Page 76 of Secret Love

I spin around and reach for his outstretched arm. He panics and pulls the trigger, shattering the glass next to Dani’s head. She screams and falls to her knees while I twist his wrist, cracking the bones of his hand. He drops the gun and I kick it closer to her.

Mercer swings his arm in her direction, but I grab it and kick him hard, sending him against the opposite corner. I bend forward to steal my revolver from black mask’s holster and I point it at his lowered head.

I pull the trigger and his body topples to the floor next to Dani. My ears ring in the small space but I can still hear her whimper in fear.

Mercer grabs her by the hair and pulls her out of the corner before I can reach her. I point my gun at him, touching it to his temple while he settles his own against her head.

“Dani, close your eyes,” I tell her.

Mercer jerks her head up. “No, keep them open. You have a right to see this.” He smirks at me. “Go ahead. Show her how much of a killer you are.”

“She’s already seen it,” I say.

“Sure. But she’s never seen that twinkle you get in your eye when you do it.” He chuckles. “Go on. Shoot me, Fox. Show her how much you really enjoy it.”

I catch it out of the corner of my eye, a faint glimmer of metal as Dani pulls the bowie knife free of my ankle holster.

She stabs downward, piercing the top of Mercer’s shoe. He growls in pain, dropping his grip on Dani. I take her arm and pull her to her feet before pushing her outside onto the roof.

Mercer pulls the knife from his shoe and spins around with his weapon drawn.

He points it at Dani.

“No—!”

I leap toward her. The bullet strikes my shoulder and fresh pain spreads throughout my body.

“Fox!” she screams as I fall to my knees.

Mercer smirks on the elevator. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small, black device. It fits snug in his palm and he lays his thumb against a smooth, round button at its tip.

A detonator.

The elevator doors close on his smiling face.

“Fox!” Dani falls to her knees next to me. I look around her and catch sight of the helicopter.

“We have to get off the roof.” I push myself up and stuff my revolver inside my belt.

“Wait, you’re hurt—”

“It can wait!” I ignore the blood rolling off my fingertips and rush to the helicopter windows.

“Do you know how to fly it?”

I ignore the question and slide the door open. “Shit…”

There it is. A rectangular, black case with the Snake Eyes cobra etched in white on its surface.

“What is it?” Dani asks, peeking over my shoulders.

“A bomb.”

“A what?!”

I grab her hand and pull her with me to the far corner of the roof. Mercer won’t detonate it while he’s still in the elevator. He’ll wait until he gets to the lobby to do it, which gives me only a few more seconds to—

I spot the lanterns hanging between the towers, connected by thick wires.

---