I felt it hit me in the right shoulder, right where my vest doesn't cover. I give a slight wince as the bullet rips through the flesh and muscle tissue, taking a solid chunk out of the other side as it exits. The only thing I feel is a controlled, hate-fueled rage boiling inside me like it's ready to erupt from my torso through my throat. It hurts, but I keep moving forward. Another hit, directly in the vest. Doesn't penetrate but it smarts. Another, over the heart. No puncture again. They better hope I catch one in the head before I get my fucking hands on them. Another, followed by another, and another, all in the vest. I smile. Get my footing back and continue forward. This time another volley is hurdled at me. I don't know what they hit me with but it put me on my ass. "Get up you fucking pussy. It hit the vest again. Quit being a bitch and get up." I tell myself. I get up again, a lot slower this time. Ears are ringing, head is throbbing. They must be in shock that I got up from that one. I look at them down the open road. Their pussy, blacked out windows, fancy headlights, chrome grilles... all for show... all an act. I make eye contact with one of em. The fear in his eyes in more than present. Looks like he's holding the gun that shoulda put me down for good. It didn't. 20-gauge. Slugs. Surprised the vest held. Those Germans make good shit. I hold eye contact, never break it. Those were the eyes I saw when I watched my wife take the butt of the gun to the jaw. The eyes I saw when they raped her right in front of me. The eyes I saw when the slit her throat and had me tied to the pipes with a knife in my chest. The eyes I saw when he laughed when my little boy asked if mommy was okay. The eyes that beat his little head, until it looked like a pancake. The eyes that took his dead body and defiled it. The eyes. Without any care, I sprinted. Shoulda known they'd hit me with more bullets. Four guys and they can't put one man down. One man. Me. One bullet hits my leg. I fall. Roll through and get up again. Fuck that hurts. Not one wince. Making eye contact with every step. Another, right in the knee cap. I hit the ground. There's no getting up from this one. Footsteps. Here it comes. My impending death is just about here. He's over me now. Those eyes staring at me with a smirk. "So the bear finally falls..." he chuckles. Laughter comes from his crew. That rage from before is red hot in the back of my throat. All I can muster is a smile. A grin from ear to ear. Then a laugh comes out. A solid belly laugh. They start laughing too, we all know I'm dead in the next 30 seconds. I stop. Theres no way I'm sharing a laugh with these slimy fucks. He aims the shotgun at my head and asks; "any last words?" I didn't even have to think. I knew my next words would resonate through his skull and shake him. Even after my death, he would become lost in thought. Constantly distracted. It was all part of the plan. I spat the blood pooling in my mouth onto his boot, baring my teeth I spit the words out as if they were bitter cherries. "Jet fuel can't melt steel beams..."