Page 89 of Falcon

Calamity

I was sure my gun should be smoking as I stared at the bodies of six Beauregard men. Behind me, Myka held Jayes tightly, with Demi in front of her holding a shotgun.

“Are you okay?” I demanded.

“We’re fine; you got to us quick enough,” Myka replied in a shaky voice.

“Call this in,” I ordered Demi.

She toed the body she’d dropped with the shotgun. Content that he was dead, Demi checked her second kill before lowering her weapon and yanking her phone out. I didn’t pay attention as I finished checking the four guys I’d shot and then backed away to cover Jayes and Myka.

As soon as Falcon called in about Cates being hit, I’d headed for Myka and Jayes. I’d sensed this was a diversion, and I’d not been wrong. Six Beauregards approached from the water and grabbed Myka and Jayes. They’d snatched them from the clubhouse yard and were shoving them towards the boat.

Myka was fighting, but with her casts she wasn’t exactly effective. Two, seeing me chase after them, confronted me, and I’d shot them at point-blank range. The others had drawn their own weapons, but Demi had appeared from nowhere and blasted a couple with her shotgun. It gave me the chance to shoot the fifth. Myka had elbowed the sixth and fallen away from him, and my bullet took him between the eyes.

“Should we fall back to the clubhouse? Prez, we’re too exposed here,” Demi asked.

“Yes. I’ll push Myka. Demi, take point. You’re faster to react than me,” I said without heat. My leg played up still. It always would, and I wouldn’t risk somebody because of false ego and not being able to match their fitness.

“Prez…”

“Demi, it is what it is. Doesn’t make me a lesser man, makes me someone aware of my limitations,” I replied.

“And that is why I chose you as president. Ain’t no other brother better suited to it than you,” Drake said from behind me. I turned around, and he stood there with his weapon drawn. “Phoe wanted to come help Penny tonight. I heard the shots.”

“Let’s get out of the open,” I ordered, my skin crawling as if someone was watching.

“Yeah,” Drake agreed and scooped down and picked Jayes up. He was so very silent; I was worried he was going into shock. I helped Myka into her wheelchair, which she’d been dragged out of, and began pushing her to safety. Falcon would screw when he heard what had happened. And I didn’t blame him.

Falcon

I stared at the ramshackle cabin; cops surrounded it, and Rawson and Dawson were both inside.

“Back off!” Rawson bellowed.

“Ain’t happening. You shot the sheriff. Nobody’s letting you walk from that,” Farell yelled in return.

Rawson fired in sheer temper, and we all ducked behind the cars.

“He’s lost it,” I murmured to Farell, who nodded.

“Rawson, surrender, there’s nowhere to go,” Farell demanded.

“Fuck you, pig!” From inside the cabin came the sounds of fighting and shouting, and then the door flew open.

Dawson ran out, looking worried and scared. Moments later he lurched forward as a shot took him between the shoulder blades. Dawson looked shocked before falling to his knees. A second bullet skimmed the dirt next to him before a third spun him around. Dawson collapsed on his back, and his arms fell open.

“Fuckin’ traitor!” Rawson yelled from inside. The door was booted shut again.

“Christ, he killed his own brother,” a deputy gasped.

“He’s still alive.” I nodded to Dawson.

“Yeah, but not for long if we can’t get him help,” Farell stated.

“Don’t think that’s happening,” I murmured as Rawson let loose another stream of bullets.

“Fuckin’ hillbilly, redneck assholes,” Farell muttered.