That was it.
My shots were clear.
Cammie and Nicky were as safe as they possibly could be from catching a bullet.
“I’m taking the shots,” I said, taking a breath, releasing it, and taking out the first enforcer, then the second.
Nicky threw himself over his sister and Cammie murmured something at him, suddenly seeming very calm.
Because, I hoped, she knew it was me. That I was there to save her.
Maybe I should have thought it through, or left the decision up to her, but I didn’t.
I took the shot.
I put down the dog that was her brother.
And as soon as his body slammed to the ground, Cammie’s head whipped to the side, her gaze going right to me through the window.
Like it had years before.
But this time, instead of horror, I saw something that had my heart swelling up in my chest.
“You gonna get in here to save the girl or what?” Nino asked.
I was already running.
I didn’t even take my shit. Which was a risky move, but I didn’t give a fuck. All I could think about was getting to her, telling her she was safe, that she never had to worry again.
“I’ll get your shit,” Nino said, making his way down the steps as I ran up.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, pushing myself faster until I broke into the room, rushing past the bodies I’d created.
That was when Cammie’s head shifted, and her gaze fell on me.
There was a second of pure, undiluted relief before tears flooded her eyes and her lower lip trembled.
“Who the fuck are you?” Nicky asked, jumping to his feet, moving to stand in front of his sister.
I watched as his gaze slipped to his brother, to the gun a foot or so from his dead hand.
“It’s okay. He’s okay,” Cammie said.
“You’re alright,” I said, making my way toward her as Nicky watched with tense shoulders. “I’ll get you out of here. One second,” I told her, reaching for my pocket knife, and cutting her ankles free, then her hands. “Okay. Come here, baby. You’re alright.”
She didn’t say anything.
She just fell into me, giving me all her body weight as her arms went weakly around me, and her head buried in my neck as a sob escaped her.
“Baby?” Nicky repeated, glaring at me as I slowly got to my feet.
“It’s a long story,” I told him as I gathered his sister up, cradling her to my chest.
“Sharpshooting skills like that. Looking like you look. You gotta be a mob enforcer,” Nicky declared.
“Something like that.”
“And you know my sister?”