"NO," Thomas shouted, "Leave her alone!"
"Don't you fucking dare," Archer yelled.
One of Faust's men clocked him hard in the head with the butt of his gun. Another shot Thomas in the thigh. Thomas fell to his knees and bellowed, more enraged than pained. Archer stumbled backward but somehow stayed standing, his everlasting supply of inner strength surely the only thing fueling him.
My stomach shifted higher to my throat. Tears froze to my face, but I swiped them away the best I could so my eyelashes wouldn't stick together and prevent me from seeing through Ronin.
"Play now," Faust said, "or a bullet through your pretty little head is the last thing you'll ever feel."
He angled Ronin away toward Archer who vibrated with desperation to reach for the both of us.