Page 110 of Queen Of WildCards

Heshook his head, a deep sadness in his eyes that speared me to my core. "NotthatIsaw."

Justthen, a shout rang out, followed by a bellowing, rage-filled cry that could belong to only one person.

ArthurHale, leader of theKings.

BlackJack'sestranged cousin.

"Youcan take this place over my dead body, you scumbags!"

Ijust vaguely registered the sound of a grenade pin falling to the ground before the men hiding from their targets screamed, and a loud boom echoed out over the courtyard.

Twomen got hit in the fallout, and the other four scattered, taking cover around the yard.Islid my clip into the handle of my pistol and inched forward, ready to help take the assholes out, when the sound of heaven opening up and angels falling to earth reached my ears, andInearly fainted with relief.

"Giveme the fucking gun,Arthur;Iwant to shoot the bastards myself."

Iwatched as a man popped up to the left, and without batting an eye,Mallorybrought her hand up and unloaded two shots right into his chest, dropping him like a lead weight.Sheswiveled asIstared on in awe, gunning down a second man stupid enough to reveal his hiding spot in an attempt to take her down.

Hegot a bullet between the eyes for his trouble.

AceandSpadewere creeping around the yard, and they were only a few feet from our girl when one of the men on the ground lifted his gun and took aim while his comrades distracted her.

Neitherof them noticed the gun aiming for her head.

Notfast enough.

"Mallory, move!"

Hereyes jerked to mine and she froze,fuck, why did you look at me, sweetheart, fuck, why didIyell for you?

Andas the gun went off, my life flashed before my eyes, except it wasn't a lifeI'dlived yet—it was a lifeI'dstood a chance at, one that was being yanked away from me now that it was within reach.

"Noooo!"

Iwatched the bullet leave the gun, almost in slow motion, and my heart leaped into my throat, threatening to suffocate me, asIrealized she was about to take a fatal shot.Ilaunched myself in her direction, popping off a shot at the man still hiding behind a nearby tree,BlackJack'sbullet singing true to the last man, downing him before he could plead for his life.

Oneblink, one breath in, and it was over.

Butshe didn't fall.Shedidn't wince, she didn't flinch, she didn't even reel from a direct hit.

Acewas standing in front of her, his body a shield, taking a bullet for her to make up for the mistakes he made in bringing her here in the first place.

Andthe blossoming red spot on his shoulder told me that bullet hadn't quite found its mark.

Hefell to the ground, our queen's arms around his body, holding him against her as she wailed and screamed his name, and men surrounded her—some hers, someKings, all concerned for the life of the man who now lay possibly dying on the ground.Hecoughed and sputtered as she smothered him, his name falling from her lips like a plea to gods long-ago forgotten.

"Kohei,Kohei, please, don't you leave me;Kohei, dammit, if anyone's gonna shoot you, it deserves to be me—"

"I'mnot dying, dammit."Hegrumbled from her arms, wincing as none other than theSoldierpoked and prodded at the wound, inspecting the entry wound for any sign of shrapnel. "Fuck, do you have to be so rough?"

TheKingsbacked up and gave us some space as she looked around, tears shining in her eyes, reaching for all of us at once, and damned if we didn't pile in and wrap her in our arms like lovesick fucking fools, uncaring that a rival gang stood feet away, witnessing our greatest weakness, and our greatest strength.

Ourqueen brought us together, she made us stronger.Shemade us whole.

Andif that was a weakness,Ididn't care anymore.I'dbe whatever man she needed me to be.

"Fuck, beautiful, don't scare us like that again.I'veonly got one heart to love you with; it'd be a shame to lose it to a heart attack—"

SpadepunchedBlackJackright in the mouth, cutting off his profession of love with a snarl. "Youfucking prick!Iwas gonna tell her first!"

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