Killing Hour - Lisa Gardner [162]
“But I don’t want to live.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Because living is hope. Trying is hope. And because I come from a long line of people who have excelled at being earnest.” Ennunzio’s gaze had drifted to Mac. It was the opportunity she’d been waiting for. Choking back a harsh cough, Kimberly swiftly brought up her Glock and leveled it at Ennunzio’s face. “Throw down your weapon, Frank. Let us pass, or you won’t have to worry about your precious fire.”
Ennunzio merely smiled. “Shoot me.”
“Put down your weapon.”
“Shoot me.”
“Shoot your own goddamn self! I wasn’t put on this earth to end your misery. I’m here to save a girl. Now we have her and we’re getting out.” The smoke was so thick now, Kimberly could barely see.
“No,” Ennunzio said distinctly. “Move, and I’ll shoot. The flames are coming. Now take your punishment like a man.”
“You’re a coward. Always taking your rage out on others, when all along you know who you truly hate the most is yourself.”
“I saved lives.”
“You killed your own family!”
“They wanted me to do it.”
“Bullshit! They wanted help. Ever think who your brother could’ve been? I’m sure he would’ve done better than turn into a serial murderer who preyed on young girls.”
“Davey was weak. Davey needed my protection.”
“Davey needed his family and you took them away from him! It’s always been about you, Ennunzio. Not what your brother needed, not what your mom needed and sure as hell not what the environment needed. You kill because you want to kill. Because killing makes you happy. And maybe that’s why Davey stayed in the house that day. He already knew the truth—that of the whole family, you are the worst of the bunch.”
Kimberly leaned forward. Ennunzio’s face had turned a mottled shade of scarlet while his Glock trembled in his hand. The fire had grown dangerously close. She could smell the acrid odor of singeing hair. Not much time left. For him, for her, for any of them.
Kimberly took a deep breath. She waited, one, two, three. A popping sound came from the woods, an old tree trunk exploding. Ennunzio jerked his head toward the noise. And Kimberly descended upon him with a vengeance. Her foot connected with his hand, the Glock went flying out of his grasp. A second hard kick had him holding his gut. A third whipped his head around.
She was moving in for the kill, when she heard his rough laugh.
“Take it like a man,” he cackled. “By God, boys, don’t you waste your pathetic cries on me. Hold your chin up when I beat you. Square those shoulders. Look me in the eye, and take your punishment like a man.” Ennunzio laughed again, a hollow sound that sent shivers up her spine.
His head came up. He peered straight at Kimberly. “Kill me,” he said, very clearly. “Please. Make it quick.”
Kimberly walked over. She picked up his gun. Then she threw it deep into the heart of the oncoming flames.
“No more excuses, Ennunzio. You want to die, you go do it yourself.”
She turned back toward Mac and Tina. The fire was so close now, she could feel its heat on her face. But mostly she was aware of Mac, his calm blue eyes, his big strong body. His absolute faith that she could handle Ennunzio. And now his readiness to take her and Tina Krahn straight out of here.
Life was filled with choices, Kimberly thought. Living, dying, fighting, running, hoping, dreading, loving, hating. Existing in the past or living in the present. Kimberly looked at Mac, then looked at Tina, and she had no problem with her choices anymore.
“Let’s go,” she said crisply.
They started running. Ennunzio howled behind them. Or maybe he simply laughed. But the fire was moving fast now. The flames would no longer be denied.
The wall of fire descended, and one way or another, Ennunzio had his peace at last.
They found the car ten minutes later. Tina was piled into the backseat, Mac and Kimberly plunked down in the front. Then Mac had the keys out and the engine running and they were tearing down the flat, grassy road, dodging fleeing animals.
Kimberly heard a roar that sounded like an inferno, while overhead the skies filled with