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Using the momentum to my advantage, I fire a few rounds on my own. From the corner of my eye I also see Vlad slowly inching his way closer to the position of the men. Giving me a small signal, I nod as I dash once more, momentarily getting their attention just as Vlad strikes, throwing one knife that embeds itself into the man holding the portable missile's head.
With two out of the way, now there's only the machine gun man and the other, slightly inconsequential one.
Both are startled to see themselves the last ones standing, so I take advantage of this to aim my gun towards the one holding the machine gun, firing when I'm confident I can get a good shot.
And I do. Just not a fatal one.
My bullet catches him in the side, blood immediately pouring out.
I imagine that the added pain should slow down his movements and the way he wields the gun.
But just as I think I may only need a few movements to take him out, he passes his weapon to the other man, switching to a simple pistol.
Vlad shakes his head at me just as the machine gun starts firing. I barely have time to jump out of the barrage of bullets, avoiding getting hit by rolling between two cars for cover.
Shit!
The switch makes it so the new wielder is not as tired and can now fire with a full range of movement.
Lifting my head above the car's hood to track their positions, I note they are both coming towards me.
Just then, I spot a dark shadow between the cars right across from me. The dark curls are the first giveaway, and my eyes widen in horror.
Noelle.
What the hell is she doing?
In that moment, my brain short-circuits. All my previous strategies go out the window as my only purpose becomesher—keeping her safe.
How could she come right into the heat of the battle?
I take my eyes off her for a moment as I search for Vlad's form. He's still where I saw him last and I lift my brows in question, a nerve actively twitching in my jaw.
He simply shrugs, shaking his head and motioning to the gun in his hand—onlyonegun.
I frown, not understanding what he means. But as I bring my gaze back to Noelle, I realize she has the other pistol with her.
"You're fucking dead, Vlad," I grit out, my entire body rife with tension.
How the hell could he have thought it was a good idea to give Noelle a gun when she barely hasanyidea how to use it? More than anything, how could he have let her jump into danger when I told him to fucking protect them—allof them!
Done caring about engaging the men smartly, I pause for only one second as I check my ammunition, loading a new cartilage before getting to my feet.
Noelle shakes her head at me, putting one hand up to tell me to stay put. How the hell does she expect me to do that when she's so close to those fucking gunmen?
I march forward, my attention wholly on her. I only keep minimal track of what's happening around me.
Gun raised, I simply lift my arm up as I shoot. One after another, I fire at both men, keeping them busy dodging the bullets as I stride the distance between the two car rows.
I'm taking a risk. I know that.
But it's an even bigger risk to leave Noelle alone. Not when I know she could easily become a casualty of this damn conflict.
Time stills as I put one foot in front of the other, my entire life flashing before my eyes just as an errant bullet flies by me. My breathing intensifies, my heart contracting in my chest.
It feels like I'm fucking suffocating.
One hand still on the gun, firing as fast as I can before my ammo runs out, I bring the other to my neck, loosening my collar right as my gaze collides with hers.
