Page 59 of Through Any Fire (Any x #1)

L eon’s looming threat swells as his smile broadens. Is this really how I’m going to die? At the hands of some entitled child?

Adrenaline floods my limbs, and the tingling sensation ceases entirely. In a blink, I’m back in control of my body.

With a roar that could shatter mountains, I launch off the wall, taking Leon by surprise.

The gun scatters to the ground, a shot firing into the night.

We tumble to the ground, and I unleash my fists on his face, his ribs, anywhere I can inflict damage.

Blood sprays over my face with each blow, and I lose myself against the warm liquid.

Leon’s nose caves with the next blow, blood spurting down his mouth. He coughs, choking on the blood flooding his mouth, but I don’t stop.

This is the man who sent my brother to his death, who partnered with Peter fucking Agapov to traffick women, who planned to kill me .

Worst of all, he raped and abducted Alice.

I try to reach for any ounce of sympathy but return empty.

I lose myself in the blows. When my knuckles split, I punch harder.

When my wrist cracks, I roar in Leon’s face.

He doesn’t move below me. Still, I don’t stop.

Hands grab my shoulders, yanking me off his battered body. I screech, the blood-curdling cry echoing in the alley, and turn my fists on the man who dares to pull me away.

Familiar brown eyes narrow as they dart over my face, flicking with some mix of approval and concern. A growl reverberates from my chest and splits my lips.

“Bunny, it’s me.”

Features come into focus. A chiseled jaw covered in five o’clock shadow. Brows furrowed with protective concern. Hands squeezing the tops of my shoulders as he gently shakes me in front of him.

“Loren.” He says my name like a deity worthy of worship, and my head tilts to the side. He watches with storms raging behind his brown eyes, and when I blink, I snap back to my body.

Turning on my heel, I take in the massacre I managed with just my fists.

Feeling tingles back in my hands, and my job might seem finished by anyone else, but not to me.

Like a ghost, I float toward his body, feeling a kaleidoscope of emotions.

Pity, rage, disbelief…everything except guilt swirls inside my chest.

Leon’s face is concave, a mess of blood, tissue, and teeth that makes him look like a victim of an animal attack.

Not an animal. Me.

Next to him, just out of his reach, lays his gun. If he were three inches closer, he would’ve been able to use it against me like he’d threatened. Instead, I pick it up, the weight of it lighter than I expected—or maybe that’s shock setting in.

I raise the gun, aiming for the cracked open skull of the boy I grew up with. My finger trembles on the trigger, but before I can squeeze, a steady hand stills the pistol. I don’t look away from Leon, and Cal comes to stand in front of me.

“Bunny, he’s gone.” Cal’s voice is barely a whisper, but it feels louder in the alleyway. “You did it.”

A single tear slips out of the corner of my eye and falls on my cheek. “That’s what I thought about Peter, too.”

Cal straightens, eyes boring into the side of my face, but I can’t look away from Leon. He nods once and steps out of the way.

This time, when the barrel of the gun lines up with Leon’s cracked skull, I don’t tremble; I don’t hesitate.

I plant my feet firmly on the ground, ready for the kickback.

When I pull the trigger, it’s the easiest shot I’ve ever fired.

The bullet slices through Leon’s forehead, ricocheting blood over my legs.

My lip curls into a sneer, and I hold the gun off to the side for Cal to take.

When it’s out of my hands, I take the first full breath in what feels like hours. Light spills into the alley as Jude pushes outside. He halts, eyes tracking silently over the scene, from Leon’s mangled face to my bloody hands, to Mason’s groaning form.

Mason.

In a flash, I’m by his side, trying to untie the rope but coming up short.

Sobs finally wreak my body, and I collapse on the ground.

Calloused hands cup my face, but I squeeze my eyes shut.

Tingles prick my fingertips and sound deafens as I try to stay afloat in the panic attack.

Whispered words flutter through my hair, and the tickling sensation grounds me.

Cal cycles through nonsensical words of comfort while rubbing my back. The heat of his palm steadies me, and I finally open my eyes. Cal is crouched in front of me, one knee on the ground as he swipes my falling tears with his rough thumbs.

“It’s okay, Bunny. I’m here. You did so well, Loren.”

Off to the side, Jude slices through Mason’s ropes and helps my brother sit up against the building. He lifts a trembling hand to his temple and curses.

Cal tucks the wispy pieces of hair that I’d left down behind my ears, pulling my attention back to him. He looks at me with such awe and concern it slots something foundational back into place. With a cry, I launch myself into his arms. Cal catches me with a sway, crushing me to his chest.

I bury my face into his neck. His sweat and sandalwood cologne floods my senses, and I squeeze him tighter.

He’s back in his clothes, and the heat of his body warms mine.

Then his hands slide to my ass, and suddenly I’m lifted into the air.

The world shuts out as I let him carry me wherever he’s taking me.

I don’t care where we go, or that my ass is exposed, as long as we get the fuck out of here.

A car door opens, and Cal slides into the back seat with me still cradled to his chest like a koala.

He doesn’t take me off him, just settles into the seat and adjusts my legs so they’re off to the side instead.

The car rumbles to life beneath us, and warmth from the heater and Cal’s body lulls me into a deep slumber.

Just before I lose consciousness, Cal’s lips dust against the crown of my head.

“You did such a good job, baby. I’m so proud of you.”

I try to respond, but it comes out as a whimper, and I fall asleep.