Page 139 of Burn It Down

Isobel swung her head toward him.

They locked eyes.

“Lance,” she breathed.

And then she bolted for the south side of the house.

Just before she turned the corner, a bullet plunged into her left shoulder, making her grunt and slap her hand to it.

She stumbled into the wall, but managed to push off with a curse, then disappear around the corner.

“Are you all right?” my dad asked in a rush as he sprinted to me. “Are you hurt, angel?” he asked, looking me over rapidly.

“No,” I managed to answer. “I’m fine.”

He could see that I was more than a little unsettled though.

“She birthed you, but she’s not your mom. All right? Do you hear me?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I know.”

He planted a kiss on the top of my head. “Your part in this is done now. Head to the safe zone.” He looked out at Killian and Jonah who were rushing over now too. “Get her clear.”

They gave their confirmations, then he took off in the direction Isobel had run.

And then he was gone, disappearing back into shadow.

Once this was done, at least he wouldn’t have to stay in those shadows anymore.

Everything would be different soon.

It didn’t matter what Isobel had said, her toxic words couldn’t touch me.

I was stronger than that, for one thing.

And for another, we were on the verge of having a better life.

Me and my men.

That meant everything.

27

~Asher~

“Heretics and Infidels down. Isobel incoming.”

I nodded to myself at Lance’s report.

But then Olivia’s came in next, “Can’t get eyes on Samuel. We’ve taken out the last of the Infidels. Asher, lock on Carson?”

I grimaced as I stared at the dimly lit path before me.

Those concrete steps that led down to the dungeon.

There was a hidden escape route via that hellhole that would take you through to a tunnel that would then lead out to a clearing just beyond the forest flanking the property. I’d seen Carson duck in here just as I’d been disposing of some robes.

I swallowed hard and responded, “Dungeon.”

---