I huffed a frustrated breath. “I was in complete control the entire time. There were not going to be any damages.”
“Uh-huh,” he inclined his head in a mocking nod. “Complete control, like when ya fell off the pole.”
“Complete control of the fire,” I amended. I smelled coconut with a hint of vanilla. Footsteps, heavy, two quick beats and a single long, echoed in the hall. It sounded male, average weight, with a limp. Frankie was in my direct line of vision, preventing me from seeing around him.
“Be that as it may,” Frankie said. “I don’t think-”
My reaction time may not rival my father’s, but I was still fast. I heard the click and dove to cover Michael, knocking both of us to the floor. The rat-a-tat of the gatling gun made my senses ring as lead bullets pelted the hall and room. Shattered glass from the vanity bounced off the counter and scattered in random directions. Bits of wall rubble sent clouds of dust floating as they crashed to the floor. The metallic scent of blood saturated the air. I felt the burning pain of stray bullets penetrate my skin.
