Zayne didn't have time to waste. He couldn't fall behind schedule and risk Kira not making it to the jet. And if he surrendered his weapons, there'd be little hope.
He eased closer to Graves, his hand inching toward his weapon. What options did he have that didn't hurt the private? That gun was on him, aimed to kill. Inexperienced, panicked soldiers couldn't be trusted not to fire.
Graves was a threat.
And he'd sacrifice anyone to save Kira from the torture the Phaedra planned for her.
Discordant calm stirred through him, clashing with the war waging in his heart, quieting his mind for what must be done.
His heart sank into his gut. Hand ready.
“On your knees,” Graves said.
Zayne nodded at Kira, and she lowered slowly. He bent his knees but still remained standing. “I really need to go, Graves.”
“She has red hair! They said red hair on the radio.” His voice blared through the woods. “This isn't right.”
A stick broke beneath Kira when she kneeled.
The private flinched at the sound.
Shifted his gun away from Zayne toward her.
A fraction of a second was all it took for Zayne to draw his weapon, and for Graves to retrain his gun.
And a fraction of a second was all it took for it to end.
They both fired.
The force of a truck plowed into Zayne's chest.
Grave's body jerked from the shot to his heart.
Zayne immediately fired again, struggling against the force ripping his left side back.
Fire rushed through his chest and midsection, pain sending agonizing shockwaves through him.
But he aimed between Graves' eyes anyway and shot as his body started to drop.
The private crumbled to the ground.
“Zayne!” Kira jolted toward him.
Unbearable heartbeats stabbed through Zayne's chest, shocking enough to freeze everything in his body.
But he couldn't freeze. Couldn't.
He stumbled forward, free hand clutching the base of his ribs, his mind not yet caught up. Body moving on instinct alone.
Gasping, Zayne held the weapon on Graves one second longer, bleary vision seeking out the exit wounds, the still body, the lifeless eyes.
Two red holes in his chest and one between his brows.
Safe.
Kira was safe from Graves.
Now he felt it, the dread and fear as overpowering as the pain.
