Page 75 of Ruthless Commander

I didn’t want to press the icon, didn’t want to see what he was so eager to show me. But that panicked desperation forced my hand. I saw the movement of my hand, but I was unable to stop it from happening as I pressed the icon and watched the screen.

I knew instantly where it was. The camera angle caught the edge of Mateo’s office, the same office where I’d waited for him…the same office where we'd come together. But as I watched the view now, I saw him rush forward, gun raised, with a look of desperation that made my heart stutter until, in a deafening flash, the image ended.

“Boom,”Damien murmured, that sickening smile stretching wider.

I didn’t understand what he meant…until I remembered that explosion…that hadrocked the air.I jerked my gaze to the screen, then lifted it to him once more. I didn’t feel myself in that moment, not my breaths, not my heartbeat. “No,” I whispered and squeezed my eyes closed.“No…”

“Yes,” The glee in his tone snapped me out of it.

I jerked my eyes open…and lunged.“You fuckingBASTARD!”

I threw myself through the air to slam into him. My desperation was in control, forget everything else as I rained blows down on him. But this time he was ready and grasped me around the throat, then with a grunt, he drove me backward until I slammed against the wall with athud!

Stars danced behind my eyes with the blow as his grip tightened.

No!

Fear bucked inside me, forcing me to move. I lashed out, driving my fist through the air toward him. I tried to focus on the knife in his side, but his grip clenched until there was no more air. Fire lashed my face as I tried to breathe, sucking innothing.

My chest caved, my vision blurred.

Crack!The blow rocked my head, snapping it to the side.

“We could’ve been good together.”

Crack!

“WE COULD’VE BEEN GOOD!

Crunch!

The room swayed, growing darker. I tried to hold on…tried to claw the darkness, tried to keep myself upright. But the world around me grayed, blending into darkness, until I couldn’t hold on anymore.

31

Mateo

Get up…MATEO! GET THE FUCK UP!

I blinked and sucked in air that bit and clawed, trying to understand what happened.

“Are you good?”Edon’s blurred face swam in my vision.

“Edon?” I whispered, my voice choked and hoarse.

“It’s me, brother. You with me now?” He scanned my body, fear crowding those dark eyes.

I licked my lips. “Yeah.” I shoved and sat up, trying to remember what the hell happened.

“You’re goddamn lucky I was coming after you.” My brother shook his head, the fear shifting to cold, hard rage as he looked behind him.

Boom!The deafening sound of the blast filled my head. No wonder my damn ears were ringing. I pushed against the floor and staggered upright, looking at what was left of the command center. There was nothing but rubble. Nothing but a hole, nothing but…Xael.

Fear punched through me as I scanned the ruin and turned. “Xael.” I looked to my brother, who just scowled.

“You didn’t find her?” His brow furrowed as if the same sick wave of dread washed through him, and he was never scared.

I shook my head, glancing toward my apartment. She wasn’t there…she wasn’t…