Page 93 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 9
I brought the binoculars back to my eyes.
Oh shit.
“Battle stations!” I yelled as Isabella took a Tommy gun from one of her guards and started skiing down the mountain directly towards us. Her guards were right behind her. She must have known exactly where we were from the backdrop of ourpicture. All the Christmas decorations in the lobby really were recognizable. Because they were the best of the best.
Everyone sprung into action.
The Chadwicks flipped couches and coffee tables to hide behind. They even knocked over a few Christmas trees. Someone grabbed a string of lights and pulled it taut between their hands like they were going to wrap it around Isabella’s throat.
The Locatellis pulled out riot shields and formed a very impressive shield wall.
And Daddy’s guards ran up to the second-floor balcony, using the garland-clad railing to steady their rifles as they aimed up the mountain.
Ghostie and Teddybear helped me off the desk. And then they formed a human shield between me and the entrance.
Ash ran up behind them.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t go with my snowmobile plan?” asked Ash. “Because I’m kind of freaking out right now.”
“It’ll be fine,” I said. “Isabella is gonna get lit up the second she’s in range.”I hope.I’d never taken part in a shootout before, so I wasn’t sure exactly how it would go down. But I was feeling pretty good about our chances.
Ash started nervously humming along with the Christmas carol. The music seemed louder now that everyone was focused on the mission. And the tune about Santa was definitely way too cheeryfor the moment. I swallowed hard and said a silent prayer.Santa. If you really are real. Help us, please. Isabella has been so naughty. And we’ve all been so good. Ish.
“Sorry I late,” said Slavanka as she skidded to a stop next to the front desk. She tossed a suitcase on the floor and started fitting metal rods together.
“Is that a rocket launcher?” I asked.
“Yes, yes,” she said as she twisted two tubes together and shoved a green rocket into the end. “Always travel with rocket launcher.” She got down on one knee and hoisted it over her shoulder.
“Hold!” I yelled. Isabella was getting closer. But it wasn’t time to fire yet.
Some of the Chadwicks shifted nervously behind their couches and Christmas trees.
“Fuck this,” muttered Chad. “I’m outta here.” He got up and sprinted towards the hallway. And then he hit the slippy patch. In a split second, his legs were above his head. He flew through the air, crashed through a glass door, and landed in the hallway.
It was the most amazing fall I’d ever seen. I just hoped I’d live to tell about it.
I looked back up the mountain. Isabella and her guards were getting close enough where I no longer needed my binoculars. “Get ready!” I yelled.
The lobby rang with dozens of little clicks as everyone turned off their safeties.
“Aim!”
Everyone raised their weapons towards the glass wall.
Isabella and her guards did the same.
I was about to yell “FIRE!” when something unexpected happened.
One of Isabella’s skis hit something and she went fuckingflyingthrough the air. It was even more majestic than Chad’s wipeout.
I wished I could have seen it in slow motion. But it was happening in the fastest motion. She flew and tumbled and rolled and flew a little more and then finally skidded to a stop.
She was completely motionless in a little heap and one of her legs was bent at an unnatural angle.
Wow.
Some of her guards skied up next to her. The first one to arrive on the scene pulled his facemask off and vomited at the sight of her leg. The second guard to arrive vomited too, but he’d forgotten to pull down his mask.
