Page 107

“Rami,” Raph answers his phone, and then only listens to our brother talking on the line.

“A fire started in the shack in the backyard,” he says. “The wind is bringing it toward the house. The fire safety system was activated, but there seems to be a malfunction. We need to get out of here.”

A malfunction—is that why the sprinklers are not working?

“A fire and Rague is not here,” I hear Ollie say. It’s ironic in a way.

I drop the flamethrower and move to the tool table.

“I’ll go check on Ferdinand and Sophia.” Gabe is talking about the people who work in the main house.

“You all go, take Sari. I’ll finish here.” Raph nods at me in understanding as he grabs Michael and a reluctant Sari and drags them away.

“I’m right behind you,” I call after him.

“I’m going as well,” Ezra is holding the door open.

“I’ll find you later. I need those answers.” I give him a threatening look, to which he smirks before walking away. Fucker!

I pick up Pamela one more time and walk near the table. I aim for Trent’s head—I wanted to prolong the agony, but I need to make sure Sari is fine.

“Time to die, motherfucker.”

Trent grits his teeth and meets my gaze. His mouth opens, but I don’t let the words come out. The bang of the bullet leaving my gun and piercing the air is the only sound I hear. My hand snaps slightly back from the recoil, and I take a big breath before lowering it. His head flops back before rolling to the side. One empty eye stares at nothing.

Blood starts dripping from the hole in his forehead. The red drop slides down over his eyebrow and lands on the metal surface of the table. I’m hypnotized as more join it, forming parallel patterns on his forehead before creating a crimson puddle. I watch, feeling a peaceful satisfaction.

Serena’s voice shakes me out of it and I hurriedly walk to the door. When I pull, though, nothing happens. It’s locked. I try again. It has to be stuck.

Sari suddenly appears on the other side.

“What the fuck are you doing here? Where’s Raph?”

“Trying with Gabe and the others to contain the fire. It reached the back of the house,” he replies, as he inserts the code into the door keypad.

But I don’t hear the clicking sound of the lock. Is this door malfunctioning, as well? I smell trouble. I need to get Sari out of here.

“Why won’t it open?” He tries again to no avail. He looks anxious, pulling at the handle again and again.

“Baby Blue, move aside,” I order him as I lift my gun and shoot four bullets at the door handle. Rague really chose the best materials when he built the bulletproof wall. No cracks.

“Go!” I yell at Sari.

“No!” He replies. I see movement behind him, and I’m surprised to find Ezra coming our way.

“Come with me,” he tells Sari.

“But Uri! We need to get him out of here!” He’s so beautiful when he cries. He raises his hand, pressing his palm over the glass. I cover his with mine, the cold material stops our skin from touching.

“I will. I promise you. But I can’t, knowing you aren’t safe.” I look into his gorgeous light blue eyes before turning to my brother. “Take him out of here, Ezra.” I’ve never begged anyone, and I won’t start now, but if my brother doesn’t take him to safety right this instant, I will maim him.

“I won’t leave you,” Sari sobs.

“He’s ours.”

Ezra smiles at my begrudging words. “Hurry up!” he says before lifting the most precious thing in my life and hauling him away.

I try to pull the door open again, but the fucker won’t budge. Luckily, I’m surrounded by tools. I quickly find the crowbar Rague likes to use on the donors and wedge the end into the very tight gap between the door and frame. I push and pull with all my might, using everything I have to get the damn thing to open.