Page 153 of Ensnared

“Samsaid—”

Myblade finds his throat in the next instance, buried to the hilt.Hishands come up to meet it, his eyes wide in shock, andItwist before yanking it out.Bloodspurts down, coating me, andIshove him to the side so his weight doesn’t pin me.

Families?Women?It’sbeen a long time since we had any here, but when we kickedSamout... well, that was a different story.Iwonder if he lied to them so he could get his revenge or if he genuinely doesn’t know everyone else cleared out years ago.

Wipingmy face with my forearm, tasting thick copper on my lips,Ipush back up.Imove toward the sounds of gunfire.Thewhy doesn’t matter now.There’sno time.

Please,God, don’t let any of them do anything too stupid.Letme save them.

Idon’t know if the brief prayer means much, butIfigure it can’t really hurt either.Mymama used to send up little prayers like that on the daily. “Neverhurts to show your respect,” she used to say. “Younever know who’s listening.”

We’regoing to need someone listening to our prayers today.

Iapproach the shooters carefully—there’s at least four here, and who knows how many others nearby.Thisprobably won’t end well for me.IwishJasperandJaykwere in kits the wayDomandIare.Ifthey were,Icould let them know whatIhave planned on our comms and this plan would have a much higher likelihood of success.Butthey’re not stupid.IfIcreate a big enough diversion, they’ll take the opportunity to run.They’dbetter.

Witha sting of regret,Ithink ofEdenand how pretty she was as she lay nestled between me andDomby the waterside.

I’mso sorry, darlin’.

Don’tsee whyIcan’t pray to her too.Beingwith her is about as close to a religious experience asI’vehad in years.

Takingout my radio,Iopen the speaker and give my final words toDom.Mybest friend.Mypartner.

Iowe him that much.

Iturn it off before he can respond and tuck it away, swallowing hard.

ThenItighten my grip on the knife, unholster my pistol, and move in.

Chapter36

Dominic

Survivaltip #336

Don’tever underestimate the bravery of a woman

who looks at you with stars in her eyes.

Itrain my rifle on the trees and pick off two assholes who are rounding the far side of the shed to get toJayk.Theygo down silently, with a spray of blood that snares the burning light.

Thicksmoke from the treated wood hazes my view—not the worst visibility we’ve fought in, but not ideal.Thebarn is starting to groan now.Itwon’t be long before it goes down, andJasperandLuckyand that damn truck are too close to it for comfort.Itmust be hotter thanSatan’sballsack already.

Ibriefly worry about drones spotting the heat signature, just to top off this shitshow, but shrug off the thought quickly.Wehaven’t seen any in years and there’s not much we can do about it now in any case.Fortunateor dead seem about our only outcomes in this whole hot mess.

Iconsider my position.Myvantage from the upper-story window in the music room is good, and my rifle can handle the distance no problem, but it doesn’t give me visibility through trees, and the hunters are hidden in the shadows.I’llbe hard pressed to pick them off unless they expose themselves.

Soonenough they’ll get bold,I’msure, but if they charge out in numbers, then my guys are fucked.NowayIcan take out more than half a dozen in the time they’ll take to get to them.

Andthat’s not counting damage the barn will do.

Ieye the hole gauged in the middle of the clearing, the bodies splashed around it, and have to admireLucky’sballs, even as my throat tightens.Disobedientlittle shit had kept a frag in the house after all, despite my safety lectures, andI’mglad as fuck he did.Rightnow,I’mdreaming of a dozen more just like it.HegaveJasperandJayka chance with that move.Aslim one, but a chance anyway.

Mychest aches.Forthe first time,I’mnot sure how we can make it out of this one.

Acreak in a floorboard behind me has me spinning with a curse.I’dthought it’d take them longer to decide to come around and use the house.Reluctantly,Idraw away from covering the guys and creep to the door, pulling out my pistol.

Anothercreak sounds in the hall, andItense, getting ready.

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