Pop! Pop! Pop!
The sound in the metal box was horrific, the echo as terrifying as the bullets ricocheting until they’d hit their mark.
I scrambled for my weapon, yanking it from my thigh holster while still lying in an awkward position. Unable to see anything, I struggled to find a shot.
At least Donatello was a crack shot, catching two assassins between the eyes.
“Come on.” He grabbed my arm, pulling me to my feet and behind him. The three dead bodies were nothing but annoying at this point. “Stay behind me.” He ripped out his phone, making a call while I turned to face the other way, my weapon in both hands.
“I’m tired of dealing with these assholes,” I told him.
“Me too, sugar britches. Hey, Alexander. Send the cavalry. They were hiding somewhere in the building.”
A building that had been swept from top to bottom, which meant we’d missed either a sleeper cell or somehow a warning had managed to get out. Whatever the case, we’d handle them.
Huffing, Donatello shoved the phone into his pocket. “I was hoping for a tall glass of whiskey in about ten minutes.”
“We’ll get there.”
Another feeling washed over me and this time before he had a chance to react, I caught the shadow out of the corner of my eye, firing off a single bullet into the man’s face.
“Ouch,” Donatello said. “That had to hurt.”
“Good. My patience is toast.”
“Ah, honey. You’re going to need to work on that.”
“Sure, baby cakes. Whatever you say.”
“As I told you, I am in charge.”
“In your dreams.” We sidestepped a few yards while listening for any sounds.
When we were against a wall, he tipped his head over his shoulder. “You are in every dream.”
“Ah, honey. What a sweet thing to say.” I snuggled closer.
He huffed, immediately firing over me. The hard thud as a body dropped forced a wince.
“You need to watch your back or I’ll be forced to do it for you.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
The sound of footsteps followed by additional gunfire had almost become music to my ears.
Almost.
We were surrounded by soldiers coming from all directions, including a few from past enemies who’d been promised a pot of gold at the end of the Prince rainbow.
They’d be rewarded for their strength in numbers, all parties involved celebrating together on this day.
A victory of sorts in a world where few alliances were made, and the existing ones were often destroyed by greed and hunger for power. I was proud that my father was watching over us, hopefully smiling. He’d adored Donatello. He’d treated him as his son.
Maybe my father’s wisdom had been his greatest power, for our love would stand the test of time.
If there was one thing that could be said about the Prince family, it was that we were people of our word.
And we required everyone we were involved with to do the same.
