Page 2 of Dissolving Prejudice

Because of his rank in the organization, Gale was the only one other than Dion that I was forced to listen to. Without getting into the crap I’d done over the past few years, because that shit was dark as fuck, I’d say I was often a lone wolf who did his tasks on his own. It was only since I returned to California that I was sometimes teamed up with Gale. Today was one of those unfortunate occasions.

“That’s what we get for hiring hookers to do men’s jobs,” Gale muttered after I turned my back to him, and I had to stop myself from punching his stupid face.

Thankfully, he walked inside the restaurant before I gave in to my urges. Left alone to guard outside, I looked around the street. My phone kept buzzing, but I didn’t need to check to know it was Oro calling. Ever since I returned, he’d been all over me, to the point it was annoying. I assumed his constant need for attention was due to him being a twenty-year-old guy who had to sell his body for a living, but still. It was hard handling him at times. Oro was one of Dion’s Gatti working at the Venetian. Only he wasn’t just a nobody and was actually one of the boss’s favorites, hence why I was often tasked with keeping an eye on that brat’s ass. And while he’d grown attached to me, at the end of the day, I was just another one of the men who guarded him for a while.

Now that I’d returned here for good, he constantly sought my attention. Maybe he thought it was cute, but honestly, he was borderline annoying. Not to mention, his affection was just another reason for Dion to hate me. The last thing I needed was for that crazy asshole to think I was fucking one of his toys. Not only was I not interested, but I’d rather die than break my unspoken promise to Llorón. We might have been apart, but my heart was still his to hold, and I’d never cheat on him. Never.

The door to the restaurant opened, and I turned around to see a group of men walking out. The first in the line was Gale. Behind him was Dion, who was busy talking to—Soren.

Shit.

I bit the inside of my cheek and quickly turned around, hoping Soren might miss me, only he didn’t and instead called out my name in shock.

“Diesel?” he repeated.

I hissed a low fuck before slowly turning to face them.

While Soren’s brows nearly reached his hairline, Dion, who was right beside him, seemed awfully amused by the situation he’d caused.

Fucker.

“What on earth are you doing here?” Soren asked, studying me carefully.

I might have looked slightly different, with clothes I was forced to wear and a bit more ink on my neck, but I was still recognizable, so sadly, I couldn’t pretend to be someone else.

“Didn’t I tell you he was working for me?” Dion said before I could come up with something.

“No, you most definitely did not.” Soren’s voice was as cold and calculated as I recalled, and I stood still while his pale eyes continued to examine me.

Other than the initial shock that crossed his face the second he saw me, his cold expression gave up nothing, and it bothered me. It bothered me because it was a slight hint as to the welcome I’d get from the others when the time came.

“My mistake,” Dion chuckled, then took a few steps and stopped before me. “Because how could I have forgotten to mention I’ve taken on such an obedient dog?” As he spoke, he fixed the collar of my shirt, his fingers then sliding to my shoulders before he looked up to meet my furious gaze.

There was so much joy lurking behind his vengeful eyes that it made my blood boil with rage.

“What do you say, Camilo?” He patted my cheek. “Care to tell my lawyer what a good owner I am?”

I didn’t even have the time to get angry at his words before gunshots pierced the air. I moved on pure instinct, pushing Dion to the ground before covering him with my body. I didn’t want to keep this fucker alive, but I had no fucking choice. This was my damn job, and if I fucked it up, the outcome would be bad. And by bad, I mean Gale would send men to kill Shay-Lee. So even if I wished one of the bullets flying around us would blow up his brain like a fucking piñata, I kept shielding him with my entire body as if my life depended on it. Well, it did.

Everything happened in seconds, and I felt something scratching my arm right before the shooting ended and was replaced by shouting. In a quick move, Gale yanked me off Dion’s body before Dion ordered him to go after the assassin, who seemed to have escaped the place on a motorcycle.

The scene was a fucking mess, with people screaming and panicking. The windows to the restaurant were all shattered, and it looked like a few diners were out of luck as they took a bullet or two. Looking to my left, two of our men were down, and to my right—Oh shit.

Moving my ass, I ran toward where Soren’s body was tossed over the pavement like a wireless puppet and bent down beside him, my hands moving to the hole in the front of his jacket. Blood was already soaking through his clothes, turning the white fabric of his dress shirt red, but thankfully, it only came from the front. Meaning the bullet was still inside. He was grunting with pain, his body already going pale while blood continued to pour out, even though I tried stopping it by pushing on the wound with my hands.

“Fucking shit!” Dion swore before he joined me, trying to help Soren somehow. His fingers were shaking while he tried to hold Soren’s head straight, and I swore to God his voice shivered.

The care Dion showed for the lawyer took me by complete surprise, but I forced myself out of it and kept my attention on Soren’s face, which was turning paler by the minute.

“Just stay with us, Dane,” Dion warned him, eyes distressed.

Unable to speak, Soren groaned, then turned his eyes at me. The mere fear in them reminded me, once again, how fragile life could be and how, in a split second—or with the piercing of a bullet—everything could change.

Diesel

We’d gotten to the hospital a few hours ago. Two of our men had no chance, but Soren did and was currently in an emergency surgery. While Dion went in there to make sure the lawyer was treated properly, I stayed in the hall. It was still shocking that Dion cared so much, as it was the first time since I’d gotten to know the guy that I saw a shred of humanity in him. But who knew? Maybe he held some feelings for the lawyer.

I pushed back from the wall I was leaning against as Dion walked toward me. Still covered with Soren’s blood, he sighed, then turned to look at the door he’d just come through.