Page 143 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

KIERA

W ell, fuck.

Martinez has one arm wrapped around my throat. He holds a gun in his right hand. He’s strong, and I’m not going to be able to free myself. Not without risking getting shot.

I stare at Diane, stunned at her betrayal. “I’m really sorry,” she whispers, backing away from the two of us. “He threatened Heather.”

“Drop your gun, Martinez,” a familiar voice barks.

My heart leaps. It’s Nolan. He’s got a gun in his hand, and murder in his eyes. Caleb moves to the right of him, also armed. A trio of Adrian and Brody’s soldiers fan out in front of us. A pair of Xavier’s security guards walk out of the shadows.

“You’re surrounded,” Caleb says. “There’s no way out. Drop your gun. Give us the girl and I’ll let you live.”

Martinez backs up against the car, dragging me with him.

He is ringed by soldiers with weapons, all pointed at us.

“It will take me less than a second to break her neck,” he snarls.

“Are you ready to take that risk, Wolanski?” There’s a sneer in his voice.

His arm tightens painfully around my neck.

“Tell me where Bianca is, and I will let her go.”

He’s cutting off my breathing. Spots swim in front of my eyes. But the instant he says Bianca’s name, a cold clarity fills me. We are not trading my sister’s life for mine.

I will never let that happen.

I’m surrounded by crack shots. I just need to buy them a second.

I bite down on Martinez’s forearm, hard enough to draw blood. He screams in anger, and his grip on me slackens. I wrench free and twist away.

Nolan jerks his gun up and fires. He’s not the only one. Behind me, Martinez fires as well.

I brace myself for agony; it doesn’t come.

Luis Fernando Martinez drops silently, a bullet between his eyes, dead before he hits the ground.

It’s finally over.

Then my eyes take in a slumped body in front of me.

Martinez didn’t fire at me. Acting on pure instinct, he fired on the greatest threat.

Nolan.

Oh God no. He’s been hit.