Chapter 29
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
ALYONA
My eyes shoot open, the movie that was playing is now finished, the screen of the TV black. Kira is asleep on the other end of the couch, but when a searing explosion rips through the air, her eyes fly open, and she springs to her feet.
“What the fuck was that?” she grits, fear lacing her voice. Drawing a pistol from her waistband, she disengages the safety and whirls around, scanning the room, her body taut and poised for action.
“We can check the cameras,” I suggest, my voice trembling.
“No time,” she snaps, her tactical training evident as she stealthily peers around the corner of the room. “We need to get to the safe room in the basement. Let’s go.”
I follow her down the long hallway that leads towards the basement, sticking close to her side.
An eerie silence has fallen. Maybe this is all a dream.
We’re inches from reaching the basement when another explosion thunders behind us, its shock wave accompanied by a blinding flash of light.
The house shudders, as if its very foundation is quaking.
Terror grips me as chaos descends. Arms wrap around me from behind, jerking me to a stop.
“Kira!” I yell, but someone has her too—a nameless, faceless man in a mask.
I’m dragged out of the house, flailing and fighting the entire time until my captor shoves a sharp object into my ribs and hisses a warning to stop resisting.
I don’t listen, because I know this is it. If I don’t fight with every fiber of my being, I’m as good as dead.
One thought emerges above all others.
Leo.
And despite everything—his betrayal, the secrets and lies—the idea of never being wrapped up in his strong arms, never feeling the warmth of his gaze, is something I can’t bear.
So I fight.
I fight until I can’t fight anymore.
Until the world fades to black.