Marcus slams Declan against the wall, and time slows as I watch Declan’s knees buckle.
“Should’ve stayed out of this,” Marcus snarls, drawing back for another strike.
The sight ignites something primal in my chest. Eight years of Marcus’s betrayal, his methodical dismantling of my life, his threats against Eve—it all crystallizes into pure rage.
My body screams in protest as I push off from the workbench. The room spins, but I lock onto Marcus’s exposed back. One chance. That’s all I need.
“Marcus!” I roar, launching forward with everything I have left.
The impact drives us both to the ground. I hear his grunt of surprise and feel the solid mass of him beneath me as we crash onto the concrete. The pipe clatters away, forgotten in the chaos.
“You never learn,” Marcus spits, trying to throw me off.
But I hold on, my bloodied fingers digging into his jacket. “Neither do you.”
The momentary distraction is all Declan needs. His boot connects with Marcus’s jaw in a devastating arc, and I feel the impact reverberate through both our bodies.
Marcus goes limp beneath me, and I collapse beside him, every muscle trembling from exertion. The blow had been lethal, and I felt frustrated that I wasn’t the one who ended it all. The basement’s flickering light paints shadows across his unconscious face as blood pools beneath his head.
“Took you long enough,” I manage through gritted teeth, looking up at Declan.
The room sways as Nolan and Greyson methodically dispatch the remaining guards. The sounds of combat fade into grunts and final thuds of bodies hitting concrete. My legs buckle, and Declan catches me before I crash to the floor. Every breath feels like glass in my lungs.
“Your ribs are probably broken,” Declan mutters, supporting my weight.
“Tell me,” I rasp, gripping his jacket. “Is Liv really up there with Ano?”
The silence that follows tells me everything. Nolan and Greyson exchange loaded glances, their faces grim.
“Fuck!” I try to push away from Declan, but my body betrays me. “We have to get to her. Now.”
“Remy—” Declan starts.
“I’m not leaving without Eve.” The words tear from my raw throat, tasting of copper and desperation. “You hear me? I won’t abandon her to that monster.”
Declan’s grip on me tightens. “We’ll come back for her. Right now, you’re our priority. You can barely stand.”
“I don’t care.” I struggle against his hold, ignoring the white-hot pain lancing through my chest. “He’ll kill her.”
“And you’ll die trying to reach her in this condition,” Declan snaps. “Nolan, Greyson—cover our exit. We’re moving.”
“No!” I throw my elbow back, catching Declan in the ribs. He grunts but doesn’t release me. “Let me go, damn it!”
“Stop fighting us,” Declan growls, wrestling me toward the stairs. “We’re not letting you commit suicide.”
My legs give out completely, and Declan has to drag me. Every movement sends fresh agony through my battered body, but I keep fighting. “She trusted me. I promised to protect her.”
“And you will,” Declan says, his voice hard. “But not like this. Not half-dead and running on rage. We will bring you out and in the car, and we’ll come back for Liv immediately.”
Darkness creeps in as exhaustion crashes over me in waves. Still, I curse and struggle, even as Declan’s iron grip holds me back from my own destruction.
“Eve,” I choke out, her name a prayer and a curse. “Please…”
But fatigue wins, pulling me under despite my desperate need to reach her.
Chapter 28
I push through the heavy doors of the FBI building into Chicago’s cooling air. Sunset bleeds across the sky, marking twelve hours since everything changed. Twelve hours of statements, evidence processing, and endless questions. My body aches with every movement, a reminder of my father’s fury before the FBI stormed his mansion.
