Page 89 of Bit's Bliss

“If you want to live, drop the gun, Devaney. We already took your buddies out.”

“You shoot me, and Eberly dies.”

“So, what are you thinkin’, asshole? You’ve got four snipers with their guns aimed right between your eyes. You think you’re somehow gonna make it outta here?Give it up. You’re done in the same way your father and grandfather are.”

“Another foot, and you’ll round a bend. It’ll put you right behind him. Deck, you ready?”

I came around in time to see Decker take a step forward and the man move the gun away from Eberly’s temple. The split second the distraction allowed gave me my one chance to take him out. I fired first. Two more came after.

Eberly screamed when I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into the tunnel.

“Shh, I’ve got you, little dove,” I said, pulling the comms device out of my ear.

“Trevino?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t come?” I asked, not giving her the chance to respond before kissing her.

“I knew you would,” she said when I broke the kiss.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

“I can’t see anything.”

“You don’t need to. Follow my lead, in the same way you would if we were dancing.” I squeezed her hand, and she squeezed back. We’d gone another foot or two when I saw light shining ahead of us.

“This way,” said Tryst, who I could now see clearly.

“What about my dad and Uncle Michael?” she asked.

“They’re waiting right outside,” my uncle reassured her.

I led her up the three steps, but when I tried to release her hand, she held tight. “Don’t let me go yet,” she said, turning in my arms once we were above ground.

“Never, little dove.”

27

EBERLY

“There will be time to talk later. For now, let’s get out of the way and let the cleanup crew do their job,” said Decker, motioning to two waiting SUVs.

“Wait,” I said when Trevino released me. I closed the distance between my father and me, and when he opened his arms, we embraced.

“I’m so sorry for everything,” he said. “The winery, the house, the lies.”

I rested my head on his chest. “It was to protect me, Dad. You saved my life.” I couldn’t tell him now how I hadn’t given him the benefit of the doubt or that I’d believed he’d willingly defrauded me out of my home. I owed it to him, though. He deserved my apology more than I did his.

“What about Nancy?” I asked when my father released me and we were walking toward one of the SUVs.

“Dead. They all are,” said Decker. “I’d like to do a hotwash, err, after-incident brief now, if you’re feeling up to it.”

“Of course,” I said when my father and uncle said they were.

“We can return to Los Caballeros if that?—”

“I’d prefer to go home,” said my dad.

“Of course,” Decker responded.