Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
I couldn’t get up.
I couldn’t move.
I closed my eyes…and waited for someone to get me.
Chapter 18
Theo
I charged at the guy in front of me, and he sprayed me with bullets.
My body pulsed several times as the bullets struck the vest. The impact would leave bullet-sized bruises behind. “You missed, asshole.” I slammed my gun into his face and knocked him out like a light.
The broken gate had collapsed on the ground, and the path to the house was clear. Octavio and my men continued to fight Bolton’s security along the fence. They were outnumbered and unprepared. I knew I would lose some guys, but Bolton would lose all his guys.
Axel trailed behind me. “You alright?”
“That was the easy part. Now comes the hard part.”
Axel changed out the rounds on his rifle then caught up to me. “I’ll cover you.”
“I know.” I didn’t waste my time trying to open the front door. I aimed my rifle at the lock and the hinges and fired until the door became unlevel. When it was loose, I kicked my foot into it several times before it fell in.
Axel aimed his rifle, ready for whatever trick Bolton had up his sleeve.
I stepped into the house and did a quick scan of the foyer. The lights were off. There was a table with a vase of lilies, the walls had paintings of flowers in watercolors, and two curved staircases were on either side of the entry that led upstairs.
I went through the grand opening that led to the rest of the house. “Astrid?” Bolton would know where I was, so there was no use in hiding it. I moved through the kitchen and used it for cover as I checked the living room and the hallway.
Axel was quiet behind me, my second pair of eyes, constantly scanning.
I moved to the hallway. “Astrid,” I called her name and prayed I would hear her say mine back.
But the house was quiet.
“The only way he could have gotten out of here is by chopper,” Axel said. “And we both know that didn’t happen. Must be a safe room.”
“Let’s clear the house before we search.” I moved into the hallway, my gun held at the ready because that asshole could jump out at any moment. When I turned the corner, I spotted a mass on the floor down the hall, so I dodged back behind the corner for cover.
Axel moved to the opposite wall and readied his gun, prepared to shoot if someone came around.
I poked my head and looked again.
Two bodies were lying there.
And one of them was Astrid. “Astrid.” I came around the corner and moved over the thick rug that muffled my footsteps. Axel must have found the switch on the wall because he flicked it on and revealed the horror show.
A huge pool of blood was soaking into the rug…and it came from Bolton.
He’d been shot in the face. His nose and right eye were missing. The gun was there, in a puddle of blood.
I rushed to Astrid next. “Astrid.” I grabbed her and immediately searched for a pulse in her neck. Checked that she was breathing because it seemed like she wasn’t. She had no wound that I could see, but she seemed dead.
I turned her over and pressed my thumb into her neck. “She has a pulse. It’s strong.”
Axel continued to examine Bolton. “What the fuck happened?”
“Sweetheart.” I tried to wake her gently by giving her a shake, by turning her face toward me. “Sweetheart, I need you to wake up.” I checked her pulse again, slow because she was asleep, but still strong.
“Did he poison her?”
I saw the vomit that had been next to her. It was hard to know exactly what had happened, but I had a guess. “She shot him and passed out.”
Axel rolled Bolton over and checked for a pulse. “Unless he killed himself…and she still passed out.”
“He wouldn’t shoot himself in the face.” I scooped my arms underneath her and lifted her to my chest. “You’re sure he’s dead?”
“Yeah, he’s fucking dead.”
“Bring him too.”
“What’s your plan? Oil drum?”
“We’ll figure it out later.” I cradled her to my chest and walked out with her. By the time I left through the front door, the gunshots had stopped. Bolton’s men who had survived seemed to have surrendered.
I looked down at her, dead asleep like she was in my bed beside me every night, almost peaceful. Whatever happened had obviously scarred her, but I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.
I didn’t have to kill him, because she already had.
We got on the plane.
I’d only lost a handful of guys, and Octavio and the others made sure their bodies were loaded on to the plane. They deserved an honorable resting place, not to be left behind in a different country.
Bolton’s body was kept separate from the rest of them.