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“So what now? You threaten Titus, you gloat that you knew about the video all along, you shoot us both? What’s the plan? Because only one of us is leaving this building still breathing”
He laughed “So arrogant So sure of yourself It’s a sha It gave you toothe life had built up around you”
He lifted a hand and Nassir caling redhead with hi I had been trying so hard to avoid
“They shot Gus and Race” Her voice broke, and out of the corner of my eye I saw her settle down and sort of just fold in on herself “They hurt hi”
Nassir shoved her in Novak’s direction and I couldn’t stop rabbed her by her throat and shook her I heard Benny laugh and it took every ounce of self-control I possessed not to murder him with my bare hands He put his arm around my shoulders like ere pals and I went stiff I finally clappedinside h to make all of us bleed
“She’s a fiery one I can see why you like her sous and I could hear Dovie’s panicked breathing and , but I never took my eyes off of Novak
He pulled a knife out of one of his pockets and the blade snicked out with a hiss that made fury boil so hot under round under reen eyes widened a fraction and flicked from me to the blade I wanted to scream at her that this is whataround the bend for me, and for her, by association, because beyond all odds I cared for herso lowing out of the soulless pits of Novak’s eyes If there ever was such a thing as bad blood, I was full to the brim with it because of thisto do for the sister, Bax? You went to jail for the brother, defiedtellsas I lived, as long as Dovie and even Race drew breath, Novak kneould have a way to control htning from the sky, I realized the only way to take the power out of his hands was to eli to keep her safe, and there was only one option and for once it didn’t feel like uy that could typically not see the forest for the trees, and right now all that glorious, gleareen was all I could focus on It was clear what had to happen I either watched Novak torture and mutilate the one person in this world that had offereda redeeave hito loveor I took his poay Men like Novak didn’t knohat to do when they were stripped of control and I was hoping that was just enough to let Dovie get away fro me under his thumb crossed over the border into insanity, and if I took that step, took away the one thing he wanted so desperately, I felt like it h to buy ood chance Dovie would end up dead after I destroyed the one thing Novak wanted more than power But I told myself there was also a chance Titus could pull a trick rabbit out of his hat and get both himself and Dovie to safety Either way, if I made the ulti with such fragile and tender lives to win, I wouldn’t be around to see those I cared about fall at his hands, and that was a victory in itself Not to ot to fir it I looked sideways at Benny, as practically licking his lips in gory anticipation I jerked my attention back to Novak when Dovie suddenly screeched in earsplitting pain The razor-sharp edge of the gleaainst the pale expanse of her chest The ruby-red trickle of blood that followed its journey made time stand still I was not a ood, but for this young woive up everything And I wouldit Even in a place like the Point, there could be too much bad, and withfield a little for the good people down in the trenches People like Titus and Dovie It wouldn’t be a sacrifice, it would be a courtesy
I reached up and grabbed the arm Benny had tossed across my shoulders and pulled until I felt his elbow pop Idiot When he was screa at me, I punched him as hard as I could in the kidneys and raether and blood start pouring out of his un he was gripping in his opposite hand Novak was yelling, Dovie was crying, Titus was screa at me to knock it off, and I knew there were no less than six or seven weapons pointed at ood round at my feet, I kicked hi and scared, and I was going to make Novak pay for all of it He narrowed his eyes atknife trailed the opposite path up the other side of her chest,to do, son? I got your girl I got your brother I got Race and Gus What et a shot off before one ofso hard, the tracks of her tears were leaving trails through the blood that was now soaking the entire front of her chest I wasn’t sure she could see me clearly, but I knew she heard me when I whispered, “I’m so sorry”
“Shane” Her tone was broken and lost
“Bax!” My brother, on the other hand, sounded furious and apparently understood ht he did “Stop!”
I ht at the future that could have been mine if I had just been a little worse I lifted the end of the gun I was holding loosely in ly under uy like me You didn’t coet to go out as a hero No guys likethe last bad choice one could ever h to get out of the mess you left behind