The air leaves my lungs. I double over, and his elbow comes down on the back of my neck. I hit the floor hard, tasting blood, vision blurring. Everything hurts. I barely make out his form as he moves toward where my gun lays on the floor, bends to pick it up.
Shit.I try to get up, but my body won’t cooperate. Every fiber is screaming at me to stay down.
Shuren stalks back toward me, gun in hand, stalking toward me like a predator.
“You come into our house,” he says in a growl. “Threaten my father. Kill our people. And for what? Your bastard son who should have died with his whore of a mother?”
Rage gives me strength. I push up onto my knees, ready to launch myself at him even if it means taking lead —
But he’s faster. His boot catches me in the chest, sends me sprawling backward. Before I can recover, he’s on top of me, one knee on my chest, pinning me down. The barrel of my own gun pressed against my forehead.
“You’ve lost,” Shuren gloats.
Behind him, I can hear Omero and Raffaello struggling against Delan’s guards. They can’t help me. Can’t save me now.
I failed. Failed them. Failed Emmanuel. Failed Chloe. I failed myself.
His finger moves to the trigger, and I take a deep breath as I hear the hammer click back, resigned to my fate.
I think of Emmanuel. Of his smile. Of the castle bed I built him. The way he’d looked at me with absolute trust when I’d brought him home from the orphanage.
I think of Chloe. Of her fierce spirit. Of the way she felt in my arms. Of the promise I made to keep her safe. I think of all the things I’ll never get to say to her.
Then I hear it. Footsteps, running toward us from the hallway. And then everything goes to hell.
Chapter Twenty
Chloe
Iwait exactly thirty minutes after they leave before I make my move. Basili had made me promise to stay in the house. Ordered me, actually, with those intense eyes in that commanding voice that usually makes my knees weak.
But I can’t sit by and do nothing. Not while Emmanuel is in danger. And Basili. I’m done sitting on the sidelines while the people I love risk their lives.
The kitchen is desolate when I sneak through, heading for the garage. Slipping through the door with practiced quiet, I grab keys from the rack, choosing a nondescript black sedan instead of one of the flashier vehicles. Less flashy would mean less attention.
The drive to my father’s compound takes twenty minutes. I spend the entirety of those twenty minutes second-guessing my choices, wondering if I’m making a huge mistake, knowing Basili will be furious.
If Shuren leaves him alive long enough to be furious.
Don’t think like that.I chastise myself. Basili’s a strong fighter; I have to believe he’ll be fine.
I pull up to the compound, and my heart sinks. The guard booth is empty. The gate was left wide open. It’s already begun.
I drive through, following the circular driveway toward the main house, spotting bodies on the ground, Tao guards. I hope. There’s blood on the pristine walkway leading to the front door.
I park and get out, my legs weak. Gunfire sounds from inside the house. Shouting. The sound of breaking glass. I move toward the front door, stepping over debris. It’s been blown off its hinges and straight into chaos.
There are four men in the foyer, two of Basili’s men and two Tao soldiers on the second landing. Neither side notices me as I slip past them, into a side hallway. Stepping over more crumpled bodies. More blood.
Ahead of me, I see two guards posted outside a side door, weapons drawn, shouting into radios. And between them, on his knees with a gun to his head, is Omero.
“Don’t fucking move,” one of the guards snarls at him. “We’ve got orders to execute any prisoners —”
“Wait!” The word bursts from me without a thought.
Both guards spin toward me, weapons raised.
“Who the hell —”
