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"Stop!" I shout, pointing the gun with both hands, trying to steady my aim. "Get off him now!"

Axel looks up, blood streaming from his nose, eyes wild with rage. His lips curl into a smile that chills me to the bone.

"You don't have the guts, princess."

The knife presses against Roman's throat, drawing a thin line of blood.

I'm trying to summon the courage. All I need to do is press the trigger, and I can protect Roman. Someone who's become my friend over the past weeks.

I squeeze my eyes shut and my finger presses hard against the metal. It clicks, but nothing happens. It's out of bullets.

A sob rips through my chest, and Axel's laughter rings out.

When I open my eyes, Roman is watching me, his dark gaze telling me it's okay. But nothing’s okay.

I watch as the knife slips across his neck, a stream of blood coating his skin. And then his head falls back, those dark eyes still open.

Before I can scream or lunge for Axel, everything goes black.

FORTY-THREE

Sam

Ipour a fresh glass of bourbon and sit down in my office chair, wiggling the computer mouse until the screen flashes to life. The cameras I had installed in Olivia's bar appear on the screen, each frame showing a different angle of her establishment.

In one quick moment, the glass I'm lifting to my lips falls from my fingers and crashes to the ground, amber liquid spilling across the wood floors, seeping between the planks.

"Fuck," I hiss, my heart suddenly hammering against my ribs.

My fingers reach for my phone, fumbling to hit John's contact, nearly dropping it in my haste.

"Cugino," he greets, his voice casual, unaware of the nightmare unfolding before my eyes.

"The bar." The words are strangled. I'm mortified by the sight I'm witnessing, helpless to watch it through video, where I can't do a damned thing to stop it. "Olivia's at the bar. Serpents are there. Who do we have close enough?"

"Slow down. Olivia's at the house?—"

"I'm watching the fucking cameras!" I shout, my voice echoing off the walls. "She's at the bar, Roman too. There're Serpents there... They're fighting?—"

But before I can get another word out, I watch in horror as Olivia points a gun at Axel.Do it.I wish I was there to do it for her, to prevent her from having to take someone's life. But I'm not. I'm miles away, watching like some pathetic voyeur.

Do it.

And then I watch as her finger twitches and nothing happens. Axel laughs, a sound I can't hear but can imagine all too well, and then he drags the blade he's holding along Roman's throat, slow and deliberate.

"No!" I scream, but my words do nothing to prevent me from watching one of my most loyal men and friends bleed out right before my eyes.

I'm helpless. Completely fucking helpless.

My body is shaking as the sight unfolds. One of the serpents hits Olivia from behind, her body crumpling, and a wide smile grows on Axel's lips. The fucker looks right up at the camera and waves, as if he knows I've just watched the whole thing, as if this is all for my benefit.

Bile rises in my throat, hot and acidic.

I need to rescue Olivia.

And then I'm going to make that fucker pay.

"They took her." My voice feels weak, hollow, like it's coming from somewhere outside my body.