"Rye." Bobby's voice, calm and relaxed in my ear. "Meet at the top of the mountain. We will evac together." The valley loomed ahead, the headlamps of the disabled vehicles lighting it up like a stage. "There are no combatants left. You should have a clear route to us."
I slowed down as I entered the battle zone, maneuvering around fallen bodies and abandoned trucks. The sky was full black now, the headlights columns of white light, illuminating the destruction. Bodies everywhere, splayed on the road, slumped over in the cabs, hanging off the truck beds. The coppery scent of blood and acrid smoke of ammunition fire cloyed at me.
Blue stepped out of the shadows.
I stopped the bike and turned it off before dropping it to the pavement.
We were the only two things alive in that cramped space between the cliffs. All the animals had fled at the sharp crack of gunfire and deep throttle of engines. Blood dripped, thunder pealed, and lightning flashed all around me.
"Let's go," I said, tapping my thigh. Blue fell in next to me and I began to climb.
"We've got incoming," Philip's voice in my ear. "Another convoy. I'm guessing it’s their backup." Sweat trickled under my helmet, so I ripped it off, letting it fall down the mountain, bouncing against rocks, and spiraling over ledges toward the ground.
"They've got a tank."
Blue jumped up ahead of me, spraying small rocks down onto my face and arms. I spit, clearing dust off my lips.
"Sydney, hurry up," Bobby said.
"I'm going as fast as I can." But I still had a long way to go. I craned my neck, peering up the mountainside. Lightning snaked across my vision.
The loud boom of a weapon was followed by the cracking of rock. Deacon's Texas drawl, "We have to go now."
"Rye, we'll be back for you."
The thwap of the helicopter receded as I continued to climb.
***
My hand crested the rock, gripping the dusty surface of the plateau and I pulled myself up. Blue was behind me, waiting for me to get fully onto the ledge before following. A bullet sank into my shoulder, sending a sharp pain sizzling through my body, and releasing adrenaline into my veins.
My heart pumped, spreading the hormone quickly as I rolled back off the cliff, landing with a thud onto the rock below. Blue jumped out of my way, scrambling onto another rock ledge and disappearing into the low brush.
I pulled my pistol and aimed it at the sky, waiting for someone to pop their head over the edge, to finish me off.
Clouds, city sidewalk gray, drifted lazily above.
My heartbeat thundered in my ears. My breath came sharp and painful, each inhalation pushing the wound against my clothing, every exhalation, pulling it free. I bit my lip to keep from making any sound.
Time passed. Were they coming for me?
Or would I have to go to them?
Where was Blue?
I rolled onto my good side, getting my feet under me and stood. My shot arm, the left one, hung useless by my side.
I followed the path Blue had taken into the brush. I didn't see him, but the path his big body had taken was clear. I followed it, finding a gentler path that led to the plateau.
I stayed low, my pistol in my hand, sweat slicking my palm, plastering my hair to my head, dripping down my neck.
A bullet sliced through the vegetation and slammed into my calf, bringing me to my knees.
A black clad figure stood to my left, his rifle raised, aiming at my head. I aimed my pistol, but Blue got him first, rocketing out of the brush, biting into the man's forearm, and taking him down to the ground.
Stumbling forward on my good leg, I ran at the two of them. The figure in black pulled a knife; it caught the starlight, glinting at me, sending a thick line of lightning shooting out of it, connecting with the pain in my leg and burning there.
I threw myself on him, grabbing for the knife, keeping it from stabbing into Blue.
The figure on the ground wore the same style of helmet I'd tossed off, his night vision goggles lowered over his eyes, but I recognized his lips. Those pretty pink lips of Philip.
It didn't matter, though, which man came to kill me. He was just the weapon of the powerful people who wanted me dead. He didn't matter. I didn't matter. Nothing that happened there, under this starry sky on the top of that mountain, could stop what we'd set in motion tonight.
That didn't mean I was gonna let this motherfucker stab my dog though.
Philip struck out, elbowing me hard in the side of the head. I fell off, taking the knife with me, my vision clouding, growing dark at the edges.
Blue growled, his mouth full of Philip's flesh. Philip hit me again, this time with the butt of his pistol, swinging it through the air, connecting with my temple.
I rolled away, the knife in my fist. Thunder vibrated every pore. Lighting blinded me. But I felt no pain, and, when I came to my feet, I used my good leg to launch myself back at Philip. I stabbed his own knife into his neck. His lips moved, blood welling out of his throat, bubbling up to his mouth.
I knocked off his goggles, wanting to see his eyes. All I saw was electricity filling the sockets, nothing but light glowing out of his skull.
I stumbled back, falling into the dirt, my breath coming hard and fast, rasping through me, storm wind rattling naked branches.
Blue licked my face. My vision darkened. I lay back. Blue whined. "It's over, boy. You're free."
He barked. My eyes shut. Blue howled, pulling me back, my eyes fluttered open at the mournful sound. He was staring down at me. He barked again and looked to his left. I followed his gaze.
A white dog stood there. Almost as big as Blue. I blinked. Moonlight made its coat sparkle like snow on a sunny day.
A figure shrouded in a black burka appeared next to it. They approached slowly. I heard the tingling of bells.
The woman stood over me, the long, black burka rising up. I followed the folds until I reached her eyes. They were shining with starlight. "Are you real?" I rasped.
She nodded.
The blackness of her burka grew, filling my vision, blacking out the world, enveloping me in its darkness.
Peace. At last.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
About the Author:
Emily is the author of eight Sydney Rye mysteries including the one you just finished reading. A traveler, mother and all around bad ass chick, Emily is always happy to hear from readers. Connect with her on Twitter @ejkimelman, Facebook, and at her website www.emilykimelman.com. Visit Emily’s website and sign up for her Readers’ Group to receive a FREE copy of her starter library which includes free ebooks, including the first Sydney Rye, “Unleashed”. You’ll also get special offers, new release announcements and more.
A Note from Emily
Thank you for reading THE GIRL WITH THE GUN. I'm excited that you made it through my whole bio right here to my "note". I'm guessing that means that you enjoyed my story. If so, would you please write a review for THE GIRL WITH THE GUN? You have no idea how much it warms my heart to get a new review. And this isn't just for me, mind you. Think of all the people out there who need reviews to make decisions. The children who need to be told this book is not for them. And the people about to go away on vacation who could have so much fun reading this on the plane. Consider it an act of kindness to me, to the children, to humanity.
Let people know what you thought about THE GIRL WITH THE GUN on Amazon, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, or Goodreads.
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Thank you, Emily
Want More?
THE SYDNEY RYE SERIES
UNLEASHED (A Sydney Rye Mystery, #1)
DEATH IN THE DARK (A Sydney Rye Mystery, #2)
INSATIABLE (A Sydney Rye Mystery, #3)
STRINGS OF GLASS (A Sydney Rye Mystery, #4)
THE DEVIL’S BREATH (A Sydney Rye Mystery, #5)
INVITING FIRE (A Sydney Rye Mystery, #6)
SHADOW HARVEST (A Sydney Rye Mystery, #7)
THE GIRL WITH THE GU
N (A Sydney Rye Mystery, #8)
NOVELLAS IN THE SYDNEY RYE KINDLE WORLD
The Wife Line by Scott Bury
Fatal Interest by Julie Gilbert
The Catalyst by DelSheree Gladden
Nemesis by Jennifer Harlow
Rough Road by Toby Neal
Walk Softly, Danger by Renee Pawlish
Strange Behavior by Bev Pettersen
OTHER KINDLE WORLD NOVELLAS
by Emily Kimelman
Lei Crime Kindle World:A Keiki Mystery: Warrior Dog
JET Kindle World:A Sydney Rye and JET Adventure: It Takes Two
The Girl With The Gun (Sydney Rye Book 8) Page 18