Page 81 of Dismantle & Prevail

Gunshots ring out from every direction, and my mind takes over. With fear nowhere in sight, I don’t hesitate pulling the trigger when men come running toward me.

Bang. Thud. Bang. Thud.

Every few seconds, my eyes find Ari. He cannot die. He’s come too far to die in some stupid gunfight where we clearly have the advantage.

Shouts echo throughout the room, but I pay no attention, keeping focus on the action in front of me.

“TAYLOR. Behind you!”

My stomach drops, and it’s as if everything happens in slow motion.

I spin around in time to see someone sneaking up behind Ari, who is currently beating one of the masked men to a pulp.

My legs move of their own accord, and I sprint towards the man. Ari’s head pops up just as he lifts his gun, aiming straight at Ari's face.

“No!” I shout, jumping in front of Ari just as the man pulls the trigger.

“HELLHOUND! NO!”

Bang…

Thud…

Total blackness.

Chapter Thirty-One

Aries

“StaydownAri!”

Boone shouts from somewhere across the room.

I don’t move a muscle as my entire body shields an unconscious Taylor.

Gunshots ring out over my head and at one point, I think I feel a bullet graze my back, but I don’t care.

My mind is on a warpath, and I will kill anyone who threatens to take a step towards Taylor without a second thought.

More masked men come flying through the doors and I hear a whimper come from beneath me.

“Hang on, Butterfly. I’m gonna get you out of here.”

Bang. Thud. Bang. Thud.

Fucking hell. Whoever sent these idiots to their death wish must have hired an army, because there has to be at least twenty bodies on the ground and a dozen more standing, waiting to meet their fate.

I feel something, rather someone, bump against my feet and my head whirls around, ready to end the sorry son of a bitch that threatens the love of my life.

“Don’t shoot. It’s me!” Zoro’s hands fly up for a brief second before he aims his gun somewhere behind me, pulling the trigger. Taylor winces beneath me, and I curl myself tighter around her.

“I’m so sorry, Butterfly.” My words are no more than a whisper, and I feel her nod beneath me.

I let out a sigh of relief. She can still hear me. That’s a good sign, but I need to get her the hell out of here.

I feel Zoro hit the back of my legs once more, and then another shadow falls on me. I look up to see Indy now standing next to me, his boots hitting my side.

One by one, members of Braveheart flank to my side, using their bodies as shields.