.

He could feel the life slipping out of him.

"No," Adonis replied. "You shouldn't have come. You weren't supposed to be here. This wouldn't have happened." 

He gave his grandson a small smile.

"This is why I waited, Adonis. I started this war, so I should end it myself." 

"At the cost of your life?" Adonis yelled, and a tear rolled down his face. "You said it; this is for the family. If one life is lost..."

"Better me than anyone else." He wheezed. "About Cara... I know Adonis. You don't think I'm oblivious?"

Adonis scoffed.

Of course, his grandfather found out.

"She's your family now. Give her a chance. Remember the conversation we had a few days ago?" Dimitri asked, referring to the day Adonis had visited to confirm the truth about his father's death. "I and your father may not be with you, but she has enough love to give you. I am proud of you, Adonis. Very proud." He breathed heavily as his voice began to fade away. 

Adonis felt his throat closing up, his vision blurring as he watched his grandfather say his last words.

For the first time, he felt what it meant to be powerless.

"Ti amerò sempre, figliolo (I will always love you, son)." 

And then his heartbeat ceased.

Adonis could only watch; he didn't take a step back, or go in. When the tears ceased, his bloodshot eyes remained on the unmoving body of Dimitri. 

He didn't say a word when Dr. Bruno came in to pack him up. Nor did he say a word when Luca came in to check on him. 

A whole day passed, but Adonis remained sitting emotionlessly with his back against the door of his grandfather's room until Cara came—

His expressionless face broke, and he parted his dry, chapped lips, eyeing her with a snarl.

"What are you doing here?"