Page 87 of The Gilded Cuff
The mention of Fenn made Emery hesitate a moment too long. Antonio fired his gun, and the bullet dug into Emery’s shoulder. He grunted with the impact and then moaned as pain exploded in his entire body. It was like being hit by a freight train. His head seemed to jolt with the impact and something was shaken loose inside him. The other man was back in his head.
He settled on the bull’s back, grinned at the other cowboys leaning on the metal railings, waving their hats in encouragement. The beast between his legs tensed, every raw bit of muscle rippling and tightening as it waited for the moment the gate would spring open and it could throw him through the air. The announcer’s voice cut through the cheering crowds as he began the countdown to opening the gate.
Five…
“What’s the matter, Emery, can’t take a little gun shot?”
Emery breathed through his nose and resisted the urge to touch his arm. It burned like hell.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t like the odds, D’Angelo. Afraid I’d be more up to the fight since I’m not a kid anymore?” he challenged.
Antonio tossed the gun aside. It hit the floor with a heavythunknot far from where Hans lay motionless. Emery raised his fists, ready to fight. He couldn’t look in Sophie’s direction, not when he needed to focus.
“Sophie, you okay?” he called out as he started toward Antonio.
“Yeah, hanging in there.” Her reply was a little too breathless, but she seemed okay enough to respond.
“I want you to get out of here, if you can. You hear me, Sophie? Crawl if you have to, but do it.” His tone brooked no argument. If she had any sense in her head she’d listen to him.
“But—” she began.
“I can’t kill him if I’m worrying about you,” he snapped.
Antonio raised his own fists and the two of them started to circle each other.
“Ready to die?” Antonio teased.
Emery glared at him and stalked forward. He wanted to end this now. He was so damned tired of living in fear, of having this man haunt his dreams and make him dread the shadows. It was time to be done with this.
“I’m ready foryouto die,” he growled and lunged at Antonio.
Antonio’s first blow hit him in the jaw and he could feel the vibration of it all the way down to his toes. Emery swung and his fist collided with Antonio’s cheek bone. A clenched fist sank into Emery’s stomach and his breath rushed out in a whoosh, his head fogging with that other reality again.
The bull shuddered beneath him.
Three…Two…
“Emery, look out!” Sophie’s scream cut through the haze and jerked him back from that other reality just in time for him to see Antonio holding another gun low and aimed upward at Emery’s heart. He’d pulled it out as they’d fought. Before Antonio could shoot, however, Emery grabbed the other man’s arms and they grappled wildly. He forced Antonio’s hand away and the second it was pointed aside, the gun discharged.
Sophie cried out, and the sound was chilling as it ricocheted off the crumbling mansion’s walls.
One…
The gate flew open and the bull shot out. He scrambled to stay on, but he couldn’t focus, couldn’t hear anything except the screaming of his own voice as terror he hadn’t felt in years gripped him…he was…he was…
The bull reared and he lost his grip. The stadium lights spun in wicked patterns as he shot off the bull and was launched into the sky…
Emery ripped the gun from Antonio’s hand and turned it on him, firing without hesitation. He unloaded the rest of the clip into the man before him, Antonio toppled over onto his back and blood oozed up from multiple chest wounds. Panting, Emery stood over him and watched the light in his eyes flicker out.
A gurgling laugh escaped his lips, blood flecked his mouth. “He’ll send another…When I’m gone, another will take my place…He wants you dead.” Antonio coughed and a splatter of crimson hit the concrete as he turned on his side, curling into a fetal position for a brief instant before relaxing onto his back again.
Emery bent and grabbed Antonio’s shirt and yanked him up, shaking him.
“Who wants me dead?” He shook the man again, but his head fell back and a slow gasping breath escaped him before he went limp and his eyes clouded over.
Emery released the body and turned around. Sophie had crawled over to Hans, leaving a thick trail of blood behind her. She still clutched her side. Emery started toward her, his heart hammering. When Sophie reached Hans, she turned his body over. The bodyguard jerked and sucked in a breath.
Sophie screeched and fell back. Hans pushed up on his elbows and then with a groan sat all the way up. He looked around blearily then ripped his buttoned shirt down the front, exposing the Kevlar vest he wore. A small bullet was embedded deep into the vest.
