Josh steadied Ginger and propped her against the hallway wall. Give me the phone, Mom. I'm calling the police again, tell them what's going on.

Crack!

Ginger's eyes flew wide. Her heart was pounding so hard she was afraid it would pop through her ribs. Was that a gunshot? she wailed.

Josh nodded, looking scared to death. He yanked Ginger down to the floor and began to dial 911. His fingers were trembling. Gunshots fired at 890 Green Street, number eight! Hurry!

They heard another shot, followed by the shatter of glass. Ginger screamed and covered her ears. She clenched her eyes shut. Her entire body began to shake in terror. This can't happen! Please, God, don't let this happen! Not my boy! Not Lucio!

Strong hands pulled her up. She opened her eyes, hoping against hope that she would see Lucio, alive and well

It was Larry. He hovered over her with his eyes swollen into slits and his face puffed up and crusted with blood.

Don't worry, babe, he said, gulping down air. I'm going in.

Lucio had opened the door to Piers's apartment and slid into a small alcove just inside, where he could remain hidden for a few seconds. He hadn't heard anythingno voices, no sounds. So he slowly peeked around the corner. No one was in the living room or kitchen. Had Piers taken Jason somewhere? Oh God, no! That possibility hadn't even occurred to him! Where could they have gone?

Suddenly, Lucio saw movement beyond the kitchen, out on the balcony. For an instant, he didn't understand what he was seeingPiers had his back to him. He seemed to be leaning over in some wayover the railing? Where was Jason?

Lucio ran. He knew that Piers would hear him coming but decided he had no choice. If Piers was doing what Lucio feared he was, there wasn't a second to spare.

Lucio dove through the open balcony doors. As he flew through the air, Piers turned, aimed a gun, and Lucio heard a loud pop! as a jolt of pain raced down his right leg. He landed on Piers with a thud, and locked his arms around his neck.

Piers's arm waved around wildly, and the gun went off again, shattering the glass door.

It was then that Lucio had a chance to look down. He was greeted by Jason's terrified eyes staring up at him. There was a bright red gash over his brow and cheek and his hands gripped the wrought-iron spindles of the railing. He was dangling four stories above the street by sheer determination.

Hang on! Lucio called to him. I will get you.

Piers swung his shoulder and elbowed Lucio in the gut. Lucio hit the balcony floor with a thud. He knew he'd been shot but couldn't spare a second to find out how bad it was.

Piers aimed the gun at him again, but his entire arm was shaking. The big man looked as terrified as Jason.

Lucio used his uninjured left leg to kick the weapon from his hand, and watched it skitter across the concrete and fall over the edge. Then Lucio popped up to a sitting position and shoved his hand up into Piers's crotch. He twisted and pulled until Piers's face was purple.

Then Lucio punched him in the stomach.

Piers hit the outside wall of the balcony and slid down. Lucio got up, hopped on one leg, and leaned over the balcony railing, holding an arm down to Jason.

Listen to me, he said calmly, despite the fact that he was anything but calmLucio knew his body was going into shock. Take my hand. Instantly, Jason let go of the iron bars with his right hand and clasped onto Lucio. Then he did the same with his left.

Lucio hooked the foot of his uninjured leg under the railing to provide leverage. Good, he said. Swing your foot up to the edge of the balcony. I'll pull you

A crushing pain went through Lucio as his chest was smashed into the iron rail. Piers was on him like a wild animalkicking, howling, doing his best to gouge out Lucio's eyes. Unfortunately, Lucio had just gripped Jason's hand and was in the process of pulling him uphe could not let go. If he did, Jason would fall.

Grab the bars again! Lucio screamed.

I can't!

Piers delivered a blow to Lucio's arm, right at the elbow. Lucio felt the bones break. He lost his grip on Jason.

Noooo! Lucio screamed.

Jason managed to grasp a single iron bar, and he swayed violently, his fingers slowly separating, loosening

Help me! he called out. Oh, God!

Everything happened at once. Lucio heard the unmistakable sound of a damaging uppercut hitting bone. Piers fell away from his body, giving Lucio the single instant he needed to lean far across the railing and grab Jason's wristjust as the boy's fingers lost their hold. Lucio had him, but he'd lost his foothold. With a broken arm and a bullet in one of his legs, he didn't have the strength to stop from sliding over the railing himself.

Lucio! he heard Ginger scream.

Jason! he heard Josh scream.

Police sirens were wailing louder and louder.

Do not let go of my boy, Larry said, his arms seizing Lucio around the waist and slowly, carefully pulling him back over the rail.

Here! Josh said, offering Jason his other arm. His brother grabbed it.

I've got him now, Larry said, once Lucio was upright. Lucio watched Larry grab Jason's other wrist while simultaneously grabbing the boy by the shirt collar. Josh and Larry had done itJason was saved. His mother was holding him and crying with relief.

Just then, the pain slammed into him. Lucio staggered backward. Larry grabbed him by the shirt as he began to fall and slowly lowered him down into Genevieve's waiting arms.

She cradled his upper body as he lay on the balcony floor. You've been shot, she said. Oh, my God, Lucio. Don't die!

I'm not going to die, guapa, he told her, hoping to God he was correct. The entire right side of his body throbbed. He was on fire with the pain.

You can't die, she whispered to him, stroking his head, kissing his hair.

I will not leave you, he whispered, feeling his strength begin to fade.

You can't leave our baby, she said.

Lucio tried to sit up but his body seized in agony. What? he gasped, pulling Genevieve down closer. A baby?

Yes, Lucio. I just found out. I'm pregnant. The night of the earthquake

Lucio's body was racked with pain and joy at the very same instant. All he could do was pull Genevieve to him and kiss her. I am so happy, he whispered. You have made me so happy.

Oh, shit.

The flatness in Larry's curse made Lucio's blood run cold. He raised his head enough to see what had happened. Jason was fine, sitting on the concrete on the other side of his mother, Josh holding him. Larry was standing near what used to be the sliding glass door. But Piers was standing on the thin iron railing, arms stretched out to his sides, precariously balanced. He stared down at Lucio with crazed grief in his eyes.

Please don't, Lucio croaked out.

Do you know what Sylvie said to me just before she died? Piers asked, his eyes wild, his balance growing unsteady.

Come on down, Larry said. We'll figure all this out. Don't do this.

If you come an inch closer I will jump. Piers glanced down at the sea of emergency vehicles pulling up to the apartment building and let out a bitter laugh.

Picture this, my charming friend, Piers said, staring directly at Lucio. It was the middle of the night. The lights were off. It was just Sylvie and me, in the glow of all her machines. I hadn't slept for three weeks, at her bedside every day, all day. Her eyes suddenly opened. I moved up to put my face next to hers. I put my lips against her cheek. And do you know what she said to me?

Josh had left Jason and was crawling across the balcony floor. He got a few feet behind Piers and went into a crouch, ready to spring.

What did she say? Lucio fought to hold on to consciousness, trying to keep him talking.

Piers got a peaceful look on his face. Lucio had seen that look one other time, when he had sat on this very same balcony with him, talking of Sylvie.