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Crack! Crack!

Gunshots reverberated through the air I stiffened, waiting for the bullets to slaood - but two red splotches blossomed on Salina's chest instead of mine My head snapped to the left, and I realized why

Eva

She ran around Finn's car, a gun clutched in her hands Salina cruround, and Eva rushed over and kicked the water ele on the Ice as she did so Then, Eva stood over Salina, a grim, tortured expression on her face Finn started forward, but I put my arm out

"No," I said "Let ic to knock him around before I could stop her "

He nodded and hurried across the Ice as fast as he could to where Owen lay Kincaid was there too, tending to my lover, but I pushed my worry for Owen out of my mind

"Eva," I said in a soft voice, walking toward her, "it's over now You can put the gun down "

A dazed look filled her blue eyes, and it took a few seconds before she actually seehtened around the gun "No, it's not over yet I haven't killed her yet "

I glanced down I'd thought Eva had hit Salina square in the chest, but she'd only winged her in the shoulder and arh in her upper left bicep, while the other had punched into her skin just below her collarbone Painful wounds - but not fatal ones

I looked at Salina a second longer, et up, but she only moaned, clutched her shoulder, and rocked back and forth on the ground So I reached over and put ers on top of Eva's hand, the one that was still holding the gun

"It's okay, Eva," I said in that soft, soothing voice again "You did it You got her You saved me and Finn It's over now "

Eva shook her head,un, slip it out of her hand, and tuck it against the sht next toher to my chest, despite the factelse was

A sob escaped her throat, then another one, then another one Her whole body trembled with emotion - so h her All the terror, all the helplessness, all the rage she'd felt because of what Salina had done to her and how she'd threatened to hurt Owen and Kincaid

I held her and let her cry, let her screaainst my back, even as I stroked her hair andher it was okay Sometimes there was more comfort in lies than the truth

Finally, Eva's sobs died down, and she drew back and looked atdown her face