Page 43 of Devil’s Candy

Then, opening the car door, he shoves her into the backseat.

Perfect.

I aim the guns. I can’t kill from here, but taking out knees will make two of the men useless.

But in the second I try to choose which two men are going down first, a shot rings out, hitting the brick wall of the building.

Fuck.

I already know that it was Rock and he missed.

I shoot, taking out a knee in each of the guards.

Their screams echo through the alley as they fall. Without waiting to see where, I push out from under the car, aiming up at Vinnie to go for the kill.

But just as I appear, he yanks Chloe from the car, her head in the way of my shot.

Slowly he brings his own gun to her temple. “How do you like fucking Candy? She’s a good lay, isn’t she? I think it’s the daddy issues, but you might understand that better than me.”

If he thinks that he’s baiting me, he’s dead wrong. I don’t give a shit what Candy did before me.

One of my hands is still under the car, the tire blocking the view of my second pistol. I slowly ease the first one back. “How about you put Chloe back in the car and then I’ll get Killian on the phone. He’s the man you really want to talk to.”

“Oh. I want to talk with you too. He was just easier to track.”

I don’t look at Chloe. Instead, I keep my gaze focused on Vinnie. “And why did you wish to speak with one of us?”

“Someone has got to help me with big Vin.”

What a stupid motherfucker. Doesn’t he understand what Killian is going to do to him after today? “Put Chloe back in the car and then we’ll talk.”

“Fuck you,” he spits, yanking her hair to pull her tighter to his body.

“I’ll make a deal with you. I will take care of your big Vin problem, if you let Chloe return upstairs.”

His lip curls. “How can I trust that? As soon as she goes inside, you’re just going to⁠—”

But the sound of a car engine screaming down the street stops his words. He whips his head around to see who is coming and I seize my moment, kicking out at his knee with so much force, I hear the bone crack, and then he and Chloe are falling.

Vinnie goes back and to the side, crashing into the car, as Chloe falls forward. I already know what I need to do. I drop the gun and shoot out my arm, softening her fall as I catch her with my body.

A second before it happens, I watch as Vinnie raises the gun and I roll, putting myself between Vinnie and Chloe.

The shot rings out and I feel the burn as the bullet rips through my side.

But a second later, I hear another pop followed by the screech of the tires.

But I can’t attend to what else has happened as pain radiates through my body.

“Chloe!” I hear Killian roar.

Lifting my head, I see Vinnie lying dead.

Killian flies from the car, a pistol in hand.

Three quick pops and the chauffeur joins Vinnie on the ground, the two wounded men now dead as well.

I raise my hand. “Don’t shoot. I mean no harm.”