Death was inevitable, especially in this line of work. But Anthony was my cousin, and I'd sent him and his men to die. Their blood was on my hands. They were my responsibility, and I'd failed them.
I took a step closer, then an urge to run came over me so quickly that I moved before I'd even consciously realized I was doing so.
The air filled with gunfire.
They're trying to kill me first, then her. If they shoot our SUV with the same rounds as they did Anthony's car, she'll die.
"Catalina, run!" I waved my arms frantically, sprinting toward her while the enemy fired at me.
Catalina burst through the door with a grenade in her hand. She pulled the pin, and threw it at the shooter. It exploded, buying me time to get to her. But the shooter was too fast.
We dashed toward the woods as bullets barraged our vehicle. I grabbed Catalina around the waist, pulling her against me, and threw us both into the brush just as Anthony's SUV exploded.
My ears rang, and I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my blurred vision, while Catalina laid peacefully in my arms.
She wasn't moving.
"Lina?"
Nothing.
"Catalina, wake up!"
I shook her, my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
"Catalina!"
Her eyelids fluttered, then she stirred with a soft groan.
I ran my hands over her body. "Can you hear me? Are you hurt?"
She blinked, then shook her head slowly. "I'm okay… I think." Her gaze sharpened as she focused on me. She squeezed my arms, shoulders, rubbed my chest. "Are you hurt?"
I kissed her head. "No, I'm fine, but we need to move."
I cocked my head to the right where the raging flames from the SUV would conceal us, but would also leave us blind. "Stay low," I whispered.
Catalina nodded, her body tense as we crawled through the underbrush.
As we made it around the burning vehicle, a voice cut through the air. "I hoped that explosion would take you out, but you're like a fucking cockroach. No matter how many times I try to put you down, you just won't die."
My breath caught in my throat.
No…
It couldn't be…
"Anthony," I whispered.
Catalina stilled beside me.
"Come on out, boss. Don't make this harder than it has to be." His voice was light, yet dripping with malice. It was so different from the one I knew.
Anthony was the joker, the one who acted like life was a game. Now he was trying to kill me? My own cousin?
We crouched lower to the ground. He didn't know where we were… yet.
Anthony's voice rang out, this time closer to the street. "You know, when my father told me he killed your mother and father, I told him he was crazy. I thought he was the worst person in the world. How could he turn on family when we're all each other has? But he swore that your mother had done something to his brother. That he was no longer fit to rule. He would have gone after you too, but you know who stopped him? Me.Ikilled my own father for you and look at how you repaid me!"
