Read Double Cross [2] for Free Online Page A

loose, open to waves from the future.
    We’ll have sex tonight; I can feel it. Does it mean Otto’s over my attack on him? Of course it does. I squeeze his hand. Everything about this night has turned magical, and this dark, quiet neighborhood is suddenly the center of the universe.
    We round a corner and stroll past shuttered store-fronts.Across the way, a glass office tower is held up by giant concrete pillars; it looks like it’s on stilts. During the day, cars park under there.
    That’s where the three loud booms come from. Boom-boom-boom.
    Glass shatters. Car alarms wail. I freeze, bewildered.
    Suddenly two louder booms sound like cannons in my ear. It’s Otto, gun out, shooting at the pillars.
    I didn’t even realize we’d let go of each other’s hands, but there he is, running in the other direction, returning fire.
And drawing theirs.
    He yells, “Get him behind that car!”
    I see Covian on the ground, clutching his thigh. “Covian!”
    More gunfire. More windows break around us. Alarms are going crazy.
    “Go!” Otto says.
    “Shit!” I help Covian to safety behind a car a couple yards down. Otto continues to shoot.
    “Get down, boss,” Covian yells, face a tight mask of pain. He unfolds onto his back on the cold sidewalk. “Don’t let him—”
    “Shhh,” I say.
    Otto’s positioned himself behind a lone car at the other end of the block. The long stretch of sidewalk between us sparkles with broken glass.
    “How is he?” Otto calls over the cacophony of alarms.
    “I think he’s hit in the thigh,” I call back. There’s a major artery in the thigh I’m worried about, and I press the heel of my palm where I think it is. Covian breathes heavily.
    “Team on the way,” Otto calls. “You need my help?”
    “God, no!” Covian yells.
    “We’re fine!” I add. We’re not, but neither of us wants Otto crossing the open space. Covian clutches his thigh; then he lets go, like he can’t decide what to do. I can’ttell if he’s trying to help stanch the blood or lessen the pain. Sometimes he touches the side of his stomach. Blood’s on his pants, his hands, my hands. It’s getting cold. My fingers are numb.
    “I’m okay,” Covian says.
    The bloodstain creeps wider on his pants leg. I feel so helpless.
    “I’m pushing on where the artery is,” I explain to Covian. “Applying pressure. Okay?”
    Covian grunts his assent, then there’s more gunfire. “No!” Covian yells.
    I look over and gasp. Otto’s sprinting across the empty sidewalk. More gunfire. He slides in like a ballplayer.
    “Damn it!” I say.
    “Covian.” He crawls over and touches Covian’s forehead, then he takes his hand.
    Covian watches Otto’s face, like he’s finding strength there. The car alarms wail on.
    “You’re okay,” I say. “I’m just keeping up pressure.”
    “Don’t worry, Covian,” Otto adds. “Between the two of us, we have a great deal of vascular knowledge. You’re in excellent hands.”
    “With you two?” Covian barks out a laugh. It seems to cost him.
    Otto smiles, but his eyes stay dark with worry. Sirens scream in the distance.
    Covian whispers, “I couldn’t feel them coming!”
    “Of course not,” Otto says. “It’s the Dorks. It’s not your fault.” He pulls off his coat and settles it over Covian.
    I gape at the red bloom of blood on Otto’s shirtsleeve. “Your shoulder!”
    “Flesh wound,” he says.
    “Well, God,” I say.
    With a burst of energy that surprises me, Covian reaches up, grabs Otto’s collar, and pulls him down, almostlike he aims to kiss him. “Don’t go out again until they’re caught! Promise me you won’t take any more chances! Promise you’ll stay inside!”
    “I can’t make that promise,” Otto says.
    The sirens are closer. “Promise me!”
    “I’ve canceled my speeches,” Otto says. “All public events.”
    “You have to promise to stay inside!” Covian is really freaked out. They have a bond, those two. They came up together