AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She managed to drape her arm around my neck, digging in her fingers. I jerked back, stumbling then turning away, racing away from the fire. The blast shoved me forward, but I managed to stay on my feet, fighting to get her to the side of the road.
“You need to get Walsh out,” she said as I eased her down.
I threw a look over my shoulder, unable to see anything but blazing orange.
And I heard two powerful engines.
“I’ll do what I can. Stay here. Do not move. Don’t fight me. They’re coming back.” I had no time to waste. Yanking my weapon into my hand, I took off running, almost immediately blinded by the dual set of headlights. There was little I could do. I took a stance in the middle of the road, lifting my weapon, waiting. Still waiting. When I knew they were in close enough range, I started firing.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
And I kept firing.
Both drivers finally lost control. I managed to jump to the side, the first vehicle driving straight into the craggy rock portion of the hill, the other flying off into the ravine. The blasts were horrific, but far away from Candy. Gasping, I shoved my weapon into my pocket, racing toward Walsh’s car. He’d managed to dump his body out the door, his leg caught by a portion of the vehicle.
While he was breathing, he was unconscious.
A part of me wanted to leave his sorry ass there, but I’d made a promise to the woman I loved. The smoke was so thick, it burned my eyes, but I felt my way until I realized why he was caught. I jammed the weight of my body against the seat, barely moving it. I had maybe four seconds left before both of us would be incinerated. I shoved again, pulling with everything I had. When his leg was freed, the force I’d used pitched us both down the side of the ravine.
Taking gasping breaths, I closed my eyes as the car exploded, finally rolling him over and pressing my fingers against his pulse. “You’re alive, buddy. You better not cross us.” I fought to get up the hill, just reaching the edge when I heard her scream. I reacted, my adrenaline pumping, refusing to allow anything else to happen to her.
I took off running, able to hear several vehicles approaching. At least the fucking cavalry had arrived. When I was within fifteen feet, I stopped short.
“That’s far enough, Russian.”
With the only light the fire from my vehicle, the darkness shrouded his identity, but I was clearly able to see he had his arm wrapped around her neck, using her as a shield, his weapon pointed at her temple.
I raised my gun, trying to figure out how best to handle this.
“Let me go,” Candy hissed, struggling with him, almost pulling away.
“Shut up!” the man snarled.
Whatever he had planned, this wasn’t going to end well.
The others were forced to stop their vehicles several hundred yards away given the horrific debris, but I sensed their approach on foot.
“In about five seconds, you’re going to be surrounded. Let her go and I’ll allow you to live,” I said, the deep husk in my tone unrecognizable.
“We’re not playing by your rules. We’re playing by mine,” he answered. “It’s simple. You choose. You or the girl will die. Which do you prefer?”
I took a deep breath, praying that I hadn’t used the last bullet in the clip. “Neither.” I pressed the trigger, releasing a single bullet. When she screamed again, I lunged forward, realizing I was out of ammunition. Even though the asshole was tumbling to the ground, he was preparing to fire, killing Candy.
I jerked her arm, freeing her from his hand, kicking the weapon out of his hand as it discharged.
“Oh, God.” She clung to me, gasping for air.
“What the hell?” Alexei snarled, taking aim and killing the assailant.
I pulled her away, hiding her face. “They came from both… sides.” Winded, I nodded to Dimitri and Sevastian as several other soldiers approached. “Walsh is in the trees. He’s alive but needs an ambulance.”
“Jesus Christ,” Sevastian huffed. “That’s Shane Dunnigan.”
Fuck. Whether Walsh had been the intended victim or not no longer mattered.
“Get them out of here,” Alexei huffed, walking closer and nodding several times. “You are a one-man killing machine.”
At this moment, I didn’t take it as a compliment.
As I turned away, she lifted her head, smiling as she cupped my face. “You’re my hero. Twice.”
I was also no hero, but at least I’d saved her life, which I would try to continue doing, even if it was from afar. I gathered her into my arms, cradling her against my chest. “Let’s get you home.”
What she didn’t know is that I meant her home, although that would come after she recovered. Only then would I back away, doing my best never to see her again.
