Page 95 of Abundance of Obsession

I set off after them.

Nico might have looked like a laid-back guy, but I know better. He’s still a killing machine. Ruthless. Cruel.

And there’s my brother. My best friend. I’m going after him.

I leave the sniper rifle on the roof and grab a submachine gun. That’ll do.

A moment later, I’m already running across the square. Aside from the bodies, there’s not a soul here. We can still hear sporadic gunfire in the distance.

If any of Veirix’s men remain alive, they’ll either die soon or run away.

Before I slip into the shadows between the containers, a figure dressed in black emerges from around the corner. It’s one of them. He’s quick—before I can even react, the barrel of his gun is already pointed at me.

Unhurriedly, he walks toward me, and my heart stops. Something causes me to freeze from the inside out. The adrenaline narrows my focus to just the gun, nothing else. Not even the man on the other end of it. Just one thought comes to mind.

I promised her.

I should do something. Anything. Raise the gun and fire. Run away. Fight. Anything at all.

And I don’t know why I’m doing nothing. I see that gun a few steps away from me, and heat floods my insides, paralyzing everything in its path.

It’s not true that a person’s whole life flashes before their eyes when it’s about to end. At least not in my case, because I see clearly only what’s most important.

Her. In her yellow pajamas. The same ones she was wearing when she first hit me after we met. She was our hostage back then. In that instant, no other women existed for me.

I promised her.

That thought snaps me back to reality, and everything picks up speed again. Before I can bat an eyelid, a bullet cuts through the air. The man’s head jerks back, and he falls lifeless onto the pavement.

There’s a small hole in his forehead; his eyes are still open. A growing pool of blood spreads out beneath him. It’s beautiful.

“You’re welcome,” I hear Theo say in the earpiece.

I nod slightly, even if he can’t see that. “Thanks,” I say and step over the body.

Whatever it was, whatever happened just a moment ago, it will never happen again.

My movements are silent, zigzagging right and left. It’s a veritable maze.

I keep searching.

Step by step.

Where are you, Ry?

After a bit, I come out from between the shipping containers and onto a square that looks similar, but is much smaller. Before I’m spotted, I stop. Taking a step back, I melt into the shadows again.

My gun rises. I aim at my opponent.

Nico Ruiz and Ryker emerge onto the square from two opposite points. They’re holding guns aimed at each other.

Two mortal enemies.

I have no intention of taking that pleasure away from my brother. Let him shoot Nico himself. Though he doesn’t know it, I’m here for him. In case he needs help.

“Ryker Elliot,” Ruiz calls out. A small smile plays on his face. “Lost? This isn’t a playground.”

“You thought I wouldn’t find out?”