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We turned another bend in the hall…

And froze.

Fallon’s body went rigid beside me, hand tightening to the point of pain around my fingers. I could see from my peripheral the rest of my men spreading out behind me. Kai and Doc moved too, though Kai held his gun as if it were a poisonous snake and Doc appeared slightly bored.

Standing in front of us, blocking the exit, was a wall of muscled soldiers bedecked in black armor and helmets. In the center, appearing like an avenging angel, was Lucian, his crazed eyes tracking our movements.

“Uncle Lucian,” Fallon said. I knew he had already been told about his uncle’s involvement in all of this, but his words were breathed out in shock. Pain. Hurt. His uncle may have been an ass, but he was still family. Still blood. Fallon glanced at the man as if he was staring at a stranger. A stranger wearing the face of his uncle.

“Nephew,” Lucian said tersely, but his eyes remained fixed firmly on me. “Hand over the girl, and we’ll let you and your friends go.”

Fallon moved a step closer to me as Declan pressed his body against my other side. I could feel a warm body against my back, but I didn’t dare peel my attention away from Lucian to see who it belonged to.

“That’s not going to happen,” Fallon said gruffly, in a tone that brokered no room for argument. Lucian sighed heavily as if Fallon’s answer genuinely pained him.

Lies.

Was that just an adult thing? Did they all have to lie, have to fake loving their family?

Or was it just an “us” thing?

“Then you’ll die.”

As one, the soldiers lifted their guns and aimed them at our chests.

Fuck.

I couldn’t let this happen. These men, my men, couldn’t die because of me. I absolutely refused. It might have been selfish...or it might have been utterly selfless.

Either way, my men would not shed blood for me.

“Wait!” I screamed, staggering a step forward. My legs wobbled, exhaustion and hunger creeping up on me. I just wanted to sleep and forget this whole day ever happened. Was that too much to ask for?

Well...that and orgasms. Orgasms were always nice.

“Addie,” Ronan warned.

“You guys can’t die for me. No. That can’t happen. I won’t allow it.” I didn’t meet any of their eyes as I spoke. My voice was hoarse from crying, tears dripping down my already puffy cheeks.

I attempted to pull free from Fallon’s and Asher’s hands, but their grip was like iron.

“Please let me go,” I begged.

“No.” That came from Calax, moving to stand on the other side of Fallon. “Live or die together.”

“That’s right, Princess.” Ronan stood besides Declan, and Asher silently moved to take up residence besideshim. An immobile line. A wall of muscle.

My heart clenched with my love for them...and my overwhelming terror.

“No! Fuck, no! That’s not the way our story ends,” I sobbed, desperately and futilely attempting to free myself. “I’m supposed to go down in a blaze of glory.”

“So dramatic,” Ronan mumbled under his breath, and Calax actually flashed a smile.

“Oh, what the hell,” a sly voice said, and a second later, Doc and Kai joined the line of men. Kai looked scared, but his hands were steady on the gun. Doc held his chin up defiantly, nose in the air, as if he was the king, and Lucian and his men were the fucking peasants. Honestly, he looked pretty badass.

I only had a second to breathe, just breathe, before the soldiers began shooting.