Page 69 of Rising from the Ashes

His black shirt is torn to shreds and through the holes I see multiple stab wounds to his abdomen. Whoever did this knew exactly where to hit so he wouldn’t bleed fast and die quickly.

Bile rises in my throat as I raise my hands to his neck, frantically feeling for a pulse.

Please, to whatever God there may be, let there be a pulse.

His skin is still warm as my fingers graze across his neck. I wait for what feels like hours before I finally feel something tick beneath my fingertips. His heartbeat is weak and thready.

But it’s there.

Whirring around to Quinn, I shout, “Go get Drake!”

She nods and in a frenzy turns around, running out of the building.

As I face Shado’s limp body, I search for any way to get him unshackled and to the ground.

“You won’t be able to get him down. Nor will anyone be able to save you this time.” My father’s voice whispers through the darkness. Slowly, I can hear his footsteps approaching. When he comes into the dim light, he is covered in blood and holding a container in his hand.

Lighter fluid.

I turn to face him.

“You never were one to give up, Dad.” I snort.

“It wouldn’t have to end like this, ya know. If you would just join the family business,” he states as he begins to walk in a circle around us, pouring the lighter fluid on the ground.

“I will never join you.” I slowly step toward him, trying to plan my attack. Coming face to face with him, I can smell the copper odor of Shado’s blood on his clothes mixed with the pungent smell of the lighter fluid.

Throwing the empty container to the side, he pulls the silver lighter from his pocket. Just as he drops the lighter to the ground, I lurch forward pulling him forward inside the circle he just poured with the liquid as it erupts into flames.

“Gotta be quicker than that, Daddio. If I’m going to die again, so are you.” I sneer, pulling a knife from my pocket.

The smoke from the fire sends me reeling back to that night as Enzo steps forward, throwing his right hand to meet my temple. Stunned, I step back, gripping the sides of my face.

Focus, Cal. Get you and Shado out of here.

He continues to walk forward and just as he tries to connect his fist with another punch, I jam the knife upward into his sternum.

“You won’t get away this time, Daddy,” I whisper as his body hunches over me.

“I win,” I say, twisting the serrated blade into his aorta. Blood begins to drip from his lips onto my shoulder and I throw him into the flames. Standing there, I watch as the fire roars around him, fueled by giving the flames something to burn.

“Calista!” I hear Drake’s voice calling out to me through the flames.

“We’re in here!” I sputter out, choking on the smoke that’s billowing around us.

With the energy I have left, I draw an arrow and aim it at the chain binding Shado to the ceiling. My eyelids begin to grow heavy and my vision starts to blur as I aim upward. Releasing the arrow, I hear the metal clang together followed by a loud thud. Shado’s body drops to the ground. He looks lifeless before me.

With a renewed feeling of energy, I run over to him. Kneeling down, I place his head in my lap as I watch the circle of flames crawl closer to us.

“If I am going to burn, there’s no one I’d rather burn with,” I whisper, grazing my lips against his cheek.

As if some magical force separated the wall of flames, I see Drake, Daniil, and Julian standing on the other side. As my eyes adjust, I notice the fire blanket tossed across the flames. They run inside toward Shado and me.

Julian and Daniil scoop up Shado, one man at his feet, the other cradling his arms and head.

For a brief second, Drake stares at my father’s lifeless body.

“We gotta get out of here, now!” Drake shouts as he pulls me to my feet.

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