Page 93 of Crooked Crows (Boys of Briar Hall 1)

I froze, drawing out another blade as I tried to soundlessly back away from the gun-toting gangsters in the yard before me.

Lenny squinted at Diesel, confused, but the Ace’s leader backed up, gesturing to his men to get their fallen man and move out. I wouldn’t question it either if someone gave me a get out of jail free card.

“Not him,” Diesel said in a cold monotone, his gun still trained on Lenny’s head as his eyes flicked to the injured Ace. “He tried to kill my son. The reason for which I’m sure you will fucking explain to me at a later date. But for now, I’ll accept his life as payment for hismistake.”

Lenny’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Boss?” Another Ace pressed, torn between helping his buddy Carl and leaving like he was told to.

I lost sight of them as I crept backward, remaining crouched as I began my slow retreat.

They are coming for you,my darkness whispered, unspooling to her full power in my gut.Any minute now. If you don’t get away, your heroic display there will have been for nothing. It’ll be them or you. Blades versus bullets.

Time to find out if all that running was worth it.

I may not be faster, but I would bet my left kidney I could runlonger.Go farther.

Then what, idiot? That’s your blade in that asshole’s hand. The Crows will recognize it. They’ll know it was you, even if you do get away.

Stupiddidn’t even begin to cover what I’d just done.

“Leave him,” I heard Lenny order, and a cry of protest came from Carl before a gunshot rang out in the night, marking the start of my sprint.

I jumped to my feet and ran like hell. Flying over dirt and rock and tree roots. Honing in on those other senses. The ones that only flourished under extreme pressure. Relying on reflex and the strength of my body alone.

The feel of the blade clenched in my fist gave me the extra dose of fortitude I needed to keep pushing when the sounds of them giving chase reached my ears.

My legs pushed me impossibly fast until I was soaring through the darkened trees like an arrow shot from a bow.

The dirt and tree roots gave way to rockier terrain and the ground underfoot turned upward, the earth and grass giving way to a rockface slick with moss. I had no idea where I was going or where this path would lead me, but I didn’t like the look of the long incline ahead. The trees were more sparse here, and thinner. There would be nowhere to hide if...

A shot blasted apart a thin tree to my right, the splinters of it exploding into my path. If I hadn’t been running with quick, jerky movement in a zigzag, it would’ve hit me, I had no doubt. My heart shriveled in my chest, imaging one of the Crows on the other end of the bullet.

Corvus shouted to stop, but another shot was fired, this one narrowly missing me. The bullet tucked itself into the stone at my right with acrack!

The inclining stone sloped down sharply to my left and when I thought I had enough cover, I dared the fall, jumping down to skid on my heels all the way back down to level ground. My ankle twinged with pain, but I didn’t let it stop me, pushing forward.

With the tree cover, they wouldn’t be able to see me from above, but more importantly, they wouldn’t be able to get a clean shot on me. I growled inwardly as the pain in my ankle grew, forcing me to slow despite the adrenaline still pushing me onward.

I wouldn’t be able to go much farther.

Fuck my life.

Rocks slid and tumbled as they made their way down the incline after me.

I would be shot like a fish in a barrel if I didn’t hide or run, and since the latter seemed to be out for the moment, I crouched low and made for the deepened shadows of a fallen tree. It was held up by the rock face, and I folded myself into its dead, scratching branches, sandwiching myself in between stone and insect infected wood.

Cobwebs tickled my neck and face, but I didn’t let myself think of all the things that might be crawling in between layers of my clothes right now. It wasn’t important. Not even a little. I drew my last two blades, promising them I’d retrieve their brother from the dead guy in the yard if I made it out of this alive.

There were four Saints in these trees, and they all had guns.

If I had all four of my blades and the ability to throw them, I might’ve stood half a chance, but now, with only two, my only chance would be to stay hidden. To not be found.

I held my breath as their footfalls grew louder, until I could hear their heavy breaths.

Please,I sent a plea to whatever gods could hear me.Please keep going.

“Diesel,” Corvus said, and I shuddered, closing my eyes against an assault of mixed emotions.

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