As Massimo puts his hand out to give Jacques the document, my gaze shifts to the guard.In that split second, I draw my gun and send a bullet to his head.And that is the distraction we needed.
The sound of the gun throws Jacques off-kilter and Massimo rushes him, making him stumble and release Candace.
“Take cover,” I call out to her just as the other guards jump into action.
Tristan races forward, shooting and enabling Candace to run behind a pillar.It’s not going to protect her though.It’s too small and thin. Her only other option would be to try to make it to the stairs, but with bullets flying I hope she doesn’t try.I’m going to do my best to get to her.
I manage to take down another three guards but the rest are skilled and good with their guns.Tristan is fighting with two of them and Massimo is battling one and Jacques.The guard who was taking cover when I shot the other one comes for me and I fire back a series of shots as I bound toward Candace.I miss and he jumps out of the way.I’m almost with her, nearly there when I look around and see Massimo on the fucking ground with the guard he was fighting and Jacques heading my way.
I’ve got two of them on my ass now.
Flipping myself around, I alternate between shooting at Jacques and shooting at his guard.
A bullet from Tristan takes out the guard so that just leaves me with Jacques.Tristan still has his hands tied, and so does Massimo.I can’t expect any more help from them.
I change tactics and move toward Jacques instead of heading to Candace.It surprises him. It seems he thought I was going to run away instead of trying to end his pompous ass.
We clash together, and I knock him to the ground.He jumps back up and lands a fist in my face, then I see red.I still have my gun in my hand and he still has his.We hit at each other, giving blow for blow.
“You won’t win this D’Agostino.Fuck you,” he snarls. “And your girl too.”
When an uncanny smile washes over his face and he looks over at Candace, I know what he means to do.
He points the gun over at her and she runs.
This isn’t going to happen again.Not to her.
“No!” I shout.
“Yes.”
Click- Clack is the sound that thunders in my ears.Fear spirals through me and blind fury propels me forward as he pulls the trigger.I throw my body weight into him to knock him to the ground and thank God and all his angels when the bullet misses Candace by a few millimeters.
A scream of terror rips from her throat and I can just imagine she must have thought she was going to get hit again.I'm just barely able to register that she's safe as Jacques and I land on the hard ground, rolling in a mess of fists and guns.
My luck runs out when he rolls on top of me.
I try to lunge him forward, but our guns are between us.I could shoot him or he could shoot me.
It’s not good, but I have to try to end this or he’ll go after her again.I pull the trigger and the bullet pierces through him.I felt it.
“You won’t win this D’Agostino,” he repeats as blood drains from the corner of his mouth.“And you won’t have her either.” As soon as the words fall from his lips, another bullet echoes, piercing through me.I don’t even know where it got me.I just know it did.
The pain is so terrible I can’t even cry out.
Time slows, and I see Jacques' body go limp.When his eyes close, I take comfort knowing I stopped him.
My name is called several times.Then I see Massimo, Tristan, then her… the angel.
Tears pour from her eyes and she reaches for me, but I just can’t get up.
The angel is always forbidden to the devil, but maybe it’s the other way around.Maybe it’s the angel who tempts the devil.The way this one tempted me.
Two years ago I had my chance with Candace Ricci and I screwed up.
I knew she didn’t belong in the darkness of my world.My stupid mistakes nearly cost her, her life.
For one moment I thought I fixed everything.