Page 295 of Vicious Temptation

“Remi.”

“Bingo. Is this the part where I tell you my villain origin story?” She laughs under her breath. “I would, Braga, but I’m afraid you wouldn’t understand.”

Gunfire breaks out somewhere inside the building, shots echoing through the concrete corridors until I can’t tell how close they are.

A sick feeling takes hold of me as I stare at the door.

But Remi still hates me. She wanted me dead and made that perfectly clear the last time I saw her. She wouldn't come for me.

“You’re wasting your time. She isn’t coming.”

Elena doesn’t answer as she slides her phone into her back pocket and shrugs off her jacket. Then I see what she’s wearing underneath. Black webbing wraps around her torso, securing bricks of C-4 across her chest.

My attention locks onto the detonator strapped beside them as the vest’s purpose becomes horrifyingly clear.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“Don’t look so shocked.” Elena turns to face me. “I have no intention of dying here today, but a girl has to have a little insurance, don’t you think?”

I stare at the explosives, then back at her.

“Commander, this isn’t you. You joined Helios for the same reason I did, to save lives. Whatever this is, you can stop it right here before anyone else gets hurt.”

Her laughter fills the room. “Still trying to save everyone. That’s adorable. Unfortunately, I’d rather not take moral advice from the man who’s been fucking the enemy.”

She takes another step and smiles. “Although, I am sorry about ruining your dinner plans.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Dinner with the family.” She taps the phone in her pocket. “You two really should’ve been more careful about what you sent through this thing.”

“You were reading my messages?”

“Tracking them, reading them. I had access to everything.” She shrugs. “When I saw you were finally meeting the family, I decided it was the perfect night for Remi to learn who she was bringing home.” Her eyes drop to my abdomen. “I take it that didn’t go over too well, huh?”

“You fucking bitch.” My hands ball into fists behind the chair. “You planned every goddamn part of this.”

Elena grins. “You have no idea.”

I open my mouth to demand what else she’s done, but another burst of gunfire rips through the building, closer than the last.

“Any moment now.” Elena draws her sidearm and circles behind me. “Isn’t this exciting?” she singsongs as the barrel presses against my temple. “We’re about to find out who’s behind door number one.”

I barely recognize her anymore. Commander Elena has always been calculated and disciplined, and every decision she made had a purpose. The woman standing behind me is neither of those things. Whatever she's after goes far beyond Helios.

The door explodes inward.

My heart climbs to my throat as I stare through the haze, praying I was right and that Remi stayed away.

“Go on,” Elena murmurs near my ear. “Call out.”

“Fuck you.”

She fires into my thigh.

The impact jerks my body against the restraints as white-hot pain tears through my leg. I clamp my jaw against the shout threatening to escape and look down at the wound.

Blood pours out, but it isn’t pulsing.