He whips around to face Kai instantly.
“Drop it,” he tells Kai.
No, no, no.
My heart races knowing how much danger Rayne is putting himself in.
I have to act fast.
There’s no time to think.
And even though Briar is small and quick, herbrotheris anything but. He’s thickly muscled, broad, and not as fast as me.
I get behind him and bring my knife forward at an angle.
He struggles.
Manages to get another shot off, and it hits the edge of Onyx House, nearly grazing his own sister.
I take my knife and slash at his gloved hand that’s holding the gun.
Andhisgun drops to the ground, too.
I grab it before he can, and I hold it steady at Kai.
I hear the distant wail of sirens but I barely register it. I keep my eyes on Rayne and Wes,needingthem to be okay.
Rayne’s terrified.
The gun is shaking in his hands.
He doesn’t know how to hold it properly at all.
“Even if you kill us, it isn’t going to matter,” Briar says, coming toward me and Kai. “Our father is on his way to your father, to ensure that a deal is finally struck. This war is bigger than you.”
It turns out her words are just meant to distract us.
She’s clearly going to try to get Kai’s gun away from me.
She lunges at me a moment later, but I was anticipating it.
I reach one leg out and manage to trip her before she can connect with my body. She falls to the ground, but she’s not badly hurt, still getting up and coming at us.
The sirens get louder.
Briar comes at me, putting her arm around my neck.
If I move at all, Kai or Briar will be able to get the gun from me.
If I don’t move, Briar will be able to choke the breath out of me.
Rayne and Wes will watch me die right here in front of them.
The same way I watched someone I love die in front of me.
Already, I can’t get enough air.
My lungs start to burn, but I can’t move.
