Page 35 of Corrupted By the Shadow King (Hope Runs Deep #3)

Alex

T he smell of smoke billows around me, and Kevin drops to the ground. Looking behind me, I see her. Nikki. And she’s holding a gun, standing frozen with the weapon still aimed where Kevin once stood.

All hell breaks loose then. I run to her as Mateo grabs his sister and yanks her into his arms. I’m more careful, afraid of spooking the woman who, but weeks ago, nursed me back to health. Today, she took a life—something that shocks me to my very core.

“Where were you?” Emiliano demands.

Erin speaks up from the comfort of her brother’s arms, “In the garage. There is a hidden panel behind some shelving. Nikki found a switch and got us out. When we…when we…” She is having a hard time catching her breath and getting the words out.

Nikki shifts her gaze, meeting my eyes. “He was going to kill you. I…I couldn’t let that happen, Alex. He took us, and we…” Her words taper off.

“I know, hermosa ,” I say softly, pushing her to lower her hands before I take the gun away. “I know.”

“I left you a clue. I knew you would come for me.”

“Always. I will always come for you. I love you.” Unable to resist any longer, I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight as chaos ensues around us.

Angel and Ricky want to burn the house to the ground, while Emiliano seems to think the property could be useful.

I block out the argument. At this point, the house could burn down around us, and I would not care.

Today, the impossible happened. The Luna and Sol Cartels worked together to find the women we love.

I do not take my enemy’s assistance lightly.

Admitting that makes it feel as if a vice is squeezing my neck, choking me.

What’s worse, my enemy must become my friend because I cannot kill Emiliano or Mateo without hurting Erin, and if I hurt Erin, Nikki will probably chop off my balls.

She still might. We have so much to work through and figure out.

I don’t know if I’ve still lost her after all of this.

It’s possible and would probably be for the best, but I can’t let her go without a fight.

I won’t. But in the end, if she wants to walk away, I will give her my blessing and watch until she disappears.

I won’t be the same man without her because in the short time I’ve known her, she’s breathed new life into me.

Mumbled words float up to me, and I ask, “What?”

“I couldn’t let him kill you. I’d rather kill a hundred people than watch you die.”

My heart squeezes, and I have to fight a smile, afraid of hoping. “Why, hermosa ?”

She breathes in deeply and slowly releases it. “I love you.”

I kiss her, relieved and happy and everything in between. She is alive, and she chose me.

Pulling back, she meets my gaze. “Besides, if anyone is going to kill you, I think it should be me,” she deadpans. My jaw drops open. Is she really making jokes when she was just kidnapped, then killed a man? She truly is my queen.

“No, you have that wrong, parjarito. If anyone is going to kill him, it is going to be me,” Angel tells her, having a hard time getting the words out because he can’t stop laughing. “You two truly deserve each other.”

I brush my thumb over one of her cheeks and then cup her jaw. “She’s my queen. Of course, we belong together.”