Page 101 of Sinner's Salvation

“I have always wanted to see you like this, Anna,” he said. “My blade in your flesh and your blood on my skin.”

She made an inarticulate noise and allowed her knees to collapse, sliding off his weapon. As soon as she was free, she shuffled back. Then, as Enzo stepped forward to skewer her again, she kicked him in the chest as hard as she could.

He flew backward a few feet and landed on his ass.

While he was still in the air, Anna scrambled over and grabbed the gun. Enzo was right behind her. So, when she brought the gun around and fired it, his momentum kept him moving, knocking her down, despite the bullet hole in his chest.

She thrust his limp body off hers, only to find Luca coming at her, screaming incoherently as he brought his sword over his head.

There was nothing sane in his gaze. Nothing that could be reasoned with. Nothing she could do to change what had to happen next.

She shot Luca twice in the chest. He dropped to the dirty concrete floor, sliding across it for a foot or two.

With both of them down, she could take a bit more time to get to her feet. Which was good, because her pain level was significant. Blood still bubbled in her throat and nose with every breath she took. And every breath was a struggle to achieve.

A heavy weight seemed to have settled on her chest, constricting tighter and tighter. She couldn’t remember a time when it was this hard to stand up. She was even a little...dizzy.

She turned slowly on unsteady feet and saw the Homeland Security agent she’d protected approaching her, his hands spread wide.

“It’s over,” he said. “They’re dead. Put the gun down.”

“Whe...where are Evan and Brian?” she asked, shocked at how slurred her voice sounded. “Are they safe?”

“I’m not sure whotheyare,” the agent said, with a cautious smile. “Just put the gun down and I’ll be happy to look for them for you.”

Well, if he didn’t know who they were, they must have gotten away. Good.

But things weren’t under control here yet.

“You need to restrain these two men.” She’d prefer to kill them, but couldn’t, not in front of all these witnesses.

“Ma’am, you need medical attention,” the agent said carefully, as if she were someone he needed to keep calm. “And they’re dead.”

“Then why,” she said, haltingly. “Are they both still breathing?”

Her question finally got the agent’s attention on Enzo and Luca.

“What?” he asked, turning to approach Luca who was closest to him. He bent down to put one ear close to Luca’s mouth. “Holy shit,” he whispered.

Luca’s hand moved, and the agent reared back and stumbled away.

On second thought, maybe she should just kill the Italians. This agent, and all the others involved in the fight, had seen too much already.

The agent looked at her, but instead of fear or blind determination, there was respect in his gaze. “Ma’am, please, you’re injured and bleeding. Lay down before you fall down.”

“Clear,” she said, in an almost whisper. “The area.” She had to stop to take a breath. Too many injures, too close together. She pointed at Enzo and Luca. “Those are the real terrorists.” She bent, letting her knees hit the concrete floor, and set the gun down.

Now, what would get all these law enforcement people out of here quickly, without trying to arrest the Italians? She could really only think of one thing.

“I think they’ve planted some kind of device down here or it’s on their person.” She sucked in another tight breath. “Get everyone out and call in...a bomb squad.”

The agent turned to stare at the Italians for a moment, then he yelled at his team members to clear the subway.

Anna quietly rose and walked toward the edge of the platform. As soon as she reached it, she jumped down beside the tracks. She took a moment to steady herself. The pain in her chest suddenly eased and breathing became easier.

“Where do you think you’re going, bitch?” Enzo’s voice came from the platform and it wasn’t far away. Something slid across the floor. The bastard was getting up. Luca would be close behind him.

She needed to get him and his brother to focus on her and not on the normal humans. “I’m going hunting,” she replied, forcing a chuckle and heading down the tracks toward the next subway station. “I’m thinking about eating Italian tonight.”

---