Page 117 of Dizzy

“Now,” he says, but his gaze darts over my shoulder.

And then there’s a grunt, the knife falls from my throat, and there’s a weird gurgle. Dober staggers backwards, and Nickel’s there, catching him, slamming a hand over his mouth. They stand together for a long moment, Dober swaying, and then he crumples.

Nickel takes his full weight, and with Wall’s help, they drag him to the lawn chair Rab was sitting in, and set him carefully in it.

Dober’s eyes are open, unblinking. Unseeing.

My stomach heaves.

There’s a quiet snick, a flash of red and metal, and Nickel stalks off, wiping his hands on his black jeans. Wall looms in front of Dober’s body, obscuring it from view.

Oh, shit. He’s dead.

I shove my fist in my mouth to muffle a scream.

It was so quick. So quiet.

I gaze wildly around at the camps, the fires, the fights breaking out and petering off. No one noticed. How is that possible?

“Baby.” Dizzy’s in front of me, filling my field of vision. My teeth are chattering. I’m freezing cold. “Baby, breathe.”

I can’t.

In the background, Heavy’s barking orders. “Cuts off now. Hand ‘em to the prospect. Charge, go borrow someone’s truck. Everyone, empty your pockets. Hand Charge all your cash now. Bullet, go find a tent we can use as a tarp.”

The men burst into action, soldiers under orders.

Dizzy grabs my hand and leads me to his bike. “Can you hold on to my waist, baby?”

A hysterical sob slips from my lips.

“Baby.” He grabs my chin, tilting my head until I meet his eyes. “You need to keep it together for a little while longer. You were so brave. You did a great job. You didn’t do nothin’ wrong. You’re safe now. I only need you to hold it together a few more minutes so I can get us out of here. Okay?”

He brushes a soft kiss across my trembling lips.

“He—he—” I can’t spit it out. All the terror bowls into me at once. I sag. Dizzy gathers me close, wraps me in his big, strong arms. “He almost killed me,” I mumble into his chest.

“You’re okay. Be brave for me a little longer. You ain’t never gonna be afraid like that again, okay?” There’s a tremor in his voice.

He was scared, too.

For me.

I could have died.

I blink, and his face becomes clear. The creases in the corners of his darkened eyes. The snarled wildness of his hair.

“You were afraid.” My fingers reach out to touch his bearded cheek.

“Of course, I was fuckin’ was.”

“You came for me.”

“I always will. I told you I would, woman. Don’t know why you won’t listen.”

“I want to go home.” It’s too much. There’s blood dried on my neck, and I saw a man’s throat slit, and I almost died, and I am so tired. Tears well in my eyes.

“Okay. I got you.” He helps me onto his ride, guiding my feet to the pegs. “You sure you can hold on?”

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