Page 97 of The Villain
Enzo has no choice, but to slow as he approaches the barricade of vehicles blocking the road, but he doesn’t. He hits the gas instead.
“Enzo, what are you doing?” I scream, gripping the edge of the front seats for dear life. But just before we hit them, just as those cars chasing us match their speed to ours, he slams the breaks. Tires scream, and I scream and watch as two of their SUVs slam into two of the vehicles blocking the road ahead.
Enzo just watches the fireball that lights up the sky and hits the gas again, turning the SUV around, but it’s not time to celebrate a victory yet. We aren’t victorious. And before he can get the SUV turned around, the last car chasing us slams into us sending us spinning off the road, Enzo’s grip on the steering wheel unable to keep him in the driver’s seat, the force of the crash sending him across the passenger seat, his head colliding with the window, shattering it, as the SUV finally crashes into a tree and jerks to a stop at the side of the road.
“Enzo? Enzo!” I call out, dazed, but somehow conscious, somehow unhurt. Although I can’t tell if any of the blood covering me is mine and it may be shock that has me shaking, but not feeling pain.
I undo my seatbelt, look over the front seat at Enzo’s slumped form.
“Enzo?”
Nothing. I don’t know if he’s dead or unconscious, but it doesn’t matter because I see the four men in balaclavas approaching with machine guns. I see them and I reach for the gun the soldier next to me struggled to get out of its holster and tug. Enzo’s phone rings. It’s such a normal sound in all this chaos. This blood and death.
I manage to free the gun just as one of the men opens my door, machine gun slung over one shoulder.
I point my weapon at him, my hand shaking so hard.
But then he pulls his balaclava off and it’s Michael.
“Bet you didn’t think I had it in me, did you?” he asks.
“Michael.”
He must have been in the one car that didn’t go up in flames or maybe another car off in the distance because he isn’t bloodied or remotely disheveled and I’m not sure he even knows how to operate that gun on his shoulder.
“In the flesh.” He looks with distaste to the dead soldier between us. “Get him out,” he tells a soldier who steps forward and pulls the body out, letting it drop to the ground like it’s garbage. “Put the gun down, sis. You don’t want to hurt yourself.”
I look at it. I didn’t realize I was still holding it. I put it down.
“Bring her.” He tells one of the soldiers.
He reaches in, undoes my belt and hauls me out, setting me on the ground in front of my brother.
“How did you get to me?” I ask, shaking so badly I wrap my arms around myself. I’m not sure it’s the cold or the shock. Probably the latter though.
He grins proudly. “That Enzo?” he asks.
I glance over to see Enzo’s face. It’s bloodied and bruised and he’s either unconscious or dead. I nod. “I think he’s dead,” I say, even though I’m not sure. I don’t want them to shoot him.
One of the guards goes to drag him out.
Malek walks up alongside my brother. He’s wearing his usual suit, looking relaxed and casual.
“Leave him. Don’t waste a bullet,” he tells the soldier. “You got her. Well done, Michael,” he says to my brother.He looks me over, seeing all the blood and guts doing nothing to his smile.
“Of course I did,” Michael says.
Malek turns to him, cocks his head. “Of course you did,” he repeats just before turning to Rami who is standing behind Michael. He’s still smiling as he gives a small nod of his head.
I realize what is about to happen just before Michael does.
No. I’m not sure Michael sees it coming at all. And in some way, I hope he doesn’t.
“No!” I yell as the gun is cocked and fired and Malek takes a step to the side to avoid Michael’s body falling into him. To avoid getting blood on his suit, although he does. Blood splatters and gets everywhere.
I drop to my knees beside my brother’s body and somehow, I’m not screaming. I’m not screaming in this darkest of nights when I have lost the last of my family. Cars drive by on the highway unaware of the massacre here just on the other side of the wall. I take Michael’s head in my lap, look at his still open eyes. Empty eyes. He’s gone.
I look up to find Malek watching me. He glances at Michael’s face then looks back to me.
