Page 10 of When Kings Fall

We bolted toward the trees, almost home free.

And then we heard shouting.

I looked over my shoulder to see Malcolm Lynch and Royce Humphrey hurrying out of their vehicles along with four ski mask assholes.

A shudder rolled through me.

No!

They were already back.

I fired off several shots in my panic.

While running and because I’d only fired a gun once in my life prior to this, I only managed to hit one of the ski masks. He clutched his gut and dropped to his knees.

I looked away and followed after Levi.

We were just seconds out from disappearing into the trees when a shot rang out.

A white-hot pain tore through my upper back and I screamed, tripping and landing painfully on my hands and knees.

Levi cried out and stopped running, coming back to me.

“No,” I gasped. “Go. Get out… of here.”

“I’m not leaving you behind,” he said, resolutely.

The shouting grew louder, footsteps closer.

And then Levi did the unthinkable.

He stepped in front of me, forming a human shield.

A fifteen-year-old kid facing off with a group of deranged, grown men.

It was several levels beyond brave.

But I couldn’t allow it.

I couldn’t allow him to suffer because of me, in the name of protecting me.

“Levi, no,” I croaked.

He was tackled to the ground in the next second by Royce and one of the guards.

And then they wailed on him.

My choked screams for them to stop landed on deaf ears.

And then automatic fire ripped through the area.

Screams from the masks filled my ears.

Royce pushed off Levi and spun, his eyes wide.

“Get your motherfucking hands off my son!” a voice of furor thundered.

An older version of Levi flitted across my vision just before all chaos broke loose.

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