Page 65 of Savage Rule

They’re here.

Remaining as silent as possible, I try to count the steps. They’re so quiet, barely there, it’s no wonder I didn’t hear them come inside.

How did they know where Gunn left me?

I shift my weight as to not alert anyone down there of my presence and risk a peek over the banister.

A dark-haired man pressed against the wall has his riffle aimed right at me. He shoots, the bullet missing my shoulder by inches. I duck back inside the room, shutting the door before several men can be heard reaching the second floor.

Someone starts kicking at it and the doorframe begins to shatter. I let out three shots through the door, hitting whoever is on the other side. It buys me time to get to the window.

Unfortunately for me, two guys are already coming up the fire escape.

“Fuck!” I aim and shoot. All the bullets do is ricochet off the metal, causing the men to duck and slow their progress.

Behind me, the door continues to give. I quickly count the rounds left in my gun. Nine to go.

I make hasty calculations. My odds of survival out the door vs. the window. There are at least three guys in the hall, and two outside.

The decision is taken out of my hands when the hallway guys break through.

Without hesitation, I aim at the first target. It’s the only chance I’ll get at an accurate shot. I hit my mark and he goes down at the same time I dive for the other side of one of the beds.

The two remaining men scatter as well, aware that at this close range, the odds for shooting each other have just gone up.

“Come out and you’ll have a chance to defend yourself with the boss,” the one guy says.

“If he intended on giving me a chance, you wouldn’t have come armed,” I retort.

In my peripheral, I see someone appear at the window. I don’t give him the opportunity to search for me. A tug on the trigger, and his body rolls down the fire escape, taking his buddy with him.

“Don’t make this harder on yourself.”

“Is it really hard, though?” I laugh.

“Gunn will pay the price if you don’t cooperate. Is that really what you want?” He finally says something that makes me pause.

I don’t know enough about Luca to believe he’d hurt Gunn for protecting me. What I do know is that regardless, I’m in a pretty shitty predicament and I can think of only one way to get out of it.

“Okay, okay,” I say in the humblest voice. “I’ll come out. But promise me nothing will happen to Gunn.”

“We promise,” he agrees.

“Okay.”

“Toss your gun to the right and come up with your hands where we can see them.”

I raise my hands and slowly stand. The men immediately set their weapon sights on my head. Their friend, the one that had rolled down the fire escape stairs, appears at the window, his gun drawn as well.

“Stay where you are,” the apparent leader orders.

“Yes, sir.” I remain as still as possible, keeping my eyes slightly downcast. The picture of meek resignation.

All three come closer, narrowing the space between us.

“Good girl,” the leader says and reaches for my wrist.

“Iamgood.” I lift my gaze to his and grin. “And you’re stupid.”

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