Page 61 of Marked for Execution

“They’re taking our shit!”

“Reed!” I yelled.

We both hopped on motorcycles and kickstarted them. The one I chose took a few more kicks than it should, killing time I didn’t have to spare and aggravating the wound in my calf. When the roar of the engine came on, we both rode and caught up to the other guys.

Guns sprayed our direction, but we zig zagged around the smaller buildings until we reached the front sliding gate.

The guards that stood there shot, but Samuel slammed on the gas and crashed right through, taking the damn gate with him.

Once the sound of gunshots faded away, Samuel slammed on his brakes to let the gate fall off. Reversing, he took a hard right and went up to higher ground with Reed and I following suit. Just when we thought we'd lost them, other motorcycles could be heard right behind us.

Keeping the throttle steady, I lifted my rifle and shot, hitting one of the riders, knocking his bike against the guy behind him.

Reed did the same but missed, letting two of the guys gain on us. One slammed into me, knocking me off my bike and against a tree. Reed slammed into him, taking him down right before he jumped off his bike and drove a blade into the enemy’s chest again and again.

Two bikes followed Samuel, leaving one biker left with us. He skidded to a stop with his bike, letting it fall, coming up behind Reed. Gritting my teeth through the pain in my calf and back, I threw a knife right into his side.

He screamed but didn't fall. Instead, he turned and threw a fist at my face, taking me to the ground. His body slammed into mine as Reed wrapped his arms around his neck to try and pull him off. An elbow to the face stunned Reed, knocking him to the side.

I threw a knee into his chest, dislodging him enough for me to reach into my right boot.Shit, I already threw it.

I didn’t see the guy stand up, but I did see him pull a fucking blade the size of my damn lower leg out from a strap around his pants. With lightning speed, he brought it up and slammed it down across my right knee, shattering the bone, slicing halfway through it.

I screamed in agony, rousing Reed, who pulled a pistol and let off a few shots, shooting him right through his neck and head. He fell right on top of me, sending the pain all the way up my thigh.

While Reed pushed him off, the vehicle came back, and I could hearSiliscreaming for me.

“Was that the last one?” Gunner questioned.

“Yeah, I got him in the head. How about you guys?”

“Ran those fuckers over, twice,” Samuel answered.

“Eliseo, are you okay?”Sili’shands were all over me. The moment her hand touched my leg, I screamed bloody murder again. “Oh my god!”

“Shit, grab him and get in the car. Ditch the bikes.” Gunner said it like it was a piece of cake. I fucking felt like I was dying here.

All the guys got their hands on me, and all I could think about was the pain that was becoming too much for me to handle.

“On three.”

“One. Two.”

“Ahhhh!”

They moved fast, throwing me into the back as Reed andSiliclimbed in beside me. The front doors slammed shut, and we started our trek back home. Each damn bump in the road made me groan.Silisituated my head onto her lap and pushed back my hair, her hands still covered in blood.

“Dammit, Eliseo,” she said accusingly, with a hint of tears.

“Fuck, it wasn’t part of the plan, you feel?”

“When does anything go to plan? Story of our damn life,” Reed’s statement made us all chuckle as Samuel pulled onto the paved road, saving me from some pain.

My right leg throbbed, but I could still feel my toes. That was a good sign.

“We need to get you cleaned up, so you don't get infected,”Silisaid quietly.

“The only body of water we know about is that lake,” Reed told the rest of the guys.