Page 6 of Flames of Ruin

“You rich prick, you couldn’t wield a gun to save your life. It’s what your goons are for.”

What is it with all the chatty visitors tonight?

Glaring at him as he walks away, I bring my attention back to the bar where Cecilia is no longer standing by her co-workers. Curious, I rake my eyes over the crowd in the bar.

Not finding her, I resolve that she must be in the back, and motion for a waitress to refill my whiskey.

As the waitress saunters over to me with a fresh glass in her hand, I hear a woman’s shrill scream followed by the crack of gunfire, coming from the back alley.

The hairs on my neck stand up as I rise to my feet, jumping out of the booth and practically knocking the waitress on her ass. No one else in the bar moves a muscle. Hearing screams and gunfire on this side of town is essentially a nightly norm.

Running toward the back entrance, I pull my mask out of my jacket pocket. I barge through the door leading into the alleyway, donning the mask as quickly as I can while I make my way down the steps outside the building, where I see Cecilia standing over a man lying lifeless on the ground. Before I can reach her, another shadowed figure comes up from behind her, placing a hand over her mouth as he drags her backward into the darkness of the alley. I hear her body slam against the brick wall with a loud thud as I run to approach them. When my eyes adjust to the darkness, I see the tall, muscular figure is now accompanied by two more men, pinning her to the wall.

Drawing my Glock from my belt holster, I aim at one of the men and fire off a shot. The bullet slices through the right side of his neck, blood spraying the street as he falls to the ground.

Another bullet whizzes past my ear and hits the second guy in the stomach, dropping him to the ground. He falls with a loud groan as he clutches his abdomen.

The man pinning Cecilia to the wall relinquishes his grip on her neck and charges after me. When he swings at me I sidestep him, but instead of turning around to chase me, he turns his focus on someone behind me. I turn my gaze only to notice he has zoned in on the mouthy little fucker from the bar.

Shielding Cecilia from the sight before her, I swiftly stand in front of her and point my gun toward the third guy’s back. He fires off a shot in the spy kid's direction seconds before I can shoot the last of the gang members. I pull the trigger just as his bullet slices through the kid's deltoid muscle right as mine lodges into the middle of his lower back, right at the base of the spine. As soon as the hollow point bullet meets its target, it expands, shattering the bones in its wake. The man falls to the ground, screaming and writhing in pain as his body’s nervous system registers the trauma.

I look up at the kid, grasping his bleeding shoulder. “What was that about me not being able to wield a gun, kid?”

His eyes widen in surprise at the recognition. He holds his good arm out to me, as if to shake my hand in a truce. “Shado.”

I hear the sounds of Edinburgh’s 3rd precinct making their way to Raven’s. For once in my life, a wave of anxiety rushes over me.

“1133 Vanguard Avenue. Go. Now,” I order.

Right as I turn around, I barely have enough time to register that Cecilia is falling to my feet before I catch her in my arms.

A light whisper that I can barely make out escapes her lips before her eyes roll back in her head as she falls unconscious.

Chapter four

Drake

Drake: I need your help.

Anders: I’m busy. Are you bleeding out?

Drake: Would I be fucking texting you?

Anders: I’ll be there in fifteen.

Thirty minutes after Dr. Anders arrives, I lay CiCi down on my bed, pulling the soft white bamboo sheets over her body. She looks so peaceful, but I know it wasn’t safe to bring her here, or Shado for that matter. The basement level of Vanguard Enterprises has been the location of my bunker for the last thirteen years. In a matter of two hours, I’ve compromised my identity and safe place.

“Based on the quick exam you let me perform, she has a very mild concussion. Nothing life threatening. I gave her some pain medicine and a mild sedative in the form of an injection. She will be asleep for a while.”

Doctor Anders has been my private physician since I started out on my crusade. My first serious injury, I crawled into the alleyway behind the hospital just as he was walking out. He’s been saving my life ever since and keeping my secret safe.

All I can do is nod as I run my thumb across the top of her hand. I can’t take my eyes off her. Never knowing if I’d see her again, only to save her life. The universe is playing some sick joke.

“Watch for dilated pupils when she wakes up, vomiting, fainting. The usual signs of concussions. I know you’re familiar.” He chuckles softly.

I nod again.

His voice takes on a serious tone. “Drake? I don’t know this girl or what she means to you, but if you care for her, and you do, I can see it in your eyes…” He pauses. “Keep her far away from your lifestyle.”

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