Page 101 of Ignite

The doors creak open, and the room is filled with the echoes of shouting and guns exploding, a symphony to my ears.

I’m left alone and blind to fight with my restraints, unsure of how much time I have to try to get free before Mason returns. I struggleagainst the rope hard enough to draw fresh blood from my raw wrists and ankles.

My body locks up when the doors creak open once more.

“Ezra.”

Another sob escapes me at the sound of Cain’s voice. “You came.”

Quick swipes of a knife free my hands and feet. I push the blindfold off my head and launch myself into Cain’s awaiting arms. He catches me with a grunt, dropping to his knees. I bury my head into his neck. “You came. You’re here.”

“Baby.” Cain eases me back, and I glimpse pain etched into his face.

My mind sharpens instantly. “What’s wrong?”

I search his body for signs of injury, dread pooling in my stomach when I glimpse the blood soaking through the back of his pants. “Cain, you’re hurt. Why are you hurt?”

“Priest fuckhead tried to blow us up.” He cradles my face in his hands. “Ezra, I love you. My adrenaline’s waning, and there’s a strong possibility I’m gonna pass out soon.”

“What?” I gasp, my heart leaping. “Wait. Did you say… God, Cain. I love you, too. Don’t you fucking confess to me like you’re about to die. I love you so much. We need to get you to a hospital.”

He holds my gaze with his steady brown eyes. “Not until you put a bullet in that fucker’s head.”

I shake my head, body sagging a bit in his hold. “I…I don’t think I can do it.”

“Look at me,” he orders, and my eyes snap back to him. “I need you angry, baby. Youwillput this fear to rest. You will not be afraid of him. He doesn’t get to keep his hooks in you. Do you understand?”

I sniffle, nodding. “I kill him, and then we go straight to the hospital, right?”

“Right.” He hands me my gun and picks up his rifle from the floor.

“I’m not leaving you alone like this,” I say in a firm tone.

When he struggles to stand, I tuck my gun in my waistband and wrap my hands around his torso, hauling him through the doors.

“Where’s Rev?” I ask.

Cain doesn’t respond, and it makes my heart skip with worry. Fuck. I think it may be up to me to get us out of here. I’m shirtless, caked in blood, and edging up to major freak out territory. My heart is thundering in my chest. I can feel my pulse throbbing under my skin.

But I won’t fail Cain.

Sucking in deep breaths, I steal the comm piece from Cain’s ear. “Rev?”

“Hey, Ezra,” Rev replies. “Good to hear your voice. I’m assuming Cain’s in rough shape?”

Guns pop off from his end of the line.

“Definitely an understatement.”

“Can you get him close to the balcony? I’ll be up there in a minute.”

I heave Cain upright, grateful for all my commitment in the gym. “I’ll get him there.”

Pulling out my gun, I let pent-up energy flow through me. I kick open the heavy doors to the hall. This is just like target practice. Only these targets fire back. And I’m hauling a behemoth of a man in one arm.

I move through the hall as fast as I can usher Cain. One of Gabriel’s guys steps up, and I blast a shot into his skull. It’s amazing how quick I’ve become numb to the idea of killing, but my body recognizes this as a life or death situation.

I drop two more gunmen around a corner and spot Rev at the top of a staircase by the balcony doors. His gaze sweeps over me, brows raised at my half-naked, bloody state.