The 7 Page 7

  Coming back into the chapel, Scarlet tells me softly, “The ambulance should be pulling around the corner. What do you want me to tell them?”

  “Tell them nothing. This is Bow business.” Looking at her, I can see it. She’s only ever loved him. I knew that using her to get what I wanted the other night was wrong, but I thought it would sway him. I was wrong. “Go home, Scarlet.”

  “But, don’t—”

  Stroking Kyden’s hair away from his face, I say, “No. It’s mine now to fix.”

  She walks closer. “Don’t leave, Kyden. We’re nothing without you. We’re tortured souls without you.”

  She couldn’t be more correct. Looking me in the eye, fearing me like she should right now, Scarlet turns and leaves out the back of the chapel, just as the front doors open.

  The sound of feet traipsing harshly across the front entrance alerts me that they’ve entered.

  “Over here!” It’s not who I thought or expected to see. Both men are wearing their cuts, grinning darkly. “What are you doing here?” But I already know full well why they’re here.

  “Time to pay up. The Horsemen required due payment.” Holding out their guns, both bastards aim at me and my brother.

  With quick succession, I feel the bullets rain down, entering my chest. Stopping to holster their guns, they smile and turn away, thinking it’s over. Reaching for my piece, I know the most I have are two bullets left. Aiming, I hit both square in the chest. Teetering for a second, they look surprised, shocked at the outcome before falling face-first to the floor.

  As the shock starts to settle in, I know that I’m about to join my brother if the real attendants don’t show soon. “Keep the gates open for me, brother. Hell has no idea what it’s in for with us.” Breathing weakly, worrying about keeping him alive—the better of us—I laugh at the circumstances. Looking at the two arrows lodged in the wood above, I know he needed one last strike. The second shot struck straight through the first, splitting it down the center. One arrow, two pieces. One Devil’s Guide and two sons. A matched set to lose their lives in this church.

  Kind of ironic.

  Using the last of my strength, I say, “I love you, brother. I’ll see you in death. Blessed is the arrow that strikes true.”