But I fire first.
The recoil slams up my arm, unbalancing my shoulder. Dante jerks harshly as the bullet hits him directly in the center of his chest.
The force knocks him backward, his gun slipping from his fingers as he topples to the floor behind him.
He gasps and I know it won’t be long before he bleeds out.
This is the only time I can get her out of here.
This is our moment.
Dante grabs at the hoodie’s thick material on his chest, his mouth opening like he wants to say something. But nothing comes out as his eyes lock on mine. He seems to be in shock.
I stand there, chest heaving, gun still raised as Chloe pushes herself up off of the floor into a sitting position.
“A little help?” Her voice comes out rough as she puts her wrist and ankles out in front of her.
I cross the room in two strides before leaning down to cut her zip ties off of her with the small blade I have in my pocket. With that, I grab her hand, pulling her up from the floor and with me towards the doorway.
“Run,” I say.
That is all I have to say for her to follow my lead.
We run through the cold of the warehouse, with luckily no pursuit from behind us. Her hand is tight in mine, nails digging into my skin like she is afraid we’ll somehow be disconnected.
We finally come to the exit of the building as she pulls back, slowing me down. Her eyes meet mine. “What are you doing? We have to go.”
You would think I’m diagnosed with asthma with the way I am huffing and puffing as I get that sentence out.
“You shot him,” she says quietly.
“Yeah,” I reply, mostly out of breath. “I did.”
Her gaze drops briefly to the blood smeared across my knuckles, then back up to my face. Something flashes through her eyes, but I can’t quite figure out what emotion it is.
She shakes her head. “They won’t forgive this.”
My eyes lock on her green ones. “I know.”
“They’ll come for you.” She glances down at my lips.
And I can’t avoid looking at hers. “I know.”
Her gaze lingers on my mouth again, but longer this time.
She lifts her hand slowly, pressing her palm against my chest, right over my heart before sliding it up onto my shoulder as she leans forward onto her tiptoes. “Let me see you. The real you.”
I hesitate, but it doesn’t last long. In seconds, I’m pulling my mask up and over my face, dropping it to the ground as soon as it’s off fully.
She searches my face for what feels like forever.
I had just revealed myself to her entirely.
She forms a small smile and slowly rises onto her toes just enough that her breath caresses my lips. I feel her hesitation then, just with that small pause.
She probably feels the same as I do.
We don’t know one another. Yet, I’m saving her.
