Enzo and my father were nowhere in sight. They’d joined the Camorra’s efforts to push back the assailants. I tilted my head toward the altar, searching for my family again. Through the evaporating red mist, I found them huddled behind the organ, Tiernan protecting Lila and Nero with his body. He had his gun cocked and ready, aimed at the open doors.
He didn’t join the other men.
As far as he was concerned, everyone else could die. His small family was his entire world.
A gunman in a balaclava and full combat uniform stalked inside, pointing his M16 at them. I squeezed one eye shut, aimed at the back of his head, and smoothly pulled the trigger. He dropped like a stone before Tiernan had the time to shoot him.
My brother’s gaze skidded in my direction. He jerked his chin in thanks.
“Run!” My scream was swallowed by the echo of gunshots and weeping. “I’ll cover you.”
Carefully, I rolled my body the other way, peering through the gap under the pew at the entrance.
The men had enveloped the doors, acting as a human shield for the women and children. They’d seemed to manage to kill all the rival clan members who had entered the church and were now waiting for the next wave of attack.
This was a war declaration. By whom, I wasn’t sure, but someone had decided to dethrone the Ferrantes as the leaders of Napoli’s Camorra clans.
Anticipation made the air sizzle. The corpse next to me was still staring, and now that most of the smoke was gone, I could see the face clearly. It was the priest.
There was a bullet hole in his temple. His blood crawled along the floor in my direction, soaking the sleeve of my dress. I pressed my lips closed, swallowing down the bile bubbling up my throat. I flicked my gaze behind my shoulder. Tiernan, Lila, and Nero were gone.
I let out a shaky exhale. Knowing they were safe made it slightly easier to breathe.
I heard a galloping horse in the distance. It whinnied, coming closer, until its hooves touched the church’s steps, click-clacking.
Clank.
Clank.
Clank.
Clank.
Through the curtain of red dusk, a black stallion materialized. It soared into the church like a mythological creature. Gasps and whimpers echoed across the walls.
I craned my neck to get a better look, a fresh wave of fear and nausea slamming into me.
Someone straddled the horse. The body of a man was strapped to it.
The man was headless.
A headless horseman.
Before I had time to digest what I was seeing, the horse advanced straight toward my pew, the corpse bouncing atop it. It was strapped in and erected by ropes.
As it got closer, I realized the body was booby-trapped. The torso of the corpse was naked, sewn across the chest and stomach in black stitches that looked ready to burst.
His gut was full of explosives. And he was headed my way.
I didn’t want to die.
I wanted to live and find my own happiness.
I realized if I wasn’t going to move from under the pew, I probablywoulddie.
Achilles had made me promise I’d stay put and wait for him…
Fuck that asshole.
