Love and Decay, Volume Eight (Episodes 9-12, Season Three) Read Online Free Page B

tough as he pretended to be, for as dangerous and inhumane
that he was, he had one fatal flaw that would always be his
downfall.
    He valued his life more than anything.
Matthias did not want to die. He would do anything to avoid
dying.
    Even if that meant he had to let me live.
    Sure, he had an army of men and an unlimited
supply of weapons. Sure, he had managed to unite a sinking country
and turn an entire people group into his minions. Sure, he had
hunted me down from miles and miles and miles away and imprisoned
the toughest guys I knew.
    Not to mention me.
    But I had something he didn’t.
    He lived for himself.
    And I lived for everyone else.
    I didn’t have to hold onto my life as long as
I could use it to protect those I cared about.
    As long as I could save those that I
loved.
    “Reagan, by me . That’s our deal,”
Hendrix said under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear.
“That means nothing crazy. Yeah?”
    I loved that man, but there was no way I
could play this safe. “I don’t want a truce, Matthias.”
    “Then what do you want?” He took a step back
and I took a step forward. With just three feet separating us, I
watched the rapid rise and fall of his chest. I saw the single bead
of sweat drip down his temple. I watched the fear ripple in his
soulless eyes.
    I took another step forward; he stepped back
and bumped into a desk. “You’re head,” I told him.
    He jerked backwards at the same time I pulled
the trigger. I missed his head by half an inch. I tried to adjust
my position and shoot again but I was knocked out of the way from
behind.
    Strong arms went around my waist; a body
twisted beneath me to break my fall as bullets assaulted the air
where I had just been standing.
    The desk Matthias bumped into slammed into
another desk. They screeched across the floor, battling the
gunshots for airtime. Both of the lanterns perched on either of the
desks tipped over in the commotion. The thin glass casing shattered
on impact and the kerosene from them splattered on useless papers
and folders. The flames spread over the desks, covering the area
with deep orange fire and thick smoke in just seconds.
    Hendrix dumped me on my side and popped up
from the desk we’d taken cover behind. Somehow in that showdown
he’d managed to grab a gun. He shot a few rounds, and then ducked
down while the gunfire spread around the room and men lost their
lives.
    I joined Hendrix at the edge of the desk,
letting the thick metal shield us from the attack.
    I thrust my hand in the air and fired without
looking. I doubted I hit anything but I needed them to back off
while we devised an escape plan.
    I wanted to turn around and check on Tyler
and Vaughan, maybe even Diego, but it wasn’t possible at the
moment. The constant gunfire prevented it and too many men that had
to be held off.
    I lifted my gun again and fired three more
rounds. When I went to do it again, my gun clicked empty.
    I looked around quickly for something else to
use, but nothing was close enough. There were more dead bodies, but
I’d be shot before I ever reached them to steal their weapons.
    I did see Tyler’s wide-eyed gaze though. That
was worth turning around for. Vaughan was still alive too. At least
for now.
    Hendrix’s gun ran out of ammo a minute later
and I knew this was the end of it.
    I contemplated standing up and making it
quick… easy. Matthias would keep me alive if he could. If he could
torture me forever, he would.
    But if I ended things fast, he would never
get the chance.
    Hendrix’s hand reached out and grabbed mine,
squeezing it until it hurt. “Not yet,” he pleaded. “Don’t’ give up
yet.”
    “Hendrix, there’s nothing left-”
    Suddenly the entire front of the building
exploded in a burst of light and fire. Thankfully we were tucked
behind a large desk that shielded us from the searing debris that
sliced through the air.
    The roar of the explosion momentarily stole
my hearing. A high-pitched ringing sound blasted