Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
And then I jogged down the hallway.
I didn’t know anything about underground bases, but I knew the only way out was up. I had to get to the surface and move quickly before they sounded the alarm. All I had to do was find some stairs or an elevator and take it to the top floor.
I moved all the way to the end of the hallway and found a corridor that moved left and right. There were no directions posted so I went left and hoped for the best. My gun was drawn and I was ready to pull the trigger the second someone gave me a reason to.
The alarm sounded and commotion rang at the end of the hallway. Someone must have spotted the missing guards and knew I was missing. “Fuck.” I had to get out of there as quickly as possible so I started to run.
I ran as fast as I could and rounded the corner. I moved down another hallway lined with doors, and once I reached the end I saw a shadow of a man on the wall. He held a rifle to his chest and he was moving slowly around the corner, coming right my way.
I pressed my back against the wall and pointed my gun. The second he emerged I would take him out and move onto the next one.
He finally turned the corner and pointed his rifle right at my face.
But I recognized his eyes. I’d stared into them countless times. I saw them in my dreams and the moment right before I fell asleep. My whole life was in those eyes, the other half of my soul. “Crow?”
He immediately lowered his weapon and sprinted to me. “Fuck, Button.” He crashed into me and wrapped his arm around my waist so tightly he nearly snapped me in half. “Are you okay?” He looked down at my blood-soaked clothes. “Are you hurt?”
“No. I killed Bones.”
Crow stared at me in shock, the first time he ever gave me that expression.
“Let’s keep moving.” I still had a wound under my shirt and I was losing blood. The only reason why I didn’t tell him was because I was afraid of his reaction. He would panic and carry me out of there over his shoulder.
“Stay behind me.” He moved back the way he came, leading us to the exit. As we moved further we noticed the stacks of dead bodies Crow had left behind. His other men were in the hallway and sweeping the place. Eventually, we ran into Cane.
“You found her!” Cane dropped his gun and hugged me. “Fuck, I’m glad you’re alright.”
“Yeah…” I felt the strength leaving my body as more blood drained away. I could barely keep my eyes open anymore. Slowly, my knees gave way and I started to sink into the ground. Their voices came out as whispers on my ears.
“What the hell is wrong with her?” Cane asked.
Crow ripped open my shirt to reveal my wound. “Fuck. We’ve got get her out of here. Cane, cover me.”
“Alright.”
That was the last thing I remember before everything went black.
***
The last image I saw was black but now all I saw was white. Piercing white light burned through my eyelids. It was powerful and warm, and I immediately recognized it from waking up to it every morning.
I opened my eyes and saw the Tuscan sun. It shined through the window and directly onto my face. It was morning, just after sunrise, and it was the beginning of a beautiful day. The birds chirped outside and I could hear them sing. It was so peaceful I did wonder how I even got there.
I turned my head and noticed Crow sitting at my beside. He was in an armchair, and his hand was loosely held in mine. His eyes were on the book he was reading, and that’s when I recognized his low voice. He read the story in Italian, reading to me while I was asleep.
I didn’t interrupt him because I enjoyed listening to it. The only time I heard him speak his native tongue was when he argued with Cane or he spoke to one of his men. Other than that, he always spoke in English.
He finished the chapter he turned the page then snuck a glance at me. He turned back to the page automatically but stilled when he realized what he saw. “Button.” He shut the book and dropped it on the nightstand. “How do you feel?” He scooted the chair closer to my bedside and brought my hand to his lips. His chin was scruffy from not shaving for days, and the bags under his eyes told me he hadn’t slept.
“I feel…really good.” I was back at home with my husband. Everything that happened was just a distant nightmare. I knew Bones was dead because I would never forget the way I shoved that dagger into his heart. “How long have I been sleeping for?”