Chapter 225 - Arkady

With everything going on around me, I was about to push to my feet and stumble after the man who'd run off with Talia. Smashing against walls, I tripped and slid down the halls in their wake.

"Wait," I called out. I was pretty sure the knife had either nicked a lung or fractured a rib, because breathing was becoming more and more strenuous.

Someone stepped out of a connecting hall. A gun in his hand.

I sucked in a breath. "DOWN!" I screamed as loud as I could.

The guy holding Talia dropped to his knees immediately.

With the last of my strength, I gathered myself and launched myself between the shooter and Talia. I felt the bullet graze my temple as I fell against her rescuer.

"You've got to get her out of here," I said as I felt him move under me.

"I will." He pushed me off him. Turned and used my body as a tripod to steady his shot. Within moments, gunshots filled the space.

"He's down. If you can get up, you can go with me," the man said.

I nodded.

He pu