BooksBarbecue
Back Fractured Save as PDF
Chapters (42)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION PAGE
  4. CONTENTS
  5. ONE
  6. TWO
  7. THREE
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  42. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He nodded, and I pulled him up and held him by the arm as he steadied himself. I pointed toward the hallway that led to the basement. Together, we inched past the staircase, through a few beams of light piercing through the cracks in the boards, revealing the swirling dust in the entryway.

The floor over our heads squeaked. Nick trembled against me. I took his hand, holding it firmly as I tugged him into the hallway. We tiptoed past the kitchen. Past the living room. From above came a growl, followed by a series of grunts. Someone was awake. Another series of snarls and coughs followed. “What are they doing up there?” Nick breathed in my ear.

I was pretty sure the Mazikin were talking to each other, but I was afraid that would scare him, so I shrugged and pulled him to the basement door as the ceiling began to groan and squeak. Someone was moving. Fast. They’d heard us.

We’d just made it onto the rickety basement steps when Nick cried, “Oh, God!” His panic nearly drowned out the sound of heavy footfalls nearby. A harsh curse from the parlor told me we had only seconds before we were caught. Before I could get him in front of me to protect him, Nick shoved me hard, trying to get past. I crashed down the steps, off balance and out of control, smashing my elbow and knee. The side of my head collided with the handrail, and I landed on my stomach on the cold cement floor. Nick was right behind me, so I pushed myself up and lunged for the basement door.

It flew open. A form stood silhouetted in the light, and I recognized the shape immediately. “Malachi,” I gasped.

The next few seconds split apart into disconnected sounds and sights, a moment torn at the seams. Malachi’s dark eyes narrowed. A roar from the top of the steps jolted my heart. The tips of Nick’s fingers brushed my back as we ran toward my Lieutenant.

Malachi’s knives flashed as he drew them from beneath his shirt. His face was fierce as he cocked his arms and let the blades fly. The knives spun past me, lifting a few strands of my hair as they flashed within inches of my temples.

They hit home with the solid thunk of metal penetrating flesh.

I spun around to see Nick fall back, Malachi’s blades buried to the hilt in his chest. Nick’s gaze met mine, pleading, questioning. His fingers spread wide, reaching for me as he sank to the floor. His mouth opened, but he never made a sound.

NINE

NINE