Death Bringer
Death Bringer
Sharon’s hand slipped to the grenade Peter had given her, hidden at her waist. She met his eyes, blinking—a signal. “This is the last person you’ll take,” she said, yanking the pin and hurling it at Addicus and his men.
“Grenade!” Will shouted.
Sharon dove for cover, Peter and Chris breaking free to do the same. The blast roared, shredding three guards, smoke choking the lot. Sharon, too close, hit the ground hard, a high-pitched ring piercing her ears, her hip throbbing. Peter and Chris sprawled nearby, dazed, heads spinning.
Addicus clutched his skull, alive but shaken. Will staggered up, shaking off the blast. Spotting Sharon, he drew his gun, hatred burning. He kicked her stomach, flipping her onto her back. She groaned, pain searing like a boulder had crushed her.
“All this for trash like you,” Will snarled, aiming. “Last words?”
Peter, vision blurry from a head wound, saw Will’s gun trained on Sharon. He clawed to stand, but his body betrayed him, legs like jelly.
“That’s my line, pig,” Jinx said, emerging from the smoke, dual SMGs blazing. Bullets tore through Will before he could turn, his body crumpling, eyes locked on her in death.
“Been wanting that,” Jinx muttered, holstering one gun. She knelt by Sharon. “You’re the damsel, right? Sharon?”
“Not a damsel,” Sharon said, wincing. “Who’re you?”
“Jinx. Your husband’s hired gun. Let’s get you up—this ain’t no place for a flower like you.” She offered a hand.
Sharon reached out, but Addicus loomed behind Jinx, a metal rod in hand. He swung, cracking her skull. Jinx collapsed, unconscious.
Addicus snatched one of her SMGs, aiming at Sharon. “You’re coming with me.”
“No,” Sharon said, defiance flaring.
“Get up,” he roared.
She saw an opening and swung, fist connecting with his jaw. Furious, he backhanded her with the gun, knocking her down. He hoisted her, dragging her to a car and shoving her inside.
“Get comfortable,” he sneered. “We’re going for a ride.”
Peter, forcing himself up, saw Sharon in danger. Addicus spotted him, aimed, and fired, but Chris tackled Peter behind another car, bullets pinging off metal. Addicus cursed, missing his shot. He slid into the driver’s seat, starting the engine.
His surviving men rose, groggy but armed. “Kill them all,” Addicus ordered, peeling out, Sharon trapped in the back.
Peter scrambled up, heart pounding. “Sharon!” he shouted, but the car vanished into the night, taillights fading. Jinx groaned, stirring, blood trickling from her temple. Chris helped her up, his own head throbbing.
“We’ve got to go after her,” Peter said, voice raw.
“On it,” Jinx said, wincing but grabbing her remaining SMG. “My bike’s close.”
Chris checked the lot—two of Addicus’s men advanced, guns raised. “We’ve got company,” he warned.
Peter’s eyes burned with resolve. Sharon was gone, but he’d tear the city apart to find her. As he reloaded, a faint hum grew—