The man’s mouth twisted in disgust.
This heartless psycho—he rolled his eyes. “That’s what I thought.”
* * *
Harlow was aboutto say something that would probably be classed as heartless, when his phone started to ring.
“You left your damn sound on?” Tony stared at him, baffled.
“I was waiting for a call,” Harlow said without remorse. Walking to the desk, he dug through his coat, pulling his phone out of his inner jacket pocket.
Flipping it open, he answered, “Yes?”
“The witch will no longer be a problem for anyone,” Sephira stated, zero emotion in her voice.
Harlow frowned. “Sounds vague.”
“Purposely.”
“Right. As long as it’s handled. Anything else?” He honestly didn’t care if the woman had offed someone.
“Yes…” She hesitated.
“Spit it out. I don’t have time to stay on the phone with you.”
“When the time comes, choose extreme violence over peace.”
“Why the fuck are all witches’ warnings so fucking vague?”
“I know it’s vague. It is the way of things. Foxx has done something most wouldn’t. He's given more than he should. I do not know more than that. But, just know, time is short. You’ll make it, as long as you keep my warning in mind. Do not let them delay you.”
Harlow’s fist clenched around the phone. “Extreme violence, you say? No problem,” he growled. Hanging up, he looked at Tony. “Let me lead the raid.”
Tony narrowed his eyes at him. “No killing, besides in self-defense.”
“Fine…but my idea of self-defense is very different from yours, so you better be prepared.”
His boss sighed. “You’re such a headache.”
Foxx stared up at the ceiling, even though he could barely see it through the steam. It had been hours, but the thickness had never lessened. His energy—life energy—on the other hand…the opposite was true. He was drained. What he’d stolen from the priest, he had already given away in an effort to save the lives of those around him. It was his fault that the situation had become more dire. Him being here, and having killed the priest that crossed to the platform, had escalated things. He should have just let them take him…
Foxx was reaching his limit. If he gave much more of himself, he wasn’t sure he could remain awake, or…alive.
He clenched his eyes shut, a single tear running down his face as he felt a life extinguish. So many were only holding on by a thread. Foxx wanted to help, but he couldn’t now. All he could do was hold on himself, and try to keep the little girl in his arms alive.
Even if he didn’t survive…at the least this girl should. She was so young, she hadn’t gotten to experience anything. The rest of his energy had become hers from the moment he’d first realized she was the last child left living on this platform.
Lightly, he ran his fingers through Melody’s hair.
“It hurts…I want to go home,” she said with a soft cry.
“I know, sweetheart. I do too.” He licked his lips. “You’ll get to go home soon. We have to believe that. My partner, Harlow, is coming. He is.” Foxx gulped. “He’ll save us.”
“My mommy… My mommy didn’t come back.”
Another tear slid down Foxx’s face. “I’m sorry.”
She cried. “Daddy left first… Are you going to leave me too?”
