Page 62 of Doll's Eye

I’d like to think so. It’s definitely not your princess and white knight fairy tale, and more like your maleficent and dark knight romance, but it’s ours.

Gemma jumps as my head snaps to the closed bedroom door when we hearpop! pop! pop!in the distance. There’s only ashort pause before gunfire begins going off back-to-back and nonstop. It’s rapid-fire, not single shots. The sound was too precise to be outside the gates surrounding the estate.

We’re both up off the bed and on our feet. I run for my bag, which has my two Glocks in it. “Gemma, we need to get to the panic room.” She runs into her closet. “Where are you going?!” I shout as I make sure my guns are loaded and the safeties are off.

“Getting my gun out of the safe!”

“Why the fuck is your gun in the safe?! Just get your ass out here, Gemma! Forget about your gun!” It’s not like she really knows how to use it anyway, and the gunshots are getting louder, which means they’re getting closer.How? This place is a fortress!

She comes running out of her closet in a frenzy, and the gunshots sound like they’re now inside the house. “Oh, my God!” Gemma shrieks.

I run over and grab her hand to drag her with me to the door. “We need to run for the panic roomnowbefore it’s too late.” She starts resisting and shaking her head frantically. “Gemma,” I growl. “I know you’re scared, but we have to run.Now.”

Practically yanking her arm out of the socket, I wait a second to listen before pulling open the door with my 9mm raised. “Come on,” I hiss, and pull her out the door with me.

When I hear boots stomping up the stairs and unfamiliar voices, I shove Gemma back into the bedroom.Fuck, we don’t have any time left. I turn to my sister. “Gemma, I’m going to hold them off. As soon as I start shooting, I need you to run your little heart out and do not stop. You understand me?”

“What?” she squeaks. “I’m not going without you!”

“There’s no time to fucking argue, Gemma. I mean it. As soon as I start shooting. Fucking. Run.”

A tear slides down her cheek as she shakes her head like crazy, and I can hear them getting further up the steps, even with bullets being fired back and forth. “No. I’m not leaving you.”

“Yes, you fucking are. Ready?”

“No! Alessia, please!” She tugs on my arm, and I spin on her, knowing that only tough love will work on her right now.

“Gemma. I need you to put your big girl panties on right fucking now, or the both of us are dead. Do you understand me?” Her chin trembles, and tears begin to rain down her pink cheeks. “If we both run, we’re dead.”

“But if you stay, you’re dead,” she rasps.

“You know I can take care of myself.” My nostrils flare as I remain firm. “Ready?”

She sniffles and slowly nods her head. “I love you.”

“You can tell me that when we get out of this.” I know our brothers won’t let us die like this. Neither will Massimo. They won’t. They can’t.Iwon’t let us die like this.

I can hear the men right at the top of the stairs now. Someone is barking orders to check the rooms, and I don’t even hesitate. It’s literally now or never. My Glock raised, I come out of the room and just start shooting. “Go, Gemma! Now!” I roar and take down the two men who made it to the top of the steps. It should make however many men behind them pause just long enough to give Gemma time to dart down the hall.

I duck and dive back into the bedroom when the doorframe behind me explodes from someone blindly shooting back. The sound of heavy boots hit the steps collides with men shouting in Russian.

Great. What the fuck are the Russians doing here?

Before I barricade myself inside the bedroom, I take out two more men who make it to the top of the stairs. Then I slam the door shut and run to take cover. Knocking over the loveseat, I jump behind it.

“Fuck,” I hiss when I realize I shot more rounds than I thought, and I’m out of ammo. Now, I’m left with my .22 and my knives.

More of them make it up the stairs, and the sound of bullets popping off is nonstop from inside the house. Gemma had to of made it inside the panic room by now, and if she’s waiting for me, I’ll fucking kill her if they don’t.

I’m aware the door won’t hold them back for long, and if my brothers haven’t come to the rescue yet, something is desperately wrong.

ThankfuckMamma was out. And I won’t let her come home to another loss.

The door is peppered with bullet holes, but I keep my eye on it. Preparing myself for the ambush. As soon as the door is kicked in, I start picking them off one by one. It’s not easy with a .22 and when they’re wearing tactical gear, but I’m a crack shooter and hit my mark every time, at least putting them down. Still, it takes more than one bullet, and I’m now out of ammo on my second gun.

They don’t delay as four men rush into the room armed with some heavy shooters. All I have are two of my knives on me, so I’ll have to use them wisely. I can fight, and with my size and prissy dress, they’ll underestimate me without my guns.

Raising my arms in surrender with a forced look of fear, they advance towards me. They eye me up and begin to circle me like sharks in the water. I might be the tempting bait, but I am no fucking chum.

---