Page 92 of Intense (Beneath The Blaze #3)

FINN

“ Y ou’re not going in there alone,” Declan hisses, pulling me back by my arm.

I wrench free, teeth grinding. “And you think charging in with an army will save her? If he feels cornered, she’s dead before we even breach the door. James needs to believe he has a chance. That’s the only way she walks out alive.”

Theo folds his arms, expression grim. “That man’s lost in his own head. You don’t bargain with crazy.”

It turns out, Theo has been talking to James, not Arthur, this entire time. James came here to kill me and my brothers. And I think Stephanie has been caught in the crossfire.

If she’s hurt. It’s all on me.

A humorless laugh rips out of me. “You’re wrong. Crazy understands crazy. I’ve been training for this my whole life.”

Conan steps forward, his fists clenched. “Then let me go in. I’m the one he wants revenge on. I’m the one who disfigured him.”

I square up to him, nose to nose. “And leave Liam without a father? Not a fucking chance. Don’t you dare.”

His jaw flexes, but he doesn’t move.

“Listen to me,” I exhale, lungs burning as the words tear through me.

“This isn’t a fight. It’s a trial. Just like Decadence.

James thinks he’s the game master, but he isn’t.

He’s the fucking prey. He needs to believe there’s a way out, and I’m going to let him think that—until I take his head off. ”

Declan swears under his breath. “You’re walking into the lion’s den unarmed.”

I raise my gun, sliding back the chamber with a metallic click. “Not unarmed. Just calculated.”

They exchange a look, both of them knowing what this means. There’s no pulling me back from this.

Theo’s men shove Arthur forward. His face is pale, sweat sheening his brow, but his eyes don’t leave mine. “He’s not bluffing,” he mutters. “James will kill her if he sees any of you. He ain’t right, not since the way Conan left him. My father tried to keep him at bay, but, clearly, I couldn’t.”

His gaze lowers to the ground.

“Then you’re coming with me.” I jam the gun against his temple, dragging him to the keypad. “You open that door. You walk me in. And you pray to whatever god you still believe in that she’s breathing when we get there.”

Arthur swallows hard but doesn’t resist. He knows this is the only way.

I glance back once at my brothers. Their faces are carved from stone, but I see it—the fear.

“I love you both, so fucking much. But I love that woman in there too.” My throat tightens as I say it. They’ll understand. Because both of them would do the same for their women.

“If you hear a gunshot,” I tell them, “that’s your signal. Breach it. End it. But until then—you stay the fuck out.”

Conan’s fists flex, but he nods. Declan drags a hand through his hair, muttering a curse.

I turn back, pressing the gun harder into Arthur’s skull. The keypad beeps. The lock releases.

And I step into hell.

“Arthur,” I murmur as the heavy door clicks shut behind us. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been in love, but just know, I’ll kill us both to save her. Alright?”

He nods stiffly. “I get it.”

I’d get down on my knees and say a prayer if I could—that when that door opens, my girl is still alive. She has to be. Because there’s no life for me without her. She is what my heart beats for. Her and only her.

We start our ascent up the stairs until we reach the door. I open it slowly, bracing for the worst. For my life to be over.

And there he is. The ghost. Half-blind, face carved with scars, a monster dragged out of the grave. Pressing a gun into the side of my wife’s head.

The rage that tears through me is near blinding. I shove Arthur inside and kick the door shut.

“I’m just here for a friendly discussion, James. Let her go,” I say, keeping my voice calm.

He bursts into a fit of laughter, sadistic and broken. “Oh, finally the psychopathic brother is here. Just a little bit early, but it’s fine, we can adapt.” His eyes flick between me and Arthur without a flicker of care.

“James,” Arthur hisses. “Just fucking listen to him. It’s over. We’re done.”

James sneers, his face twisting. “There is no fucking we. You fucked this whole family up. I had to do this all by myself. And yet, you still couldn’t even stick to my plan. All you had to do was come up here unnoticed.”

“And then what?” Arthur spits.

James tilts his head. His gun digs deeper into Stephanie’s temple. I could blow Arthur’s brains out beside me, and James wouldn’t flinch.

“You wanted us to kill your brother,” I say coldly, “so you could swoop in, save my wife, and crawl to Theo with your hero act. Right? Is that what this is all about? This isn’t revenge, this is a power trip.”

I can’t look at Stephanie. If I do, I’ll fucking break. I have to play the role. I have to be the man who feels nothing.

“Almost, Dr. Quinn,” James purrs. “Almost. Except I planned on blowing her brains out and letting Arthur take the blame. Then I swoop in and hand him to you to take revenge, all the while I reclaim my empire. I’ve worked hard behind the scenes for this.

It’s been a long time coming. Would you like to hear more? ”

My blood runs cold and I take a step closer. “Please. Tell me. I’d love to hear.”

He smiles smugly. “I set Dad’s trap so Theo’s men would kill him.”

Arthur’s whole body jerks with fury and I dig the gun harder into him, stopping him from lunging.

“I knew he was softening to your pathetic cries for surrender,” James sneers. “Talk of working with the Kings? No. Bowens don’t work with anyone. We rule. You lost our territories, Arthur. You were too weak. And so was Dad. I needed you both out of the picture.”

“You piece of fucking shit!” Arthur roars, voice breaking with pain.

I lean in, whispering, “Hurts, doesn’t it, when someone murders your father?”

James smiles, the scar on his cheek pulling taut. “Ah, yes. Seamus’ death was a necessity. You all had to believe I died, that revenge had to be taken. And Conan—oh, Conan will have his turn.”

My fist clenches at my side. Nothing will happen to my brothers.

“Why did you take my wife, James? There’s no need to keep her here, you’ve got me and your plan is fucked.”

I risk it and steal a glance at her. And it shatters me. Blood streaking from her nose. Tears trembling in her eyes. Bound to the chair, and I can’t fucking do a thing about it yet.

I failed her. Just like I failed Penelope.

“I didn’t care who showed up,” he admits with a shrug. “My plan was drugging and capturing you, turning your brothers on Arthur. But the second I saw her on your arm, I knew I had the stronger hand. You showed me your weakness.”

I nod slowly, letting a grin creep across my face. “Good game, James. I’ll give you that. But you know, I’m not going to let anything happen to her, don’t you? And now I know your weakness.”

I shove Arthur forward, releasing him.

James tilts his head. “What’s that then?”

“That I could kill your brother, and you’d thank me for it. Power is your weakness.”

He glances at Arthur, the tension twisting between them.

“So. Tell me what the fuck you want to let her go. Your hero act has gone out the window, so it’s time we made new rules to this game,” I tell him.

James scratches his scar, eyes glittering. “Easy. Your life for hers. I gotta see one Quinn brother suffer.”

“James. Enough,” Arthur snaps.

And James just laughs.

I know what I have to do. There’s only one way to level with someone like this.

It’s to let them believe they have the upper hand.

That she is my weakness.

When in reality, he couldn’t be further from the truth.

She’s my strength in this life.