Page 89 of Redemption
I waste no time. “Let her go, DuFort. She doesn’t know anything. You wanted me? You got me. Leave my wife and her distillery out of this.”
DuFort throws the woman to the floor as he spins to find my voice. As soon as he sees me, he unloads his magazine.
“Run,” I yell to the woman as I dive behind a still as bullets ping and sink into the copper.
Steam spews out from one of the giant stills, and an alarm honks in warning.
“It’s going to blow, DuFort. Better get out and save yourself.”
I peek out from behind the still. DuFort drops his mag and jams another one into his pistol. He takes aim at me again.
“No!” J, wearing a scarf over her hair again, runs through the same door I used. “Get down!”
DuFort unloads again, spraying bullets in our direction. J screams.
“I got you, bitch! You’re both gonna die!”
I scramble for J and see blood pouring from her arm. Fuck. This wasn’t part of the plan.
“Come on. We gotta get you out of here.”
As I pull her toward safety, DuFort appears around the side of the still.
He slaps the bottom of the magazine into the pistol, and I can only assume he has reloaded once more.
“You’re not going anywhere. Either of you. You’re both gonna die right here. And then I’m gonna find that little girl of yours—and I will fucking find her—and you’re gonna wish she were already dead.”
He stands above us, taking aim at J’s head as I shelter her in my arms, hoping the vests we’re wearing will save us both.
“Pitiful. The ruthless king of New Orleans, cowering with his wife, at the end of the barrel of my gun. You piece of shit. Do you even know what you did today? You signed the death warrant of everyone you love, and I’m gonna fucking kill them all myself.”
J wiggles against me, but I stay focused on DuFort, making sure not to look at Marco as he slips into the room in my periphery.
“I think it’s everyone you love who’s pulling triggers today, DuFort. Your dad still alive? Or couldn’t the General handle the shame of the nightmare he created being brought to light? People thought I was the criminal … but it’s you fucks in suits with badges who take the cake.”
“Shut the fuck up!” He lunges toward us as J flings her hand in his direction and throws herself over me.
A blade embeds itself in DuFort’s throat as the honking alarm grows in speed and volume. Flashing red lights give him a demonic glow.
A still is going to blow. We have to move.
DuFort doesn’t even reach for the knife. He pulls the trigger instead, and gunshots explode as he empties his pistol.
“No!” Marco yells as he throws his entire body at DuFort. But not before I take two rounds to the chest like sucker punches.
With a thud, DuFort’s body hits the concrete floor with Marco on top of him.
Blood is everywhere. Red steam fills the room. J’s body feels like dead weight.
“J, are you ok—” My words cut off as I realize she’s missing part of her head so she won’t be answering me ever again.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I’m so sorry, Desi. This wasn’t part of the plan. I had another body lined up. It wasn’t supposed to be you …
But something inside me knows that she wouldn’t change a thing. Not J. She’d do it all over again—twice—just to save me.
Equal parts grief and gratitude slam into me as Marco climbs off DuFort and turns over his body.
We both take in his glassy eyes and the gaping hole in his throat. Marco looks at me as I slide out from beneath J’s remains.
