Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
The abrupt shift from intimate pleasure to immediate danger was disorienting. My heated body still tingled from Kaz’s touch; my heart pounded in sync with the residual echoes of our shared climax.
But all thoughts of desire evaporated as a cold surge of dread coursed through my veins.
“Stay behind me.” Kaz turned around, blocking me with his back.
His men rushed our way, raised their guns in the air, and created a human barrier around us—a living shield.
My whole body tensed up, my muscles trembling with terror. Every nerve felt heightened and on edge, making my skin prickle.
Who the hell could be coming for us now?
The metallic taste of anxiety flooded my mouth, like I had just been hit in the face with a bolt of lightning.
Then, the rat-a-tat-tat of machine guns rattled from the alley.
Rapid and intimidating.
We all turned our views that way.
Someone is trying to come in from the back.
Then, a barrage of bullets erupted from the front, drowning out dancers’ screams.
Kaz and I turned our attention to that direction.
Holy fucking shit.
Chaos reigned supreme.
The lights blinked, flickering on and off.
On and off.
Illuminating the hallway and then drowning us in shadows.
It created a disorienting effect that added to the horror.
I got closer to Kaz. “You think this is the Mexicans, Columbians, both, or someone else?”
“Whoever it is, they are coming from both sides, and they do not want any survivors.” Kaz quickly scanned our surroundings. probably for potential escape routes.
They want us dead? Not fucking happening.
Survival mode kicked in.
I moved from behind Kaz and tapped one of his men. “Give us some guns.”
Without missing a beat, his men handed Kaz and me Glocks.
The moment the sleek, cold steel touched my palms, a familiar rush of adrenaline surged through my veins. My fingers instinctively wrapped around the grip, feeling the weight and balance of the weapon as if greeting an old friend.
Fuck whoever this is.
I quickly checked the chamber, ensuring it was loaded, all the while stealing a glance at Kaz.
With practiced ease, he pulled back the slide of his Glock. The metallic click echoed slightly. His eyes met mine for a fleeting moment and grew dark and intense.
Damn it, Kaz. Don’t you even think about it that way.
Then, he turned back to the exit.
Even though brief, that gaze spoke volumes.
I witnessed the primal, alpha possessiveness that had surged to the forefront of his being. I even heard the vow he said in his head, in that moment, his look spoke volumes. It was in the swell of rage in his eyes and the twitch along his jawline, that telltale sign of his escalating fury and protective instincts.
In that fleeting moment, I understood that his world had narrowed down to a single point—me, and the future we dreamed of with Emilio and Paolo.
Kaz was ready to burn the world down to keep me safe so that I could get back to his sons and raise them.
But with this realization came the weight of responsibility on my part. I knew that in his tunnel vision, Kaz’s own safety was secondary. It would be a distant thought overshadowed by his concern for me.
Therefore, I had to be his anchor, his shield, just as he was mine.
Kaz gazed back at me. “Do not worry. You will get out safe, mysh.”
I shifted slightly, ensuring a clear line of sight over his shoulder. My finger rested lightly on the trigger, ready to defend, to protect, to fight for the future we envisioned. “We will get out safe, Kaz. Not just me.”
He scowled.
Another man handed us more clips.
I took them and stuffed a few in my bra.
Kaz pocketed what he could.
More bombs exploded with deafening roars, both in front and behind us, shaking the ground beneath our feet.
Shit!
The blasts sent shockwaves through my body, and a suffocating cloud of dust and debris filled the space.
I covered my mouth and coughed, trying to clear my lungs of the dust.
My heart drummed in my chest.
Terror gripped me with icy fingers, a cold dread that made it hard to think, but I had to figure it the fuck out.
We are not dying in here. Emilio and Paolo need us both.
Through this new dusty smokey haze, I could barely see Kaz’s silhouette right next to me.
His men—now more like shadows than people—formed a tight circle around us, their guns at the ready, scanning for threats through the chaos.
The smell of gunpowder and the iron tang of blood hung heavy in the air, mixing with the acrid bite of smoke.
Come on. Why couldn’t shit have just gone right tonight?
I gripped the Glock tighter. “What do we do?”
Kaz’s voice cut through the chaos. “We need to move.”
“Yeah.” I glanced back and forth. “But, which way do you think is the best way?”
“We can go back into the main room, but head straight for the bathrooms and climb out the windows. We should come out in an alley.”