Chapter 25 – Sage
I love you, Sage .
The words repeat in my head as I watch Elias storm off.
He didn’t wait for me to say it back.
I could have yelled it, made sure he knew I felt the same, but he’s right. He needs to focus. If I were to distract him, and he gets hurt, or worse, killed, I’d never forgive myself.
I anxiously watch as Elias and his men enter the home. After no more than a minute, there’s an explosion and gunfire erupts.
“Elias!”
Oh, hell no. My man is not going to die.
I’m going in. If I’m serious about being part of Elias’s life, then I need to face my fears. I need to face the dangers of this world and learn how to fight back.
Plus, I’m worried as hell about my bestie and my fiancé .
My heart drums in my chest as I get out of the SUV. I don’t get far when one of Elias’s men stops me.
Jax.
The man I hit with a vase all those weeks ago.
So we meet again.
“Ma’am. You can’t go in there.”
“Don’t make me fight you, big guy.”
He smirks and crosses his arms, blocking my way.
“I already took you out once, I’ll do it again.”
“I’d like to see you—”
Before he can finish the sentence, I knee him in the nuts. He crumples to the ground, holding his jewels.
“Sorry,” I hiss and run off toward the home.
Even though the gunfire has died down, I use caution as I approach. I divert my eyes from all the dead bodies and focus on finding Elias and Noah.
Broken glass crunches underneath my shoes when I walk through the open front door, and I’m glad I threw on my sneakers before leaving the penthouse.
In the living room, I spot someone. They’re holding a gun, uneasy on their feet as they attempt to sneak up on Elias .
Not today, asshole.
I spot a gun on the blood-stained hardwood floor and grab it. My hands shake as I point it at the massive man stalking Elias. He lifts his hand, prepared to shoot, but I pull the trigger first .
He humphs when it hits him in the upper back.
“Sage?” Elias asks, turning toward me.
He reaches me in three large strides and brings me into his arms as more people pile into the home. I close my eyes and cover my ears as three shots are fired.
Exactly three.
Upon opening my eyes, I spot three men dead on the ground, including the guy I shot in the back... who now has a bullet hole in his head.
I didn’t kill him .
Elias pulls away and smooths hair off my face.
“What are you doing in here?”
“The explosion. I thought... I’m sorry.”
Fuck. I’m crying again.
“Don’t be sorry. You saved my life. I didn’t hear that man approaching. Have you ever used a gun before?”
I shake my head.
“You're fucking perfect.”
“Elias!” a man yells and waves us over. He points down into the basement.
Elias releases me and calls Del’s name from the top of the stairs.
He’s on the move, descending the steps, careful to avoid the ones that are gone. I’m prepared to follow him down there, but he stops and glances over his shoulder.
“Stay here, Reine.”
“Sage is here?” I hear Noah say, her voice panicked .
Noah! She’s alive. I consider ignoring Elias’s order, then take in the appearance of the stairs again. Okay, maybe not. They’re not in good shape, and Elias, Noah, and Del still need to use them to get out. So I wait at the top, watching as Elias approaches his brother and holds out his hand.
“Give me the gun.” There’s a pause. I can’t see Del because Elias is now blocking my view of him and the rest of the basement. “I need to do it.”
“Pathetic,” a man says. “Have I taught you nothing, Elias? This is not how the QBM Don should lead. I hand my legacy over, and you share it with the enemy?”
Wait... is that their father? I thought he died.
I jump at the sound of a gunshot followed by a muffled thump. Elias moves out of the way revealing a big man—who looks like an older version of himself—on the ground with a bullet hole to the head.
Holy shit.
Elias just shot his father.