Page 58 of Fatal Fantasy

“Two.”

One thing is for certain, their orders aren’t to kill her, so that immediately gives us the upper hand once the bullets start flying, but any scenario where the three of us don’t come out of this unscathed is just unacceptable.

“Three.”

As soon as those two syllables leave his lips, Carter pops up from the ground, and bullets fly through the air, the sound enough to cause a ringing in my ears, but we outnumber them, and my only focus is on the two figures in the distance.

Carter and Massi barely blink, their shots landing close in succession on the mirrors, doors, and shattering glass right out of the windows, but I’m missing the targets by a mile, my head foggy as I fall into a state of panic.

The last time we had bullets flying at our heads, Carter was taken, Massi was forever damaged, and I nearly died.

The stakes are arguably higher this time, as we know what happens if Carter disappears again, but that fact only heightens my nerves, my hands shaking each time I pull the trigger.

“Massi, I’m useless!” I yell, but he’s so caught up in the moment he doesn’t hear me over the gunshots, and as I look to Carter for reassurance, a flash of red steals my vision, and every single ounce of oxygen from my lungs.

Her petite body disappears in an instant, only a swift tuft of dark hair sweeping through my line of sight, and just like that, the space where she was just standing is empty, a darkness in its place as the world around me goes black.

Reaching my hands out, I try to find something to ground myself, to keep from falling into a frozen state, but Carter’s limp body, lying helpless on the ground is the only image in my head, and I slide down into the dirt, unable to fight, breathe, or save her.

TWENTY-NINE

JASPER

If we were shooting at cans in the backyard, I’d be impressed at how each and every bullet Carter and I shoot find a way to land in the same exact place, like they have minds of their own, and choose to mirror each other’s path.

If we were shooting at squirrels in the woods, I’d make fun of Tyson because he’s not the best shot, his bullets always straying at the very last second and landing somewhere that does the least amount of damage.

Except, we’re not shooting at immobile objects or woodland creatures, our targets are launching bullets right back at us, and neither of them are helping.

To no fault of Carter’s, we’re hitting the same places, but not injuring or eliminating the men on the opposite side of the parking lot, instead, giving them the chance to regroup and lay down cover fire while we reload.

Even though I’ve always known Tyson isn’t the best with guns, if he could hit the car consistently, we’d be better off, but when I steal a glance at him, the shakiness in his hands indicates something more sinister is happening in his mind, and judging by the paleness in his face, I’m about to lose him altogether.

Just as I switch tactics, aiming for the guy in Tyson’s line of fire, one shot rings louder than the rest, and a scream that’ll haunt my dreams echoes in the air, hanging over my head like a dark cloud.

Every fantasy we’ve ever conjured comes crashing down, and a heavy dose of reality replaces those ideas of happily ever after as the girl I love collapses to the ground, gushes of blood pooling around her body.

“Carter! Carter, you better stand the fuck up and fight. I know you can do that!” I shout, keeping my focus locked in on the man hiding behind the passenger door.

The seconds pass like minutes as I wait for her to speak, move, or even cough to let me know she’s okay, but nothing comes.

Tyson lands beside her, a cloud of dust kicking up as his body lands next to hers, his hands immediately covering his face.

“Fuck!” I dismount my gun, the anger searing through my veins like hot lava, and without backup or cover, I shoot at the SUV until the firing from the passenger side stops, and a set of legs drop to the ground.

Without Carter, none of this means anything.

This life.

This gunfight.

This next breath.

None of it matters without her, and I’ll be damned if I don’t honor her wishes, but first, there’s one motherfucker still breathing free air that needs to be dealt with.

Moving from the safety of the car, I stalk across the parking lot until I reach the SUV, finding one lone man tucked on the floor of the driver's side.

His gun is pointed at me from where the window once was, but I pay him no mind, almost challenging him silently to pull that fucking trigger.