Tiptoe Kisses

Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Alina doesn’t wait for him to respond she jerks Taylor up from the chair unlocking the handcuffs from the table.  She holds Taylor’s arm behind her back twisting it and shoving her forward.  Taylor tries to look back at Santo laying on the floor, she can see him move she turns back around to walk down the hallway with Alina. 

As Alina pushes her along cursing at her, Taylor ignores her she’s thinking about Santo laying there with his head bleeding.  At least they think he’s dead. 

As they enter the hallway they can hear the gunfire close by.  A bullet whizzes pass causing them both to duck, Taylor is able to get free and hide near a bookcase.  Several more bullets fly between them.  Alina keeps rushing in and out of her hiding spot to try to catch Taylor.  

Taylor runs through an opening she’s in another part of the factory.  She’s scared and anxious she gets startled when she backs up into one of the shoe-making machines.  It appears to be a huge sewing machine. It has long handles with needles that swing around and down puncturing holes in leather.  Taylor’s shirt is caught in one of the machines she tries frantically to get it loose.  She doesn’t want to get hit by a stray bullet and she needs to get to Santo. 

Alina rushes into the room still trying to get away from the gunfire.   She attacks grabbing Taylor by the neck choking her.  Taylor tries to break free she hits at Alina’s face scratching her.  Alina tries to slap her again but Taylor blocks it.  One of the arms of a machine with a long needle on it is behind them.  Taylor can see it but Alina can’t.  The needle isn’t moving but the machine is still operational and it’s coming at them with full force. 

Alina’s hold on her neck is cutting off her air.  Taylor doesn’t have much strength left.  She’s kicking and hitting at Alina.  She gathers all the strength she has and with one last thought for herself, her baby and for Santo she closes her eyes hurling herself and Alina toward the moving arm of the machine.  

She feels a slight twinge of pain when she opens her eyes she’s on the floor.  There’s blood on her arm and her legs are entangled with something.  She hears a sound like someone is having an asthma attack.  She looks up its Alina.  She’s caught on the machine, the needle that wasn’t moving but protruding out at a forty-five degree angle punctured her back.  She’s still alive, her arm is reaching out to grab at Taylor. 

Taylor’s legs are tangled with Alina’s hanging limp legs.  She quickly pushes her legs away then scoots away from her across the floor and away from the machine. 

She lays there in shock at what she sees and has done.  Holding her hand to her belly she prays that her baby is alright.  Looking back up at Alina she sees her head fall forward she hears her death rattle, she’s dead. 

Taylor has no time for tears she’s got to find out what happened to Santo.  The gunfire and voices can still be heard, it’s all closer but she is unable to tell if what is near her is friend or foe. 

“Well….well….well….Looks like the bitch is dead.”  Taylor whips around startled by the words coming out of the familiar voice’s mouth. 

“Detective Hernandez?  Is that your men out there?  Are you here with Santo?”  Taylor frowns noticing his gun is pointed at her. 

He smirks walking over to Alina he checks her neck for a pulse. 

“Not exactly Ms. Simon but I thank you for getting rid of her so I didn’t have to.  Where are your men?  You know the fiancé, the boyfriend, the father who’s not your daddy?”  He is slowly walking toward her, she looks around for a place to run.