Chapter Twenty-Eight #3
I’m going to kill them, and I’m going to enjoy every second of it. I’ll make sure they beg for mercy.
London’s eyes are wide and unflinching as she looks at me.
Is she cursing my name?
Does she regret agreeing to the contract?
She blinks, and I see relief move over her face, but it’s gone so quickly, I wonder if I imagined it.
She probably thought you weren’t going to save her. Why would she, when you’ve spent most of your time together telling her there are no feelings involved?
I shouldn’t be offended by her surprise, but I am.
Until we pulled up outside the abandoned house, I’d been talking myself out of it.
A few times, I’d even almost succeeded.
Maybe it would’ve been better if I had.
“What’s your plan here? Fighting your way out?”
“It’s better than the alternative,” Lance replies.
He pulls London closer. “I know what you’ll do if you get your hands on me.”
He’s not wrong to be afraid, but I also know he’s not stupid.
There are three of us and one of him.
It doesn’t play out any other way, even with him holding London hostage.
She’s his Hail Mary, and he knows it.
I raise an eyebrow. “Then you also know it’ll be worse if you don’t let her go.”
Lance takes a step back and presses the gun harder against London’s skin, but she doesn’t flinch.
It makes me even more afraid for her.
I don’t like the crazed look in Lance’s eyes, and I realize how desperate he is.
Desperate men do crazy things. You can’t let it get that far, or who knows what he’ll do to London? Take control of the situation. Now.
“I don’t fucking believe you,” Lance responds. “As long as I have her, you won’t touch me.”
London groans as he pulls her backward. Fear and panic war within her, but she keeps her head held high and glances at a spot over my shoulder. A heartbeat later, her face goes smooth, and I wonder if she’s resigning herself to her fate or praying for a way out.
I’m not the miracle she prayed for, but I’m the one she’s stuck with.
A few moments pass while my mind whirls. Then, Katia comes around the corner, silently running toward me, and skids to a halt.
No one says anything else while I stand there, ignoring the pounding in the back of my skull.
They’re all waiting for me to make a move, to decide how the night plays out.
London’s fate shouldn’t be in my hands, but what choice does she have?
I take another step forward, and Lance uses his free hand to press down on London’s gash, earning a whimper in response. “I’m warning you, Payne. Don’t do anything fucking stupid.”
“That’s your specialty,” I tell him. “We both know this is over. Do yourself a favor, Lance, and choose a better side next time.”
“As if there’ll be a next time,” Lance mutters.
I take another step forward, and in one fluid move, I shoot him in the leg.
His face contorts in anger and disbelief as he loses his grip on London.
He flails for a few seconds, the blood draining from his face as he sways.
Then, an arm darts out and knocks London sideways, causing her to fall to a heap on the floor.
My heart is in my throat as I step over Lance, pausing to give him a few good kicks to the side.
Then I kneel beside London, relief flooding my system as I prop her up.
Her eyes are filled with tears, and her voice is muffled.
She squirms against the restraints, and I reach for her hands.
Before I’m done untying her, there’s a scuffle behind me.
I wheel around, but I’m too slow.
When I blink, Katia is standing over me, a stunned look on her face.
She glances down as a crimson stain appears on her side.
She presses two fingers there, rubs them together, and frowns.
I fumble for the gun and aim it at Lance, who is standing behind her, heaving, his teeth covered in blood.
I fire, and Carlisle charges Lance and tackles him.
I fire another bullet into Lance’s injured leg, and he twists and howls in pain.
Growling, I kick the gun from his hands and give him another kick to the side, earning a grunt of pain.
Carlisle lifts Lance by the scruff of his neck and brings his face up. “You’re going to pay for that, you piece of shit.”
Lance offers him a bloody smile and says nothing.
I turn to Katia, and she catches my gaze for a long moment before her knees give out, and she sinks to the ground.
I catch her before she hits the pavement. “What the fuck did you do?”
“My job.” Katia’s voice is strained. “We need to get out of here.”
“Damn straight.” I throw her arm around my shoulders and rise to my feet. I shoot Carlisle a quick look. “Take Katia, and let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Wordlessly, Carlisle takes Katia from me, and I help London to her feet.
Together, the four of us limp back down the stairs with our guns drawn.
We make it outside unscathed, and I spot the silver sedan in the distance.
Katia shoves Carlisle away and limps forward, taking out a few more people on her way.
Once we reach the car, I help London get into the back and climb in next to her.
Carlisle pushes Katia into the passenger seat and hits the gas.
It takes a long minute for the sedan to start, but soon enough, we’re speeding back toward the Payne estate. Katia crawls between the seats and settles in the back with us, her hand shaking as she rummages through the duffel bags.
My hand darts out, and I shake my head. “Enough. You’re done for the night.”
“We’re not safe yet,” Katia says without looking at me. She mutters something, and I draw her closer. “I need to get us back.”
“Back the fuck off, Katia. That’s an order.”
She glances up sharply, and our eyes meet.
I don’t break our gaze, and neither does she.
We hit a speedbump, and when London clears her throat, I look away. Katia leans against the door and peers at the bloodstain on her side. Then, she rips off a piece of fabric and ties it around her waist. I inch toward London and let my hands sweep over her, making sure she’s unhurt.
Once my hands close around her face, a sob falls from her lips, and she sags against me.
I don’t hug her, but I don’t move away, either.
Eventually, I drape an arm over her shoulders and use a rag to wipe her face.
I feel her eyes on me, but I don’t know if I can look at her just yet.
I’m the reason she’s in this mess, and my coming to save her doesn’t change that.
It will always be there between us.
No one follows us as the wrought-iron gates to the Payne estate shudder and allow us through.
Mathew is waiting at the foot of the stairs when we pull up.
He starts yelling at me, but I ignore him and nod to Carlisle, who whisks London away.
Then, I turn to Katia, move her arm back around my shoulders, and brush past my fuming brother.
Undeterred, Mathew follows us up the stairs, cursing us the entire time.
Staggering into the nearest room, Katia and I stumble into the guest bathroom.
I grope blindly for the light switch, and she winces as bright, fluorescent lights flood the room.
I place her on the edge of the bathtub and throw open the medicine cabinet.
I take out the first-aid kit, and Katia shoots me an amused look. “I can have someone take care of this.”
I kneel in front of her and pry open the box. “Shut the fuck up and let me take a look.”
I examine the wound and am relieved to see the bullet has gone clean through.
Then, I rummage through the kit until I find alcohol and disinfectant.
Katia hisses but doesn’t push me away for the half hour it takes me to close the wound.
I peel off my jacket when I’m done and hand it to her, and she doesn’t protest.
“You should be with London.”
“I thought you didn’t approve.” I run my hands under the faucet and avoid looking at her. “Don’t tell me you’ve gone soft.”
Katia and I have only ever seen each other in one light.
Tending to her wounds isn’t something either of us is used to.
Then again, she’s never had to take a bullet for me.
“I don’t approve.” Katia stands up, and I feel her behind me. “But I also know I’ve never seen you like this. She could be good for you.”
I finish washing my hands and pat them dry. “Did you get shot in the head, too?”
Katia makes an amused sound and shakes her head. “No, but I’ve never seen you that driven…”
I turn to face her. “It doesn’t mean a fucking thing. You know that better than anyone.”
“You raced to save her.”
“I don’t like being threatened.”
Katia raises a perfectly arched brow. “You got distracted, allowing Lance the opportunity to shoot you.”
I narrow my eyes. “Is this the thanks I get for helping you with your wound?”
Katia purses her lips. “I appreciate that, but you didn’t do it for the right reasons. You’re avoiding London.”
I scowl. “Why would I be doing that?”
“Because you don’t like how she makes you feel.”
“She’s a good fuck,” I maintain. “The Fitzpatricks and Everetts screwed up by assuming otherwise.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
I offer Katia a long, measured look. “Look at the mess she’s created. I’d be a fucking idiot to keep her around. Once she’s recovered, London is going to leave.”
I’m sure she’s already planning ways to get away from me.
The only difference is that this time, I’ll let her.
Katia cocks her head. “You’re going to let her out of her contract?”
“I’m the reason she was kidnapped. I can’t expect her to pay off her debt in peace now. They’ll come for her again, and I don’t want the headache of having to clean up any more of her messes.”
Regardless of what she’s awakened in me, I can’t let that happen.
Katia sighs. “And if she doesn’t leave?”
I study Katia, a woman I’ve known my whole life, and am startled to realize I’m looking at a stranger. “She is going to leave. She’d be stupid not to.”
“Stranger things have happened,” Katia offers with a smirk. “I’ll be back with a progress report.”