Chapter 13 - THE SHOT

Arthur felt Elena slam into him.

They both fell.

Noah screamed.

Maria pulled the boy behind a pillar.

Arthur rolled over.

“Elena!”

Blood spread across her side.

She had jumped in front of him.

Daniel’s gun turned toward Maria.

Arthur grabbed a loose steel pipe and threw it.

It struck Daniel’s arm.

The gun skidded across the concrete.

Arthur charged.

They crashed into a wall.

Daniel was twenty years older, but rage gave him strength.

He punched Arthur across the mouth.

Arthur hit back.

Once.

Twice.

Daniel slammed his knee into Arthur’s stomach.

“You ungrateful little bastard.”

Arthur tackled him.

They rolled toward the open edge of the unfinished floor.

Four stories below, concrete waited.

Daniel grabbed Arthur’s throat.

“Your father always chose you.”

Arthur gasped.

“He was your brother.”

“He was weak.”

Arthur drove his elbow into Daniel’s jaw.

Daniel stumbled.

Maria reached for the gun.

One of Daniel’s men appeared behind her.

“Maria!”

Arthur shouted.

The man grabbed her.

Noah bit his hand.

He screamed.

Maria spun and drove her elbow into his face.

“Run, Noah!”

The boy ran toward Elena.

Elena was barely conscious.

“Mom?”

She opened her eyes.

“Baby.”

Noah dropped beside her.

“You’re bleeding.”

“I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not.”

She touched his cheek.

“I need you to listen to Dad now.”

Across the room, Daniel lunged for Arthur.

Arthur sidestepped.

Daniel slipped near the edge.

For one terrible second he hung by one hand.

Arthur looked down.

Daniel looked up.

“Help me.”

Arthur could have let go.

He wanted to.

He thought of his mother.

Isabel.

Robert.

Noah.

Then he reached down.

Daniel stared in disbelief.

Arthur grabbed his wrist.

“I’m not you.”

Sirens echoed outside.

Daniel smiled.

“No.”

Then with his free hand, he pulled a small knife from his coat.

Maria screamed.

“Arthur!”

Daniel slashed upward.

Arthur released him instinctively.

Daniel fell.

His body disappeared into darkness.

Arthur staggered backward.

Silence.

Then Noah screamed again.

“Dad! Mom won’t wake up!”

Arthur ran.

Elena’s eyes were closed.

Her breathing was shallow.

Arthur pressed both hands over the wound.

“Elena.”

Nothing.

“Elena!”

Her eyes opened slightly.

“Did he get Noah?”

“No.”

A tiny smile.

“Good.”

“Stay awake.”

“Arthur.”

“Don’t.”

“I’m sorry.”

“We’ll do this later.”

“I’m sorry for all of it.”

Arthur’s throat closed.

“You’re going to tell Noah yourself.”

Her eyes drifted shut.

“Tell him…”

“Elena!”

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