The air exploded with the sound of the gunshot an instant before Tam bashed his shield against the drifter’s chin. Behind him the Bug wailed, high and thin.
TSkeever collapsed onto the dirty street, and Tam lifted his sword. He brought the pommel down on the drifter’s temple. He still couldn’t kill the man, even if the Bug was…
Swallowing panic, he whirled and sprinted for the stairs. A small figure lay crumpled at the top in a sticky puddle of liquid. Blood.
“Oh God.”
Tam took the steps in three bounds, and gathered up his little brother. The Bug was lighter than he’d expected, and warm, too warm.
“We have to call an ambulance, get you inside, don’t die, oh crap, where’s Mom?” Tam knew he was babbling, but he couldn’t help himself. Not his little brother. No, please.
Not his little
