Page 68 of Hidden Ties

“There are no major organs it could have hit there, Valerie, I promise,” he assured her, trying to make a tourniquet from ripping off the sleeves of Sal’s suit jacket. “He’s probably just in shock, but he should be coming around.”

Valerie started shaking Sal’s shoulders. “Sal! Sal!”

“I’m okay. Stop shaking me.”

Valerie started crying harder, letting her head fall to his chest. “I thought you were d—”

“I thought so, too,” Sal told her, opening his eyes. He looked back up at the beautiful orb in the sky. “There’s a blue moon tonight.”

“You’re not going to die tonight because there’s a fucking blue moon out!” Kent screamed at him.

“My mom told me—”

“I don’t give a fuck what your mom told you. I’m not going to let you die tonight.”

She felt like she was missing the importance of the moon when the three couldn’t help but turn their heads to the sound of flesh hitting bones.

“What the fuck is wrong with him?” Kent asked, watching Vincent punch the obviously dead man to more of a pulp.

Valerie had played a lot of Mortal Kombat, but seeing a fatality like this happen in real life, right in front of her eyes, was eye-opening, to say the least.

“It’s a long story,” Sal told them. He himself was in awe watching his soldier go on proudly. It appeared Vincent seemed to think this was a better punishment than Edmond visiting the Boogieman.

“Sal, you good enough we can get the fuck off this roof?” Kent asked, reaching into his pocket to take out another magazine of bullets. “I might have created a problem retrieving the flash drive.”

“Yeah, fuck—” He got up with a groan but made it to his feet, picking his own gun back up. “Vincent, that’s enough. We have bigger problems than a dead man right now.”

As ordered, a crazed Vincent got off the carcass and slicked back his hair, coating the blond strands red.

Valerie couldn’t help but notice the intent way a bloody Vincent was eyeing Kent’s gun. “Sweet piece you have there.”

Kent eyed the one Vincent took out from under his hoodie. From the expression on Kent’s face, he not only wasn’t going to return the compliment, but he didn’t think the soldier should have one.

That thought clearly changed, however, as they heard the heavy footsteps of security men run up the rooftop escape. All three men on the rooftop went into position to block Valerie from the single door.

“Jackal, Ice, we’ve got company.”

Valerie swung her head around, wondering who the hell Kent was talking to. When she didn’t see anyone, she asked, “Who are Jackal and Ice?”

“A few buddies of mine,” Kent answered as the men all pointed their weapons at the door. “Get ready.”

Valerie was so terrified she closed her eyes and covered her ears as bullets rang out.

“Wraith … we’re running out of bullets,” Kent announced as they waited for the next horde of security to make their way through.

“Who the hell is Wraith?” Valerie couldn’t help but yell, officially having lost her hearing.

“Another buddy,” Kent answered.

“How many buddies did you bring with you?”

“Last count, a couple dozen. They should be coming up behind the last of them right about …”

More gunshots rang out, this time from inside.

“Now.”

“You sure you’re just a lawyer?” she asked in disbelief.