Branches slapped me in the face, stung my skin, and disoriented the hell out of me –
But at least I was behind a much thicker segment of the trunk when the shooting started.
Bratta-tatta-tatta-tat!
I could hear the bark splintering on the other side of the tree.
Bullets buzzed past me like angry wasps.
And then I hit the ground.
OW!
Pain flared through my feet and ankles as I bent my legs to absorb the shock.
I fell backwards onto my ass –
Then quickly scrambled behind the trunk again as bullets kicked up dirt all around me.
SHIT!
I was pinned down.
I had a rifle, but it was totally useless at the moment. If I came out of hiding to aim, they would ventilate my skull.
The one thing I had going for me was that they were so far away –
But my one advantage wouldn’t last long.
All the mercenaries had to do was slowly walk to either side, and eventually their angle of attack would allow them to shoot me behind the tree.
I was trying to figure out what to do when Valentino burst out of the vines covering the ground a hundred feet behind me.
I had to admit, I’d never been happier to see him –
But I held my breath, afraid he was about to get mowed down.
I shouldn’t have worried. He followed Lars’s training to a ‘t’ and dove to the ground.
Lying flat like that, he presented a very small target for the mercenaries –
Whiletheywere all standing upright.
Valentino sighted along the length of his barrel –
And fired a single shot.
BLAM!
I heard a scream somewhere behind me.
Good SHOT, kid!
Foot soldiers began boiling out of the vines and diving to the ground –
Including Roberto!
What the fuck is HE doing out here?!
