Alpha Damon (Sienna) novel Chapter 189

Delilah:

The sound of the gunshot rang louder than it should have.

It made my heart drop to my stomach and for a few moments I felt like everything around me just seemed to explode.

One second I was stepping outside the building, I was walking out believing that maybe we had hope, maybe this was just going to end, Sienna’s scent still clinging to the fabric of my coat like a reluctant promise. The next, searing pain exploded through my shoulder, sending me crashing to the pavement as screams erupted all around.

People scattered. Humans. Weak, terrified humans who had no idea what war they had just stumbled into.

I, however, chose to stand strong. This was not the first bullet that I had taken, but it was the first time that I’ve taken it in front of humans.

My vision blurred, pain screaming through every nerve as blood soaked the sleeve of my jacket, hot and slick. But I didn’t cry out. I didn’t scream. I bit down on the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted copper.

I was not going to die here.

Not like this.

I was not going to allow a few weaklings to take my life, not when I knew what was in stake.

Not when I knew that she needed me alive. Not when I knew that he was going to harm her if I died. If something happened to me, then things were just going to end badly for her. And I did not want to risk that for her.

I rolled behind the car parked just ahead of the building, using it for cover as I scanned the area. Two. Maybe three men. Giovanni’s, without a doubt. Sharp suits, but clumsy with their rifles. Not professionals, no, they weren’t sent to scare me. He sent them to let me know that he knew where I was. He sent them to make sure they understood that he was watching me. They were sent to finish me.

I could hear the soft ring of a phone inside the building, someone calling for help. But I couldn’t wait for that. I couldn’t bank on anyone saving me. I was going to need to do my own saving. I was going to need to run myself.

I reached into the inside of my coat, grabbing the small silver blade I kept hidden. I waited. Counted the steps. Heard them getting closer.

It was only a matter of time before help arrived, and help meant legal help, and with my presence, I knew that it was going to be a bad option.

Three. Two.

I lunged.

The first man didn’t expect me to move, much less leap at him like a feral animal. I drove the blade into the meat of his thigh and shoved my body weight against him as he howled in shock, losing his footing. He crashed to the ground, dropping the gun. His eyes widening in surprise.

But the second one was faster.

A boot collided with my ribs, knocking me back. Pain split through my side, I crawled out before being able to stop myself, but I rolled, grabbing for the dropped weapon. My fingers wrapped around cold steel…

“Enough!”

The pain was white-hot now, dizzying. My legs barely worked, and I leaned into him despite myself.

“I fought,” I rasped, blood on my lips. “I fought them. And I would have been able to fight. You didn’t need to save me, I would have managed to end them both.”

“You shouldn’t have had to.” His voice was cold, but his grip steady. “But you also shouldn’t have been here in the first place. Either way, right now is not the time for us to argue. You’re going to need help. This wound is going to need to be taken care of.”

As the world tilted, my vision swam. I heard someone call for a doctor. Heard the pounding of boots, the shuffle of voices. But all I could focus on was the weight of his arm, grounding me.

He was right. I was lucky.

But I was also still alive.

And that meant I still had a chance to finish what I started.

And I was not going to stop until everything was over.

Until all of them have taken their last breaths.