Page 93 of Under a Wicked Moon
Ky squeezed Vivi’s hand. “I should’ve died a month ago. I gota second chance. We can cheat the Grim Reaper only so many times.” He leaned down to touch Roman’s shoulder even though he was still out, which made him worry about a head injury. “Flynn, I think you two will still have Shane. I swear that person I saw had to be real. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t hallucinating. If it was him as a spirit, then I’ll send his ghost back to stay with you.” He and Flynn locked gazes for a few silent seconds. “It’s my honor to die to protect you. I’ll make sure you’re all safe before I go. I swear.”
“No. I’ll go with you,” Vivi said in a tearful, broken voice. She tried to stand but her leg wouldn’t hold her. “Don’t do this.”
“There’s no other way. I won’t allow any of us to get captured to end up in one of those facilities.” Ky added hoarsely, “You’re needed in here.” The wordgoodbyewouldn’t come.
She grabbed his hand. In silence, they stared at each other. She squeezed his hand and took in a shaky breath. “Live.”
“Ky, no!” Flynn grabbed his ankle as he stood. “I just got you back.”
“Pray for me. I could use a miracle from a deity.” He forced a smile but suspected it came out stressed. “I swear I got this.”
As he gimped to the door, he kissed the St. Michael pendant and touched over his shoulder where he felt the tattoo shifting. He whispered, “Be my protection against the devil. I’m begging you. We have to protect all of them. It’s us against them.”I’m in rough shape.
A mental scan of the outside discovered there were too many. Fighting ten to fifteen while this weak and expecting a few more hits, he could handle. An army over thirty who might have another missile or something worse? No.
He’d gamble that the humans planned to capture them intact.
A glance behind him found Roman still out and Flynn dragging his body across the floor with clear intent to join him, but the lower half wasn’t cooperating.
“I need you in here, Flynn, to protect them. You have to be the second barrier if they get through me.”
Injured and weak, Ky was the only reasonably functional Lanzo brother. None of them died without a fight. It’d been instilled as their mantra from his father.
His hand trembled as he loaded a new magazine into his Glock. He used his left hand to steady his right before palming the magical sphere to help him focus his energy. One bullet could do way more damage if he used the sphere and telekinesis.
Stop shaking.
The concept of actually dying, of walking into it voluntarily, scared him. He hadn’t realized the strength of his sense of self-preservation until now. The dual halves of his soul fought—the one that knew he was the only one here functional enough to try to save them, and the half with a drive to survive.
No choice.
He’d said his goodbyes to Vivi, at least figuratively, even if not out loud.This is for you and your sister, who needs Roman.
A sense of lightness overcame him. Maybe he was going crazy, but he felt invulnerable as he kissed St. Michael again and whispered, “It has been an honor, Michael and God, to be in this life. Thank you.”
He touched the doorknob, sensing rather than seeing the bullets coming in. “Everyone stay low.”
“You’re glowing,” a voice said behind him.
Okay, whatever on that.
Focused, he wrenched open the door. Bullets struck him. Two, three, six. It didn’t matter. He felt nothing.I am the gift.
He shot. One bullet on its way. Two humans down.
Second shot, three down.
I do not miss.
More bullets dove into him, but he didn’t feel them so much as sense them. He experienced no pain, no weakness, no hesitationas he moved fast—actually a lot faster than he should’ve been able, given blood loss and leg injury, but he wouldn’t think about that;this is the gift.
Another person was shooting by his side against the horde. Terrible aim, since each shot missed a target, but it did create an intimidation effect on the enemy. A side glance found Flynn had managed to drag himself to the doorway. Stupid, heroic guy. But he respected his gumption.
I will protect against the devil.Ky dodged some of the bullets coming his way as if they moved in slow motion, while placing perfect shots. Each bullet he fired had purpose. Each represented one fewer evil trying to kill those inside who didn’t deserve to die. Those whom he was willing to forfeit his life to protect. He continued until he’d emptied the two magazines.
All out.
No shots from the building, which meant Flynn was out of ammunition, too. What were they supposed to protect themselves with now, if any got past Ky? He wastheonly line of defense.
