Page 95 of King

I can’t have her.

And I can’t be without her.

TWENTY-EIGHT

zina

The attack doesn’t come in the dark as we expected. It doesn’t come in the quiet, secret hours of the morning while we’re all asleep.

It comes in broad daylight.

It starts with an ear shattering scream from outside.

I spin towards the sound, frozen.

They’re here.My mind whispers.

I bend down to grab the small handgun I’ve been wearing on my thigh beneath my dress. Checking the safety, I hold it security in my hand, hanging at my side as I run towards the garden.

Around me the security force is heading in the same direction.

One of the men grabs me and pulls me aside. “Stay out the way.” He growls, pushing me onto the sofa.

Before I can shout at him to keep his hands off me - he’s gone.

I get up, running again. Romeo and Santino burst through the doors behind me.

Everything happens all at once.

An explosion at the perimeter knocks down a massive chunk of the fence. The bodies of security guards are lifted high in the air and thrown across the garden. More screaming, men writhing in agony, their legs torn from their bodies and blood flowing freely from the wounds -

Through the newly formed hole in the wall enemies run in wearing black Kevlar and dark masks to hide their faces.

I lift my gun and fire.

Two shots, three, one man falls.

“Get inside.” Fabio yells over the chaos. “Get the family inside.”

I run towards Romeo, grabbing the sleeve of his jacket and telling him to follow me. He yanks his arm away, but Santino grabs his jacket too. “Get inside.” He yells to his brother.

We run towards the house and Giovanni runs from it. He pushes his sons towards the doors, standing behind them to give cover fire.

Without hesitation I take my place at his side and aim my gun in the same direction.

A bullet snaps past me, tearing against my side. I cry out, dropping to my knees in fright.

“Are you hit?” he asks in panic, lifting me to my feet. I shake my head. “No, I’m ok. I’m ok.” But the blood is already running over my hip.

His eyes widen in fear as he grabs me and spins me so he can see the wound.

I bash his hand away. “It skimmed past. I’m fine.” I yell, taking my position again, firing at the enemies who are getting closer to our home.

We can’t let them get inside.

The next explosion is louder and closer.

The aftershock punches air against my chest and knocks me off my feet. Giovanni is right beside me, lifting me up, his eyes search my body again. “Please don’t die.” He whispers. I reach up and grab and his face and kiss him. If I’m going to die today - I want to feel his lips one more time. It’s the only thing I ask.

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