Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“I’ve got a simpler idea,” Damon snaps, walking back across the room.
I can’t see him when he walks around to face Maddie, but I know he must be pointing his gun at her. I can feel it in the mayhem it causes in her body. She’s shaking all over. Then she begins to scream through the gag, a sound that cuts me to my core.
“You’ve got five seconds to stop, missy,” he growls. “Otherwise, your friend will feel a warm splatter on the back of her head. Is that what you want, hmm? Remember what I said? One bullet could take both of you. So shut the fuck up. Five, four, three …”
Maddie’s panic gets so intense that the tied-together chairs fall sideways.
I grunt when my shoulder slams into the sticky bar floor.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
LANDON
Before the diagnosis, the logical Landon never would’ve considered what I was about to do. It’s like time slows as the chairs fall to the floor. Lily lets out a yelp of shock and fear, giving me all the fuel I need. Something in me hardens when she slams into the floor: a primal instinct, the animal, the demon. Whatever the fuck the world wants to call it.
I leap to my feet and spring at the man with the broken nose. He roars as I reach into his waistband, snatch the gun free, and then spin and fire a shot right at Damon. The muzzle flash blinds us, but when my vision returns a moment later—my ears are ringing like crazy—I see Damon drop to the floor. Maddie screams even louder through the bindings.
I dart at the man with the broken nose, wrap my arm around his throat, and bring the gun to his head. It all happens so damn fast. It’s like I black out again, but not as literally.
“Fuck,” my hostage gasps as I drive the gun against the side of his head. “Fuck, fuck …”
I begin dragging the man toward the chairs. The other men are all closing in on me, all with their guns in their hands now. There are at least seven of them. The metal of their weapons gleam. I want to lean down and pick Lily and her friend up, but I can’t let go of this man.
Damon has died quickly, making no noise except for a gurgle. Adrenalin pumps through me, but it seems distant. Just like the last time I committed murder, there’s no guilt. There’s no shame. Maybe that means there’s something wrong with me.
“Move forward a little,” I growl in my hostage’s ear.
He lets out a whimper, no longer the tough guy he was when he had the upper hand. When he steps forward, I push the gun against the back of his head. With my other hand, I take out my cell.
“Your boss is dead,” I tell the men as I navigate to Lex’s number. “You’ve got two choices now. Risk your friend here going the same way for no reason, no gain, since your boss is gone. There’s nothing you can do about it now. Or you can leave and fight another day. Wait, there’s a third option. You can wait here while my very well-trained and very fucking merciless mercenaries arrive. The choice is yours.”
I send Lex a text with the address. Then I wrap my arm around the man’s neck again.
“Fuck,” one of the goons grunts. “Fuck.”
Slowly, they filter out of the bar. I don’t let my guard down, though. I keep my eyes on them. I keep the coldness inside of me, the knowledge that I may have to keep shooting, keep killing. Once the last man has gone, the hostage says, “What about me?”
“You’re waiting here until I know we’re safe,” I snarl. “Lily, I’m sorry. I can’t help you and your friend until my backup arrives.”
“It’s okay,” she says from the floor. “Maddie, listen, just breathe. It’s all over now. Landon has saved us. It’s over, okay?”
We stay like this for some time. It takes all my effort not to turn and hold Lily. I feel free to let him go only when the door opens and Lex busts in. Lex runs across the room and grabs the man. More men filter in, spreading out.
I kneel down and lift the entangled chairs. On the other side, one of Lex’s men begins untying Maddie. I cradle Lily’s face in my hands, feeling her warmth and tears.
“Lily,” I whisper.
“I’m okay,” she replies.
“Lily …”
There’s so much else I want to say, but it’s like words fail me. Instead, I lean in and hug her tightly. She buries her face in my chest. I cradle her like I never want to let go. No, not like that. It’s the truth of what I want and need, but I must remember …
“Don’t think about anything else,” she whispers into my neck.