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Thirty-Nine
Emilia screamed again,the slug from Anthony’s gun biting into the wood floor mere inches from her knee. A plume of wood chips and dust spilled over her.
“Go,” Blaine yelled at her, slamming an elbow into Anthony’s face with a dull crack. If his nose wasn't broken before, then it would be now.
In a daze, she pressed her fingers to the warm stream of blood still curling over her collarbone, her stomach heaving at the wet crimson mess. Any moment now she’d vomit, pass out, or both, when she couldn’t afford either.
She startled at a loud crash followed by a grunt, the ruckus putting her back on task so that she placed her blood-soaked palms to the ground, beginning to crawl out.
So much about this moment reminded her of ten years ago. Of leaving Blaine behind. And even though he’d ordered her to leave, she just couldn’t do it.
Another loud shot punched through the air. She jolted back, both men yelling as the gun crashed to the floor mere feet from her hands.
Blaine landed on his back, a growing red stain obscuring the pattern on his blue plaid shirt. Her mouth fell open in a silent scream while Anthony continued to wrestle, and Blaine fought back.
“Emilia, go.” His voice choked out and his movements already slowed.
Anthony landed a fist into Blaine’s face, and suddenly everything seemed to happen in a vacuum. All sight and sound halted as she eyed the door, followed by the scrunched pain in Blaine’s expression. Freedom had been her priority for so long, but now, she didn’t want to be free. She only wanted Blaine to live.
She couldn’t leave. Just couldn’t.
He’d given her so much. Given up so much. All because of her. Now was her time to grow up. To give back.
She scrambled forward, hoping Anthony would remain distracted, her fingers outstretched for the gun. Once again, Anthony clenched the upper hand, but this time she’d stay and fight.
He stood over Blaine, landing a kick to his ribs. Sensing time running out, she moved faster and snatched up the gun.
Anthony’s stare froze on her. “You’re too chicken shit to try.”
She aimed and squeezed the trigger.
He stumbled back, blood quick to pour from the meat just above his collar bone. He peered down, touching his fingers to that blood, his scowl soon landing on her. “You’d be in a gutter somewhere begging for loose change if it weren’t for my family.”
His cool voice added a chill to the room, but despite the firearm’s kickback having already jarred her wrists, she gripped the gun for dear life. “Is that all you’ve got?”
This time she was the one sneering. “Will you go to your grave moaning about the same tired thing? I know, after ten years, I’m done hearing you sing that same obnoxious song.”
He cocked his head to one side and took a step toward her. “How brave are you feeling, Em?”
She’d always hated when he called her Em. He damn well knew it too. “Stay back.”
“Give me the gun.”
He took another step, his bloodied hand outstretched.
“Anthony. Stop.” Her voice wasn’t so strong anymore, and the distinct quiver from before returned.
Sweat glistened over his face, a face grimacing in pain from his wound. “If I stop, I’m as good as dead. So you’re going to have to shoot me or hand over the gun.”
“No.” She glanced over to Blaine slumped in a corner, hand clutched over his wounded ribcage, complexion sallow, and eyes fluttering open and closed. She needed to take action. Shoot Anthony? Oh God, but something in her nature prevented her from doing that.
“You always thought you were better than me.” Anthony’s gaze flicked toward Blaine too. “You and him. I worked hard for what I had, and all you did was sit in our apartment crying over that loser.”
Her heart hitched. Despite first assumptions, Anthony recognized Blaine.
“And everything you had, including your job, was handed to you by someone else. And as for him.” She jutted her chin toward Blaine. “None of us would be here right now if you’d dealt with your jealous bullshit and let us be.”
Anthony glowered; she’d never been audacious enough to speak so harshly, or honestly, before. “You think I care what a dumb bitch like you has to—”
