“I have to go, love.” I kiss Allie hard. She pulls at me desperately. “I know, but it’s time.”
“A part of me hoped they’d stop him from landing.”
“I’ll be back. I promise.”
Another kiss, this one lingering.
I have to peel myself away. I leave her on the bed and pull my clothes on. Black combat fatigues, combat boots, a bulletproof vest. I strap on weapons, knives, guns, anything I can find. When I’m done, I throw her one last look.
Tears stream down her face.
I rip myself away and storm out of the room.
“Enzo, report.” I shove the earpiece in and patch myself through to the fighting.
“Medved’s guys are landing. We’re making them fucking pay for it though.” The crack of small arms fire sparkles in the background. “Where are you?”
“Heading in your direction. Lucy, how’s the Resort looking?”
“We’re ready,” she answers.
“Good. Let the fuckers come.” I check my weapons and step onto the elevator.
MASS
Iwade my way through the chaos of the evacuation. The Fortress employs hundreds of people and provides them with living space. Even though they’ve had hours to escape, it takes time to gather their things and get out.
The place is a madhouse. Scared, hurried civilians follow Lady's monotonous directions toward the backside of the island and the safety of the waiting vessels. Those are protected by most of our navy; stopping Medved was never possible anyway, and I might as well save as many of my people as I can. I stride through them all, projecting confidence as they part in front of me.
Several stop to wish me luck. Many more call out with respect. "Hail the Dragon! Long live the Dragon!" I nod in response, standing taller with each new voice that joins the chorus.
They’re the reason I’m doing this.
Them and my family.
I hurry through the Fortress. Lucy meets me on the path to the Resort. The fighting is fierce up ahead, and we’re headingstraight to it. "Medved's got some serious gear," she says grimly. "His men are well armed. They’re making a mess of things."
"How are we holding up?"
"So far, so good. Our lines are set and haven’t moved. Allie’s brother Gabe is in command of the central portion, and that’s getting hit the hardest right now."
"Then that’s where we’re headed."
Lucy shoots me a look. "You’re too important to throw yourself into the thick of it."
"Allie would kill me if Gabe doesn’t come back home. We’re going."
Lucy reluctantly follows, summoning a squad of her personal soldiers as we hurry through the Resort. It’s strange seeing this place completely empty. Most of the furniture has been ripped apart and thrown against doors and windows to act as barricades. Soldiers are everywhere. Medics are treating wounded men, blood slick on the bright marble floors. Barely a day ago, this whole place would’ve been like a bacchanal of drinking, fucking, and excess.
Now it’s a war zone.
I run at a crouch toward a group of men firing across the luxury pool. The water’s tinted pink by several corpses bobbing in the shallow end. The swim-up bar is a flaming wreck, and the fire looks like it’s going to spread to the nearby umbrellas and chairs. I sprint out across the open space, heading toward where a group of men are pinned down, only to get strafed by bullets. I have to dive into cover before I’m gunned down.
"That’s him!" I shout over the fighting. Gabe’s among the men in danger. They’re using overturned lounge chairs and a stack of tables as cover. It won’t last long. "Cover me."
"Don’t you dare!"
But I’m already moving. Lucy and her crew come up shooting, two of them lobbing grenades. The explosions rock the concrete ground as I come to a skidding halt beside Gabe.
