Holloway sprang into action, whipping out his gun, taken by surprise. Luc shoved me out of the way as Jefferson went after me.
When shots were fired, I dove behind the desk, but Holloway came after me. I never expected him to. He just went for me.
“Can’t get the key, so I’ll grab the next prize,” he taunted.
I jumped out of the way when he tried to grab me and sent a kick straight to his chest. He stumbled, stunned by my sudden motion, but regained his balance.
Holloway had that built that made you easily mistake him for being less tough, but he had muscle and speed. His thin presence was more athletic than on the lanky side, which gave him the advantage. Being used to him, I knew that.
I straightened, raised my gun, but damn, he sent a punch to my hand and knocked it out. Shit, I needed to focus because he could take me down now if he wanted to. He was taller than me and stronger. He also knew me too. We’d been on so many raids and other encounters where we’d had to fight.
Luc and Jefferson were on the floor now. Fists were flying. Luc looked like he was winning, but I couldn’t focus on him. Holloway dove for me again. This time he got me. He grabbed me and squeezed my ribs hard to the point where I thought I’d pass out. I tried to knee him in his crotch, but I couldn’t. I kicked out at him, but without my arms I was powerless. I even tried to head butt him, but that didn’t work on a guy like him. He laughed at me, and fuck… I saw two guys coming in by the long French windows leading out to the balcony. Holloway was moving with me toward them.
He didn’t get far though, and neither did they.
Three shots sounded, rippling through the air one after the other.
Bang, bang…bang.
That was all I heard. The two guys dropped dead before me, the bullets going straight to their heads, and the grip Holloway had around my arms loosened.
“Holloway.” I winced as he released me completely.
I snapped around to see his eyes roll back in his head before he fell. The bullet got him in his neck.
My eyes raised to meet Dad’s, and I observed the vicious expression he had on his face and the strength he exuded with his two guns held out in front of him. He looked like a mobster, and not just any old mobster either. He looked like he would kill you with one look.
Another shot sounded.
It came from Luc. He shot Jefferson straight in his head.
Something … something strange happened in my heart as the seconds passed and it sunk in. Reality sunk in. The reality of what had just taken place.
Jefferson and Holloway. My friends, now dead, again because of me. These people after my father lured them over to darkness, relying on their greed, and now they were no more.
Jefferson and Holloway. I’d known them for the same length of time I knew Max and Sinclaire. So much had happened in so little time.
Unlike the normal energy I’d feel when we defeated the bad guys, I felt sick. I looked back to Dad, and he lowered his guns, two Berettas.
“Amelia.” He took a step toward me but stopped. A stream of blood ran down the line from his nose to the top of his lip, and he dropped the guns as he collapsed.
“Dad!” I rushed up to him. Luc joined us in panic.
“Boss, shit!” Luc lifted his head, but Dad looked so lifeless.
Tears ran down my cheeks at his lifeless form. “Dad, wake up.”
I couldn’t lose him too, not now. Not now.
One breath escaped his lips, and more blood poured from his nose. I pressed my hand to his neck searching for a pulse, but I couldn’t feel one.
Chapter 2
Amelia
* * *
I sat next to Dad’s bed, watching him.
