Seized: An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Thrice Cursed Mage Book 4) by J.A. Cipriano Read Free Book Online Page B

least I wouldn’t run out of bullets.
    I took a step toward the entrance and peered out. I didn’t see anyone, but that didn’t mean much since I could hear the sounds of automatic weapons in the distance. I tossed one last glance at the bartender and realized I couldn’t see her from where I was standing. Good, that meant the nuns wouldn’t see her either. No doubt the nuns were after me and my crew. Even if they found her, they hadn’t killed the hostess from the diner. Maybe they’d just leave her alone. I wasn’t sure if it was true or not, but at the moment, I knew me standing here would be more likely to get her killed.
    The room outside the bar was just a hallway leading into different facets of the store. With any luck, I could make it outside without being spotted. Yeah, I know, luck and I weren’t the best of friends, but sometimes she’s less of a bitch about it.
    As I stepped out into the hallway, another explosion rocked the building. I staggered into the far wall as a trio of nuns with AK47s came barging into the hallway. I fired the second I saw them, and it was likely the only thing that saved me.
    My blast caught one in the chest and threw her backward in a spray of blood and buckshot. The other two, undeterred by their sister’s plight, opened fire on me with their AK47s. Bullets tore into the wall beside me, ripping erratic arcs in the drywall as I dove through the closest doorway. Even still, I wound up taking a couple bullets, but thankfully, my trench coat kept them from doing permanent damage. Even still, I knew I’d feel them come morning.
    Three of the walls were covered in swaths of satin fabric and dresses that could only be worn at full on royal balls. Fortunately, the last wall had a dressing room. Jackpot!
    I scrambled to my feet and had barely made it into the dressing room, when a burst of gunfire tore through the wall, reducing all the fancy dresses to twists of torn fabric. I didn’t think they’d seen me since it seemed like they’d fired through the wall, but that wouldn’t be the case for long. As soon as they came inside, it’d be really obvious where I was hiding. Well, I’d just have to make sure I gave them a warm welcome.
    I dropped to my belly on the slate floor, scrunched myself backward into the dressing room, and closed the door. As I heard them move into the room, I pointed my shotgun at where it sounded like they were. Here goes nothing.
    A quick pull of the trigger shattered what remained of my hearing along with the dressing room’s partially open door. Gunfire tore through the space above me, and I reoriented the shotgun and fired two more times in quick succession. This time, no gunfire returned. I hastily reloaded the weapon before nudging the door open. When I wasn’t immediately filled full of lead, I risked a look around.
    The two still-twitching nuns were lying in pools of blood, which was good because they didn’t need their weapons anymore. I snagged one of their AK47s and threw the strap over my shoulder. Then I picked up the last AK47 and made my way back to the hallway with a shotgun in one hand and an assault rifle in the other. I had to give it to the nuns. They sure knew how to party.
    I glanced around, wondering if I should call out for my allies, but that might give away my position. While the nuns more than likely had backup, the others might not think much of gunfire, and it wasn’t like they could talk since they’d had their tongues cut out. On the other hand, calling for anyone would be like pointing a giant “come kill me” beacon at my face. Pass.
    The sound of gunshots broke out ahead, and as I sprinted toward the commotion instead of away from it because I was the world’s biggest dumbass, I heard the distinct sound of a double tap. I recognized the weapon. It was Jenna’s Baby Eagle. Sure enough, as I glanced into the lace room, I saw Jenna standing there dressed in a little black dress that made her look curvy enough to