I unholstered his gun and pushed to my feet, emptying the mag into a disoriented Johnny.
Rounding the desk, I kicked his gun away from his grasp. The motherfucker was so big that it would probably take him a few more minutes to die, even with eight rounds to the chest. He was gasping, arms blindly reaching out. I shook my head.
Movement in my peripheral caught my eye. Snapping my head to the surveillance feed, I saw three of Cillian’s men surrounding Silas, their weapons drawn.
“No!”
Grabbing Johnny’s gun, I bolted out the door.
Thirty-Four
LENI
My lungs were on fire as I recklessly tore through the estate. Watching my six and trying to remain inconspicuous were not an option. I blew past corners with no visibility and darted into dark corridors. There was no time to strategize or avoid the eyes and bullets of whoever could be lurking. Silas needed me. I heard voices and shouts as I reached the bottom of the spiraled staircase that led into his holding cell. But before I could process another thought, a hail of gunfire erupted inside the room, bringing me to my knees.
“No…” The word left my lips as a strangled whisper, and every ounce of strength and resolve disintegrated. My heart sank, and hot tears spilled over. He was gone. I was too late.
Shaking my head, I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Fuck… FUCK!” I cried out, uncaring if they heard me, if they came blasting through that goddamn door and killed me too. At that moment, nothing mattered. This man I’d intended to kill that first night had become so important to me. I wasn’t aware how he’d managed to slip through the cracks of my heart that were never meant to be open to the possibility of love. And maybe it wasn’t yet, but I knew I could love him one day. I felt it.
I rested my forehead on the cold floor and cried, waiting for the inevitable. Maybe somewhere in this fucked-up life, we had done something right. Something good. And maybe we’d see each other again. I had to believe that.
“Leni, love…”
My breath hitched at the sound of Silas’s voice. I froze, unable to process what I’d heard. As I lifted my gaze slowly, I was met with a smile I thought I’d never see again. “I thought you…I heard the shots…”
I sprung to my feet, and even though every cell in my body wanted to tackle him to the floor, I knew he was hurt, so I carefully wound my arms around him and cried into his chest. “You’re alive.”
“I’ve seen better days, love, but I’m here.”
I leaned my chin against him and looked up, offering a frail smile and blinking away tears. “Santino?”
He nodded. “Yeah. He finally made it to the party, huh?”
Silas caressed my cheek, forehead creased with concern. “All this is blood. Is it yours? Are you hurt?”
“It’s nothing serious. And most of it isn’t mine.”
He squeezed me tighter with his good arm and looked around cautiously. “Cillian.”
“He’s dead.”
Understanding lit up his face.
“God, I want to fuck you right here. You’re so amazing.” Silas dipped his head, lips brushing over mine, when someone cleared their throat behind us.
“At least wait till we’re on the plane, or preferably a hotel.”
I peered around Silas, spotting Santino beneath the door frame. “I’m glad you finally decided to show. Carried this whole damn operation on my own.”
Scoffing, he rolled his eyes. “It was like a fucking maze down there. Tell me again, why the hell did we split up?”
He knew Cillian’s men would have picked him off on the front lawn before they came within five feet of the door. A woman in a revealing dress—well, that was different, and it proved to be their downfall.
Santino ordered his five men to scour the property for stragglers, taking no prisoners.
“Let’s get that taken care of. Wouldn’t want to scar up your pretty face,” he joked, clapping Silas on the shoulder, causing him to wince.
