Part 62 (1/2)

But that's what she wanted, everyone out of the way, now that she had us together. These were no ordinary bullets she was firing; they were large-caliber and incendiary.

In other words, just right for exploding a propane tank.

The third shot would've killed us all if it hadn't been for someone b.u.mping the bed as he dropped to the floor. That jostled the tanks just enough. The sh.e.l.l ripped through the box springs, but didn't hit a tank.

I lunged for the queen-size mattress. I could feel the st.i.tches in my shoulder ripping apart as I lifted as fast and hard as I could.

The tanks went flying, clanking onto the hardwood floor, rolling in every direction.

”Everybody out!” I yelled. ”Now!”

The next shot echoed amid the mad dash from the bedroom, but there was no blast. She hadn't hit one of the rolling tanks.

The entrance to the hallway was like a narrow, unforgiving funnel as we tried to clear the living room outside the bedroom. Feet scrambling, arms flailing, everyone was literally running for their lives.

I was last in line, Sarah right in front of me. If we could just make it out of the apartment before the next shot, then maybe, just maybe, we might be okay.

KABOOM!

Chapter 98

THE FORCE OF the explosion knocked me flat against the floorboards, and a fireball swept over my back. The heat was so intense I could feel my s.h.i.+rt melt into my skin.

It hurt so much I wanted to scream, but I was too busy being thankful. A blast like that? The only way I wouldn't be in pain was if I were dead.

”G.o.d, that hurt,” moaned Sarah.

More good news. She was alive, too. A little better off than me.

I wish I could say it was my intent to s.h.i.+eld her. I was thrown right into her and gravity did the rest. She was faceup and I was looking down at her. Our noses were practically touching.

”You okay?” I whispered.

”Think so. You?”

”A little toasty on the back. I'll live.”

She didn't say anything more. She didn't have to. I could see it in her eyes. It was really important to her that I was okay.

Off in the distance I could already hear sirens. The curtains in the living room were on fire. So were the couch and rug. There was a chance at least one of those propane tanks hadn't exploded.

Yet.

”C'mon,” said Harris. ”We've got to get out of here.”