Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114419 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 572(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114419 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 572(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Danny stood several feet away on the other side, his expression stunned as he stumbled back before catching himself on the rail of the ledge behind him.
They both froze, brother facing off with brother, staring for several breathless seconds.
“I tipped my hand, didn’t I, Big Winner?” Danny finally said, reaching for his waistband. “The problem is, there’s only fifteen minutes left. Ticktock. Too late.”
Gavin didn’t bother to answer, instead lowering his head and rushing forward, straight at Danny, as the gun appeared and his hand began to rise.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Sienna and Mirabelle stepped through the door just as Gavin made contact with Danny, both of them flying backward, a cry falling from Mirabelle’s lips as they hit the railing and bounced off it and onto the floor. It was a terrible, nightmarish twist on the play fighting the brothers might have done had they grown up together, loving each other and hating each other as brothers did. The rushed, far-off thought zipped through Sienna’s mind even as she stepped toward them, instinctively reaching for the weapon at her hip that was not there.
They were fighting in front of a portion of ledge that held a railing, but the rest of it was open to the floor below, a nonoperational escalator in front of them.
Gavin gained the upper ground, rearing back and raising his fist, and Mirabelle screamed, a sound that made both men jerk, and Danny used the momentary micropause to raise the hand still holding the gun. Gavin reacted, slamming his own hand down on Danny’s wrist, but not before Danny pulled the trigger, the gun firing, the sound of the blast making Sienna’s ears ring as her leg caught fire. Or that was what it felt like as she went down on one knee, crying out in pain.
“No!” Mirabelle raced forward and barely caught Sienna before she fell over. She supported Sienna’s weight as she reached for her wounded leg.
“It’s okay, Mirabelle.” Sienna’s breath sawed in and out, agony moving through her leg in surges. She could see the hole where the bullet had entered, shattering her bone. It was bleeding profusely, but at least he hadn’t hit an artery.
The two men were still fighting, and Gavin made eye contact, his expression registering shock and rage. He hauled Danny to his feet and smashed his fist into his face. Danny got a hit in, too, as they continued to fight on their feet.
Mirabelle was crying as she wrapped what Sienna thought was her shirtsleeve around her wound and tied it off. “Thank you. I’m okay,” she choked, soothing the woman even while her fear and debilitating pain wound higher, watching as the two men fought their way toward the gun that had slid closer to the edge of the platform.
Danny dived for it, Gavin following, and they rolled precariously close to the edge. Sienna’s heart rose in her throat as they moved in the other direction before both came to their feet, their grunts ringing through the large, open area as they fought to overpower each other, to grab the weapon.
Outside, lights blinked on, the high, boarded windows overhead illuminating the cavernous space in streaming rays. Sienna heard the distant sound of vehicles. The demolition crew had arrived, or perhaps they were just now gearing up. I can’t walk. Oh God, it hurts. I can’t even stand.
Even if Gavin got the gun, would holding it on Danny work to force him to give them the code to the exit? Did they even have time to make it to that faraway door? Was there another they could make it through? There was no time to search. Sienna panted with both pain and terror.
Danny swung his arm back and lost balance. His bloody expression registered startled fear as he almost caught himself but lost his footing, falling backward and down the escalator. Mirabelle cried out his name, and Sienna grimaced as she heard his descent, his body pounding off the metal steps as he fell to the bottom.
Mirabelle screamed, letting go of Sienna and then rushing forward as Gavin came to his knees and then his feet and rushed to where Sienna sat, her blood soaking into the plywood floor.
“Oh God, Si, your leg,” he said breathlessly. “We have to go.” He leaned down and scooped her up. From the higher vantage point, she saw Danny lying below, his body limp, one leg bent backward. And she saw his eyes open, heard his pained moan. He was still alive.
Mirabelle was standing at the top of the escalator, her shoulders shaking with sobs as she stared down at Danny. “Mom! Let’s go!” Gavin said, turning back toward the room he’d burst through minutes before, surprising Danny. Sienna reached up, lacing her hands around his neck, her heart pounding so harshly she could barely breathe, pain making the room throb around her.