The other one raises his gun to fire again.
Two on one, huh? Child’s play.
I twirl the man dancing with me to use as a shield.
His friend’s bullet punctures his back, probably shredding his lungs. His body jerks against my shoulder.
Gurgling a final gasp, he collapses to the floor, tugging on my arms before slumping.
I spin in a roundhouse kick, knocking the gun from the other stunned Russian’s hand. If he’s too shocked by friendly fire to control himself, he shouldn’t be here.
He pivots and sprints for the exit. My single shot to the back of his head drops him like a sack of potatoes.
That leaves four, unless the gas starts wearing off.
One man kneels by Grigori, trying to shake him back to consciousness. The other door guard probably fled the second the fun began. No Andrei in sight. Shit.
I roll back under the Greek float. Everything I’m fighting for is right here, and I can’t continue on without laying eyes on her.
Trinity breathes heavily, her chest rising and falling like cresting waves beneath her t-shirt. She appears unhurt otherwise, and cool relief rushes through my blood.
Even with the dark plastic covering her face, she’s so beautiful. I just want to kiss her.
“Is it safe?” She shifts closer, her voice tinny and muffled through the gas mask.
“Not yet. Just had to get a look at you.” Movement behind her shoulder draws my eye. “Duck.”
“What?”
I grab her arm and tug her forward against my chest.
When she’s clear, I lift my gun and fire right into the face of a Russian crouching on the far side of the float.
Guess the gasiswearing off. Damn.
Trinity flinches against my chest. A little chunk of my heart crumbles into my stomach. I hate that she’s stuck in this nightmare because of my own idiocy.
“Trinity.” I hold her tighter against my chest as another pair of feet appears where the first guy’s body dropped. “I didn’t mean to let you down. I fucked up so badly.”
“Brody—”
The second kneeling man’s face and gun barrel pop under the curtain hiding us. I react on instinct, shooting the jackass between the eyes. Trinity squeaks and attempts to swivel her head around to see what’s happening behind her.
Holding her in place, I try to ensure she hears me through my mask. “I’m an asshole and an idiot, and I need?—”
“Brody.” She lifts her head so our eyes meet. “I love you too.”
The air rushes out of me, replaced by a warm, gooey substance that bubbles through my entire body.
Love.She said she loves me.
Fuck these stupid gas masks. I want nothing more than to rip them off and kiss that smart-ass mouth of hers for the rest of my life.
“Trinity…”
She shakes her head. “No time. When you get rid of all these guys trying to kill us, you can grovel some more.”
Beneath the mask, a grin splits my lips.
