A knock sounded at the door, and then a loud blast followed from a fire alarm.
"Boss…" Someone else entered the room. "…they're here."
"Well…" Petrov rubbed his hands together. "…I do hate to miss this, but in case things go badly, I'll just be off the premises. Have fun, Sergio, and it really has been a pleasure. Be sure to say goodbye to my daughter before you shoot her in the heart."
I was angry — so angry — but I didn't know who I was angry with, myself? Andi? Nixon? Tex?
My eyes couldn't focus. I rubbed them then realized my hands were no longer restrained.
I glanced down. My feet were free. When had that happened?
With a grimace, I ripped the IV from my arm and tried to stand. My legs were wobbly, but at least I was able to move a foot before needing to take a break. I was defenseless. Frantic, I held my head in my hands and looked down. Two guns were near my feet.
Why would they leave guns?
I'm going to kill them all.
Had I said that?
Had I meant it?
Kill who? And why?
Andi… she was why I was here. She'd done this to me, hadn't she? I just wanted to lie down, to rest.
Gunshots sounded, and then more followed. I heard screaming, and then an honest-to-God explosion erupted.
I could feel the heat from the bomb as if it was right in front of me. What the hell was going on!
I fell to my knees and covered my head as pieces of debris flew past the door and into the room.
Everything fell silent except for the water that was now pouring from the sprinkler system in the house.
The cold felt so good I didn't even think. I tilted my head back and opened my mouth. My entire body shuddered as water coated me from head to toe.
"Got him," a faint voice called.
I looked up. Andi was walking toward me. Without thinking, I reached for the gun at my feet and pointed it at her.
She dropped her gun to the ground. "Sergio, it's me… It's fine… See? I put my gun down."
Nixon stepped into the room; his gun was drawn too. I was supposed to pull the trigger, right? She was the enemy.
"You," I said hoarsely, "betrayed me."
"No." Tears filled her eyes.
Why was she crying?
"I didn't. I swear, Sergio. I love you."
"No." I shook the gun. "No."
"Andi." Nixon reached slowly for her; blood trickled down his arm. Had he been shot? "He's not in his right mind."
"Stop!" I yelled at both of them, pointing the gun at Nixon then back at her.
Another figure stepped into the room. Phoenix. He eyed the gun then stepped around Nixon, shielding him with his body.
"Oh, that's rich," I spat. "Protect him? He was in on it. You all were!"
The words coming out of my mouth confused me; I believed them, but a part of my consciousness told me I was wrong — they were wrong.
"Sergio…" Andi stepped closer. "…you've been brainwashed."
I slowly lowered the gun, but when she got closer, I panicked; rage flew out of me. I pointed it at her head and pressed my finger against the trigger. "You. Betrayed. Me."
"No." Bruises covered the side of her face.
Who did that? Who hurt her? Was I going to hurt her?
"Screw this." Nixon pushed Phoenix out of the way and pointed his gun in my direction; my reflexes were too slow. Two gunshots.
One went directly into my shoulder; the gun dropped out of my hand.
The next shot hit me in the thigh.
I crumpled to the ground and closed my eyes.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Andi
"NIXON!" I YELLED HIS NAME, BUT he still shot Sergio. I was terrified he would kill him, but he didn't. Both were good shots, but the bleeding…
It wasn't stopping.
"He's severely dehydrated," Phoenix said at my side, dropping to his knees. "We need to get him to the hospital now."
"No hospitals!" Nixon roared.
"Then your cousin's going to die!" Phoenix yelled back. "Look!" The bandage on Sergio's other shoulder was turning a weird yellow-orange-green color. Phoenix pulled it back. It looked septic. No doubt about it. I could only imagine what they'd done to him.
Our infiltration had been quick — thanks to Frank. He didn't want anyone injured, so he took a chance, a big chance that Sergio would either be on a second-level floor or in a basement.
We bombed the entry to the house.
Then used tear gas to fight our way in. There were around thirty men altogether, but most of them weren't prepared for the gas; we had masks on, so picking them off was easy.
Finding Sergio was hard.
Until I saw Petrov rush out of one of the upstairs rooms just as I was clearing the hall.
Coward was probably halfway to Seattle by now.
"Help me get him up." Nixon gripped Sergio by the shoulders.
My husband let out a pitiful moan.
Tears rushed down my face as Tex hurried into the room.
It didn't take us long to clear the house and put Sergio in one of the waiting cars down the street. I held his head in my lap and cried.
He didn't look so perfect anymore.