The dock felt like it would break. Wood creaked. Bullets hit the planks. Water sprayed up when shots hit the sea. The air smelled of salt, smoke, and blood. Screams cut the night. Guns roared. Waves crashed.
Aria ran. Her shoes slipped on wet wood. Her gun was hot. Her arm ached. Men fell behind them. Some into the water. Some on the dock. Blood soaked the boards.
Sebastian's men pushed forward. Lorenzo's men pushed back. The rival men attacked both sides. It was a killing now. The dock shook under many feet.
Aria breathed fast. She did not know where safety was. She knew one thing: if she slowed, she might die.
"Boat!" Lorenzo shouted. His voice was rough. "End of the dock. Move!"
Aria forced her legs to run. Explosions hit near their feet. Her heart beat hard.
A shadow jumped from the side. A man with a knife ran at her. She screamed and fired. The shot hit his shoulder. He stumbled and slashed her arm. Hot pain burned.
Her gun almost slipped. The man raised the blade again.
