Page 48

Every muscle fiber in my body screams to run away. My heart threatens to explode out of my chest like a Xenomorph from Aliens vs Predator.

It’s been years since I’ve seen Eddie. I’d assumed he’d decided to leave me alone.

He’s behind this. Motherfucker is part of the cartel.

The anger radiating off Rhys heats my back. How do I explain to him that I used to sell drugs? That I got myself mixed up in shady shit that now seems to be making its way back into my life.

Eddie’s sinister chuckle sends bile rising in my throat. My stomach dips like I’m on a rollercoaster. “I’ve been searching for this woman for years now.”

The way he refers to me as a woman makes me nauseous.

“She used to bring me a sample of the drugs we were distributing in the US. She was also who I used to get cash to the pendejo she thought she worked for.”

I frown.

Wait… He was in charge? I was working for him?

Nothing is making sense.

“Now you’re here, princesa. Fate brought you to me.” Eddie takes a step forward.

Rhys growls and fires a warning shot at Eddie’s feet. His shoulders are tense but his grip on the pistol is relaxed.

Edgar raises his pistol and fires at Rhys, who pushes me out of the way. When I meet the ground, I hurry and press myself against the wall. I try my best to avoid getting shot but there’s nothing in the hallway I can use to shield myself.

Eddie is barking orders in Spanish. My ears are ringing from the bang of each bullet being fired. I’m shaking uncontrollably, unable to catch my bearings.

“Run, Sarah!” Rhys shouts.

“No!”

There is not a chance in Hell I would leave him during all of this.

“NOW!”

Another fire.

Edgar falls to the ground. He lies motionless.

Eddie growls and fires frantically at Rhys. Rage fills his eyes.

Another bang.

With a grunt, Rhys falls. His head bounces off the ground and I swear I feel the crack in my chest at the sound. Crimson spreads across his chest, staining his white dress shirt.

“Rhys!” I shriek.

He is unresponsive.

Panic. Wrath. Vengeance. Grief. Hopelessness.

Every emotion burst through me at an unbelievable rate.

“Don’t worry, mamí, he isn’t half the man I am. You won’t miss him once you’ve had me.”

My head whips in Eddie’s direction. My vision tunnels and I see red.

I let out an animalistic roar, reaching for Rhys’ gun that lies at his side. Eddie’s eyes double in size when he sees the fury in my face. Tears spring in my eyes, burning the corners with each press of the trigger.

I’m still firing long after Eddie escaped down the hallway. I continue to press the trigger even though the clip is empty.

The gun clatters to the ground. I reach for Rhys, lifting his head. Blood has soaked his hair. I can’t tell if the wound in his chest is still bleeding.

I can physically feel my heart chattering.

“Sarah!” Declan shouts but I don’t move.

I gently push away the strands of hair that have fallen over Rhys’ forehead. “Please…” I choke. His chest still rises as falls with his breaths, but for how long?

I can’t survive a life without Rhys in it.

I just can’t

“Fuck! We need to get Rhys out of here.” Declan drops to his knees and reaches for Rhys’ body.

“Don’t touch him!” I scream. I pull Rhys closer to my chest.

Declan’s sorrow-filled eyes meet mine. “Sarah… we need to get him out of here. He’s losing too much blood.”

The dam breaks and I let out a mournful sob. “P-Please, please don’t let him die.” Declan carefully reaches over. Liam cups my elbow, helping me rise to my feet, pulling me into his chest.

“He’s going to be okay. We will make sure of it.” Liam’s words are meant to be encouraging, comforting, but I don’t believe them.

I won’t believe them. Not until I see Rhys’ emerald eyes. Until I can hear his voice that brings my heart to life. Feel his touch.

More men step into the hallway and help Declan carry Rhys’ slumped body.

I peer over my shoulder where Eddie had run off. My fear of seeing him has transformed into a blistering need to make him pay. To make him fear me.

“We’re going to make whoever did this regret ever breathing, Sarah,” Liam says.

I lift my chin. “By the time I’m through with him, he will be begging at my feet for mercy.” He nods, understanding the vow I’m making. “And I will take great pleasure in watching the life drain from his eyes.”

With that, I turn on my heel and march down the hallway.

* * *

It’s been a week and Rhys still hasn’t woken up. Declan’s brought in the best neurologists in the world, but they’ve all given the same answer.

It’s up to Rhys’ body now.

I shoot to my feet, startling the nurse as she types on the computer in Rhys’ room.

“I will be back, baby.” I press a kiss to Rhys’ forehead. “It’s time to make the fucker who did this to you bleed.”

I ignore the nurse’s side-eye as I walk out the door.

Two men stand guard outside of Rhys’ room. After making sure they know I won’t be back until I handle Eddie, I head to the hospital’s parking garage.

Swinging my leg, I mount my bike and put on my helmet. Starting it, I let out a deep breath. I maneuver my way through the New York traffic. My mind is a mess, but the low thrum of the motor helps calm me enough to focus on the ride.

The moment I’m on the open road leading to the estate, I lay on the throttle and haul ass to meet Liam.

* * *

“Are you sure about this?” Paige asks nervously. She chews on her bottom lip as she watches me prepare to leave.

I load the clip into my pistol. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life, P.”

Emily sits quietly on the bench in the corner. Her shoulders are tense, but she hasn’t questioned my decision about killing Eddie myself. My guess is it’s because Rhys is like a brother to her.

“I just want you to be careful. It’s different out there versus when we’ve dealt with people here in the cellar.”

Paige had murdered and dismembered Vladimir in the large room, known as the cellar, below Declan’s mansion. It’s where she took her life back after being subjected to unbelievable nightmares for years.

But it’s not where I want to make Eddie pay. I want to take the fight to him and show him what happens when you mess with what’s mine.

I sigh and face Paige. “I can’t sit around and wait for Liam, or even Declan, to bring Eddie here. I don’t want to wait. Rhys is lying in the hospital because of him.” I quickly swipe away the tear that slides down my cheek.

My throat tightens as I remember waiting for Paige to wake up in the hospital. “You almost died, P. It nearly ripped my heart out.” My voice cracks. “But watching Rhys bleed out, and then waiting for him to wake up is killing me. I can feel my soul being ripped to shreds.”

Paige and Emily wrap their arms around me and squeeze tight.

“Just promise you will come back in one piece.” Paige’s voice is muffled as she presses her face into the crook of my neck.

“We love you, Sarah,” Emily says, stepping back. She swipes away the tears sliding down her face.

“Don’t worry about me, babes. Just focus on helping those girls out there.” I gesture outside where a group stands outside the horse stables.

Liam steps into the room, immediately striding to Emily and pulling her into his arms. “I will be home soon, Féileacán .”

I feel a small twinge in my chest as I watch them.

Rhys will be okay. He will find his way back to me and I will make sure to spend the rest of this life and the next showing him just how much I love him.

Declan steps inside and says goodbye to Paige with the same amount of love Liam showed Emily.

“Ready?” He asks, meeting my eyes.

I nod, shoving the pistol into the holster at my side. “They’re about to learn just how dangerous an angry woman can be.”

With a final hug goodbye, we head out.