Chapter 9 - The Crossfire
Time seemed to slow down to an agonizing crawl.
Silas aimed the shotgun directly at the center of Dominic's back.
I did not think about the consequences or the fear.
I raised the small pistol Dominic had given me and pulled the trigger.
The recoil sent a violent shockwave up my arm.
The bullet struck Silas in the shoulder, spinning him around before he could fire.
His shotgun blasted harmlessly into the dirt.
Dominic moved with terrifying speed.
He drew a knife from his belt and threw it perfectly across the gap.
The blade buried itself deep in Silas's chest, dropping the traitor instantly.
Up on the catwalk, Mark panicked at the sudden violence.
"I'll kill her!" Mark screamed, stepping backward toward the edge of the train.
He tripped over a rusted pipe, his grip on Lily slipping.
Lily fell forward, grabbing onto the metal railing to keep from plummeting off the train.
Mark scrambled to his feet and raised his gun toward my daughter.
Dominic drew his handgun and fired three consecutive shots.
Mark's chest exploded in a spray of red.
My ex-husband stared blankly at the sky before tumbling backward off the train entirely.
"Lily!" I screamed, running desperately toward the metal stairs.
I scrambled up the rusted steps and pulled my crying daughter over the railing.
I held her so tightly I thought her ribs might crack.
Dominic walked slowly up the stairs behind me.
He looked exhausted, his expensive suit covered in dirt and blood.
I turned to him, tears streaming down my face.
"You saved us," I whispered, reaching out to touch his arm.
Dominic offered a small, rare smile.
"I told you, Emma," he murmured softly.
"I always pay my debts."
He gently touched Lily's hair, ensuring she was completely unharmed.
May you like
We walked down the stairs together, leaving the bodies of the traitors in the dirt.
For the first time in weeks, I felt like we were finally safe.
