The bodies only just hit the floor when several more gang members shove their way into the tight space of the cottage hallway. Theo curses and shoves both me and himself to the side as a shotgun blast rings out. Plaster and pieces of stone explode outward as the pellets hit the wall next to us.
“Fucking shotguns,” I growl, the fiery pain scorching my left arm and shoulder making me grouchier than usual.
“Yeah, they don’t seem to be a fan of you either,” Theo mutters as he takes aim and shoots the shotgun wielder in the shoulder.
The gunman cries out and the shotgun clatters to the ground, thankfully not going off like the last one. I raise my gun and finish him off. The body drops and a new gang member takes his place, this time armed with fucking throwing knives. And the only reason I know that is because he lets one loose. The knife narrowly misses my good shoulder and thunks into the wall behind me.
Another knife sails through the air, this time toward Theo, who’s stalking toward the gang member. The knife misses and before he can let loose another one, Theo shoots him in the head.
“That’s the last time he’ll bring a knife to a gunfight.” Theo shakes his head and uses the slight reprieve to glance over his shoulder at us. “Everyone still breathing? Good.” He turns his attention back to the door and our next potential enemy.
Unfortunately, that’s when things go from bad to worse.
A deafening explosion rocks the cottage. Glass shatters and stone walls crumble as we’re all thrown to the ground from the blast and end up in a tangled mess of limbs.
Hot, all-consuming pain sears my left side and I bite my tongue to stop myself from crying out. The only reason I’m still conscious and lucidright now is because of the boat-load of adrenaline pumping through my veins. My ears ring from the explosion, making it hard to hear anything as I blink around the surrounding darkness.
Harsh, panicked breaths fan over my cheek and I turn to see Ollie lying next to me, her eyes wide and glazed with fear. Gone is the brave woman who disobeyed my orders to save mine and Theo’s asses, and in its place is a quivering mess of a woman with unseeing eyes. Something has set her off, and now she’s in the middle of a panic attack. But there’s nothing I can do to help her. Not when we’re in the middle of a fucking war zone.
I grab her shoulder and shake her as hard as I can. “Focus, princess!” I shout, only just hearing my voice over the ringing.
She blinks and while the terror is still there, it’s lessened enough to where she’s no longer frozen in panic. She gives me a jerky nod and flicks her gaze around us. I do the same, grimacing at the rubble littering what used to be the front hallway of the cottage. The wall that was once there is gone, allowing moonlight to filter through from the shattered window and missing outer wall.
Whatever bomb they just used, it completely fucked the cottage. We need to move before the structure caves in on us or they set off another bomb.
Gritting my teeth, I struggle to my feet, relieved to see that both Theo and Alex appear unharmed as they stand next to one another. Ollie follows our lead, wobbling to her feet beside Harlow, who’s covered in dust and speckled with blood but appears fine. I don’t dare glance at my wounded side, already knowing it’s going to be a mess of blood and torn flesh.
“We need to move,” I bite out, keeping my voice low now that I’m able tohear myself. “Fast.”
Theo nods, but Alex doesn’t appear to hear me, his eyes glued to my injury.
“Rhys…” he whispers, the horror clear on his pale face.
I shake my head. “Not now. The building could collapse on us at any moment. Now get your fucking asses moving!”
Surprisingly, Ollie is the first to obey my order. She picks her way through the rubble toward the back door that’s surprisingly intact. Apparently, being in a semi-panicked state makes her obedient.
With women before her, I would have enjoyed it, but not her. It feels wrong for her to be so quiet and docile. I need her steeled spine and fiery defiance that begs for me to tame her. Not this shell of a woman.
Shit. I really am fucked when it comes to her.
I shake the thought away and follow her, with Theo and Alex bringing up the rear. The only sound is our harsh breathing, the crunch of debris beneath our feet and the ominous creaking of the destroyed cottage around us. It’s eerie how quiet it is, and alarm bells blare in my mind.
Scourge gang members should be pouring into the cottage, or setting off more bombs at us, but there’s none of that. There’s no more fireworks outside or even the sound of people outside, almost like they just left.
Surely they don’t think the explosion killed us and aren’t bothering to check?
The skin between my shoulder blades itches and a sense of unease settles heavily on my chest. I reach out and grab Ollie’s shoulder before she steps through the doorway. “Wait here,” I tell her before glancing over my shoulder at my two brothers. “Something’s off. I’ll go first, then Theo and Alex, you take up the rear with Ollie.”
I turn, not waiting for them to agree, but a hand on my shoulder stops me.
“Rhys, you’re injured and in no state to take point,” Theo says, tightening his hand on my shoulder. “I’m taking point. Alex second, andyoubring up the rear with Ollie.”
I want to argue with him, but he’s right, even though I hate the idea of him walking blindly into danger. He doesn’t have the ten plus years of experience I have of walking onto battlefields, but there’s nothing I can do about that. I have to trust that his own experience and my training are enough to keep him safe.
I press my lips into a grim line and nod before moving back to stand beside Ollie and Harlow. Theo glances at Ollie, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he turns and steps through the door. Gunshots and shouts follow, causing Alex to hurry after him with his gun up and ready to fire. More gunshots ring out as Ollie and I emerge from the cottage last.
And straight into fucking hell.
