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The odds tightened like a noose around his throat.

His finger tightened on the trigger. If they were going down, he’d at least make damn sure Mila died first.

“One twitch of that trigger, and your child grows up an orphan. Assuming I let it live at all.” Mila glanced at Dr. Haynes’s body with sneering disdain. “Seriously? I needed the guards to get me safely across a compound crawling with feds. Five fucking minutes, and the bitch couldn’t handle one pregnant girl? Figures. She was weak, and she deserved to die.” Mila clutched her weapon with fever-bright eyes. “And you’re all fools if you think you can defeat me. Admirable little effort, but did you really think I was stupid enough to let you take down my empire? I built it from nothing while men like my dear, departed George played their petty power games and fucked their useless whores. So I framed him, and they both got what they deserved. I made sure of that. And I’ve transformed this island into something extraordinary.”

“It’s a pig with lipstick. Evil dressed up in luxury,” Haisley spat, not a trace of fear in her voice despite the guns aimed at her. “And you’re a pathetic slave of the rich and powerful, groveling to do their bidding for a few bucks.”

“Pathetic?” Mila’s laugh echoed off sterile walls as she pressed the gun against Haisley’s temple. “Haven’t you figured out yet that the world caters to the powerful, you naive little slut. You can either give them what they want and reap the rewards or watch them destroy you. I grew up the dirt-poor daughter of a drug addict and a prostitute, eating flour and catching bugs to survive. Your lofty morals are a hindrance. They’ll never put food in your belly or money in your bank account. I wanted more. I wanted better. So I figured out what the elites want. I’ve broken hundreds of women in this very room. Watched them scream and beg as I sold their bodies to the highest bidder, then took their babies for profit.” She gestured to the empty incubators lining the walls. “This is true power—having the ability to reshape someone’s entire life—and make a fortune doing it.”

Nash’s finger tightened on the trigger, but Mila grabbed Haisley by the hair and dragged her close, using her as a shield. His heart stopped as she gouged the barrel of her gun against Haisley’s temple.

Every muscle in his body froze. His head whirled. One wrong move and he’d lose everything—Haisley, their baby, their future.

“Maybe I’ll end your baby daddy’s miserable life and let you carry this baby to term before I rip the child away forever.” Mila’s voice dripped poison. “I’ll send you videos of the auctions so you can see exactly the pervert who will make your kid’s life hell. I don’t usually mix business with pleasure, but watching you cry and beg will be my supreme delight.”

Nash’s mind raced. Logic screamed that offering himself was pointless, but desperation clawed at him. If there was even a fraction of a chance, even the slimmest hope that he could somehow save Haisley and their baby…

He’d lost one child through fear and silence. He wouldn’t lose another.

“Take me instead,” Nash said into the horrible silence, forcing his voice to steady. “Let her go. Do whatever you want with me.”

Mila’s eyes lit with intrigue. For a fraction of a second, her grip on Haisley loosened.

“Nash, no!” Haisley lurched for him. When the guards yanked her back viciously, her yelp tore at his heart. Tears spilled down her cheeks, but her eyes held steel. She wasn’t giving up. “You can’t!”

“Ugh, you’re ridiculously noble.” Mila laughed. “But I’m not interested in your bargain. You see?—”

A flash-bang grenade crashed through the observation window, detonating in a burst of sound and light. The world exploded into chaos. Stars burst behind Nash’s eyes. His ears rang.

He shook his head to combat the effects and saw Haisley twisting from Mila’s grip—giving him just enough space to move in.

He dove for Haisley, tackling her to the ground, and covered her with his body as gunfire exploded from all directions. “Stay down!”

The noise was deafening in the enclosed space, bullets punching through medical equipment and ricocheting off steel. An IV machine exploded beside them, raining plastic and metal. Rounds tore through the air above them. A bullet struck the floor inches from his face, spraying concrete dust into his eyes.

Somewhere to his left, Karliah was providing covering fire, her shots precise and controlled against the guards’ wild barrage.

Then, through the chaos, Ethan and Kane breached the room, weapons blazing. Their coordinated assault cut through the guards’ ranks with tactical precision. Brass casings pinged against tile as the guards returned fire, bullets chewing through medical equipment and sending plastic and glass flying. Sparks rained down as rounds shattered overhead lights.

But Mila was still standing, her face contorted with rage as she raised her weapon. “You can’t stop me!”

She swung the gun toward Haisley.

“Drop it!” a fed behind her snapped.

Mila spun and pointed her gun at the agents. Time stretched, the moment feeling like half an eternity. Her finger tightened on the trigger. The feds took aim. Everything narrowed to the space between heartbeats.

The agents fired first. Mila’s body jerked as rounds caught her center mass, her final shot going wide. The maniacal smile never left her face as she crumpled, her blood painting the sterile tiled floor.

The remaining guards, seeing their mistress fall, lowered their weapons and surrendered.

Finally, their nightmare was over.

Nash crushed Haisley to his chest, relief racing through his veins when he felt her heart thundering against his. His hands shook as they roamed her body, checking for injuries. “Are you okay? The baby?”

“We’re fine.” She clutched him just as tightly, her tears soaking his shirt. “You idiot. You were going to sacrifice yourself for us?—”

“Always.” He cupped her face, thumbing away her tears. “My life is worth nothing without you, baby.”