"Mom!" The moment I pulled the wadded cloth from Olei's mouth, his eyes went red.
"It's okay, baby. Mommy's here. You're safe." I quickly untied the ropes and pulled him into my arms.
His small body trembled as he clung to my neck. I rubbed his back gently. Once he'd calmed down, I released him and looked toward Silas. He'd already subdued Tomaso—the old man lay face-down on the ground, seemingly knocked out cold. Silas stood and walked toward us.
Relief flooded through me so hard I nearly cried.
Blood smeared Silas's face—his or Tomaso's, I couldn't tell. I held Olei and stood, wanting to go to him.
Then I saw Tomaso's eyes snap open. He pulled a small handgun from somewhere, barrel aimed at me.
"Watch your woman go to hell, Silas!" Tomaso laughed maniacally, his eyes filled with desperate resolve as he pulled the trigger.
Everything happened too fast. I heard the shot. I saw the bullet racing toward me.
Time seemed to stretch in that moment. I should have moved, but fear locked my body in place. I watched helplessly as the bullet closed the distance.
Was this how I'd die? Never seeing Olei again? Never seeing Silas?
But a figure stepped in front of me, moving so fast I only heard the dull thud of the bullet tearing through flesh.
"No—!"
My scream ripped through the air.
Chapter Thirty
Anthea
Silas took a bullet to the chest, blood soaking his white shirt in seconds. But he didn't go down. He pushed through, turning toward Tomaso, gun aimed at the old bastard still sprawled on the ground.
The shot rang out, the bullet hitting Tomaso square in the heart. The old guy's eyes bulged, his crazy grin frozen. His hand dropped limp, the small pistol slipping from his fingers.
"Silas!" I rushed over with Olei, dropping to my knees beside him.
Blood poured from his left chest, the red stain spreading fast across the white fabric.
"Let me see." I set Olei aside, hands shaking as I fumbled with his shirt buttons.
Silas grabbed my wrist, voice weak but steady. "Don't worry, it missed the vital spots."
"But you're bleeding so much..." My voice trembled.
"I've been shot before. I know what a kill shot feels like." He forced a reassuring smile. "This is nothing."
"What if something goes wrong?" My vision blurred, tears welling up. "You're not a doctor—how can you be sure?"
He didn't answer, lifting his hand to touch my cheek. But it fellhalfway, his eyelids growing heavy. Panic hit me. I pressed down on the wound to stem the blood. More seeped through my fingers, warm and sticky.
"Daddy? Daddy, what's wrong?" Olei's little face went pale with fear.
"I'm fine..." Silas managed, his eyelids fluttering shut.
"No, don't sleep!" Tears spilled down my cheeks. "Silas, look at me—keep your eyes open!"
But he was gone, no response. Pain ripped through me, stealing my breath. No, he couldn't be. He'd said it missed the vitals, said it was nothing. Footsteps pounded from the doorway. I looked up—men in black gear stormed in, led by Silas's right-hand man, Marcus. I'd seen him before.
"Ma'am!" Marcus charged over in a few strides.
