Page 84 of Tony

Sherrie now stood in the doorway of the laundry room, visible from the window in the outside door. She saw nothing but blackness in the yard, but knew someone was watching. It gave no comfort. Her stomach in knots, her gaze drifted down seeing Bernard squatting next to the washing machine.

Bernard lunged forward, pushing Sherrie down while taking a shot at Hernando. The shot rang out as BJ shouted “Go!” into the radio, sending Tony racing toward the sound. Escaping harm, Hernando shot over Sherrie’s head, hitting Bernard in the side, immediately dropping him to the floor.

Sherrie tried to move out from under the bleeding man, her hands pressing against his wound. Twisting her head around, she stared into the barrel of the gun, anger fueling her being.

Hearing a noise from the dining room, Hernando screamed out, “Come any closer and the bitch dies.”

Tony and Vinny halted, just out of sight. Tony stepped back slightly, allowing Vinny to move into place. As much as he wanted to spill Hernando’s blood himself, he would only place Sherrie’s safety with his best sniper.

Her heart beating out of her chest, Sherrie glanced down at Bernard, seeing his eyes looking up at her.Get the gun, he mouthed.

Glancing to the side, she saw his gun laying right next to her. She recognized the same type of pistol that Tony had used when teaching her to shoot. Sliding her gaze back up, she saw Hernando pointing his gun at her, but looking behind him at the dining room, listening for another sound.

Tony must be in there. He came.As relief resonated through her, the sickening feeling of his being hurt cut into her solace. Eyes moving back to the gun, she slowly slid her hand forward until it curled around the grip. Lifting it, she tucked it into her front, hidden from Hernando’s eyes should he turn back around.

Tony crept down the hall by the stairs and with Vinny in the dining room, both were ready to take Hernando down. Receiving the all-clear from BJ, Vinny prepared to move around the corner and shoot as soon as Tony distracted him.

A shot rang out, Hernando’s cry screaming in the hall. Both Tony and Vinny instantly knew the sound did not come from either of their firearms. Rounding the corner, weapons drawn, they saw Hernando on the floor, his body jerking in the throes of death. Several feet away lay Bernard, blood still seeping from his wound. And in between the two men knelt Sherrie, covered in blood, the pistol still in her shaking hand, pointed at the man dying on the floor.

Her face bruised and eyes wild, Tony knew she was in shock. Her pajamas were covered with blood.How bad is she hurt?“Sherrie,” he called out softly, as Vinny radioed for help. Within a few seconds, the house filled with policemen as well as Gabe, Jobe, and BJ. Gabe looked at his twin for confirmation that he was all right before glancing down the hall, seeing Tony trying to approach Sherrie.

“Baby, look at me,” Tony said again, this time with a little more force. Her eyes slowly raised to his. “Give me the pistol, baby.” He moved another step forward, his hand outstretched. No one moved, afraid to startle her. He watched her chest heave as her breathing increased. “Eyes, baby. Eyes on me.”

The sound of gunfire still resonated in her ears as all other sounds seemed muffled. Staring at the man lying on the floor, she focused on the dark stain on the carpet. Her vision blurred as her mind tried to make sense of what she was seeing. Far away voices crept into her consciousness. Becoming louder. Clearer.

Her gaze moved up toward the voice that seemed to be calling to her. Someone calling herbaby.Eyes landing on Tony she saw his outstretched hand.

Confusion filled her expression as she looked at him. “Baby,” he said again. “Drop the gun, sweetheart.” Tony watched as her gaze drifted to the gun in her hand, recognition flaring in her eyes.

Gasping, she tried to open her fingers, but they were locked. Tony rushed forward, gently prying the gun from her frozen grip, wrapping one arm around her and handing the weapon behind him, feeling it taken from his hand.

Vinny quickly secured the weapon as he rushed past Hernando to Sherrie. Gabe and Jobe had pushed past both of them to get to Bernard, calling for the EMTs.

“Tony, let me see her,” he ordered, knowing his boss would not willingly let Sherrie go. Tony, arms shaking, only released her enough to see to her injuries. Vinny quickly motioned for BJ to assist. “Watch the back door,” he ordered, wanting BJ to help preserve Sherrie’s privacy. With Tony holding her up, Vinny pulled her pajama bottoms off, quickly assessing her injuries. Dark bruises from being kicked covered her thighs and hips. Her legs and feet were covered in cuts from the glass.

He lifted his gaze to Tony, saying, “She’s got some glass in these cuts. The hospital will be able to get it out and get them cleaned. She may need some stitches.”

So much blood was on her shirt, but Vinny’s hands hesitated as his eyes sought Tony’s silent permission.

Tony nodded, trusting his men completely. Tony turned Sherrie so that she was facing him and Vinny slid her shirt off while standing behind her. He quickly ascertained no injuries from the back and with a swift eye on her chest was able to see that none of the blood on her shirt had come from her. She had another large bruise on her side and on her face. By then, BJ was handing Tony a sweatshirt he found lying on the washing machine and Sherrie was quickly covered again.

Tony looked down, realizing that she was totally unaware of having been checked out. Only when Gabe yelled for the EMTs to enter did she snap out of her trance.

“Bernard? Oh my God, he tried to save me,” she cried, trying to move toward him.

“No, no, baby. Let them do their job,” Tony admonished gently, pulling her back. As Bernard was being taken out of the house on a stretcher, the group moved out of the laundry room.

“I have to go with him,” Sherrie said, her gaze still unfocused.

“Baby, you’re going to the hospital yourself. Just because you weren’t shot doesn’t mean you’re not hurt. We’ve got to get you checked out as well.”

Hernando was being lifted onto a stretcher, his breath raspy from the hole in his chest. His eyes landed on Sherrie, pinning her with his expression. “Y…you…ruined… every…thing,” he gurgled.

Her whole body began to shake as her numbness left instantly. Thoughts of Betina and the host of other children coerced into being held captive flew through her mind. Chest heaving with anger, she looked down at his pasty face, recognizing imminent death. “Good,” she said simply.

His eyes rolled back into his head as death claimed him. The realization that she had killed another human slammed into her. She began to drop to the floor but never hit as Tony’s arms swept her up into his. Her head drooped back as she slipped into unconsciousness.

“Now,” he barked to his men, all falling into action. Once again Gabe drove, but this time Tony held Sherrie in the back seat as Jobe rode shotgun. Vinny drove the other vehicle as BJ called Jennifer. Quickly telling her the basic information, she knew to call the other women.

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