Page 28 of Once a Hero

Very strong sweat.

Click.

Beatrice opened her eyes.

A barrel was in her face.

A man wearing night vision goggles pointed his weapons—one in each hand—at her and Earl.

At the same time, Beatrice could still hear the fighting behind the trees.

The driver had lied to them. More than two assailants had entered the forest. If the rest of them were as heavily armed as this man—

A gunshot blast.

Behind the tree.

Jake.

Beatrice had no idea why he came into her mind first.

“I don’t think Molyneux would want you to shoot me,” Beatrice said to the man in front of them.

The man’s eyes widened, as if he was surprised by her statement. His handguns moved slightly—

And Earl took the opportunity to wrestle one weapon from his attacker.

Beatrice kicked his other arm.

He went down and Earl tackled him. Beatrice heard bones crack.

Earl pointed his newly acquired handgun at the man on the ground.

Suddenly a shot rang out and Earl fell backward, a dark blob on his stomach.

“Earl!” Beatrice gasped.

She turned to find a second gunman approaching them.

“Let’s go,” he said.

Beatrice had no choice. “Where to?”

“To collect my bounty—”

The man lurched and collapsed onto Beatrice.

She screamed.

Someone pulled the dead man off her. Now she could see Jake wearing a pair of night vision goggles similar to what her assailant had worn. Maybe he had confiscated them. Spoils of battle.

“You have a bounty on your head?” Jake reached for her hands to pull her to her feet.

Beatrice ignored him. It should have been obvious. Why else would she need a bodyguard if her life wasn’t in danger in any way?

“Earl.” Beatrice crawled toward him. “He was shot.”

Earl was not moving. Beatrice felt a shallow breathing.

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