Page 18 of How Much For A Broken Heart?

Something like excitement lit up Diaz’s eyes, and he took one of my knives and turned it in his hand, taking that fatal move toward the stranger, and bending.

Instinct took over. I twisted under Diaz’s arm, using his momentum against him, and grabbed his wrist, forcing the knife towards his throat. There was a brief moment of resistance, a struggle for power before the knife found its mark, piercing his throat and sideways to sever the artery. Diaz gagged, his eyes wide with shock, and then, he crumpled to the ground, blood spurting over me.

I didn’t have time to pause. Three of Diaz’s foot soldiers were already on me, their guns waving, and way too close as I met them head-on. The first came at me with a wild swing. I ducked, feeling the air whoosh above my head, and drove my fist into his midsection. He doubled over, and I finished him with an elbow to the back of his head.

The second was more cautious, circling me, searching for an opening. I didn’t give him one. I feinted left, then struck right, catching him off guard. A quick jab to the throat left him gasping for air, and a solid punch to the temple sent him sprawling.

I grabbed his gun, put a bullet in his head, rolled to shoot the one already down, and the third came at me from behind, but I sensed him before I saw him. I spun, grabbing his arm, and used his forward motion to throw him over my shoulder. He hit the ground hard and didn’t get up after a bullet through his temple.

Panting, I turned to face the others, ready for more. But there was no need. They lay on the ground, motionless, and the stranger was already on his feet, wiping a knife on the grass. He stared up at me, a grim set to his jaw, and nodded.

I nodded, acknowledging the help. I didn’t know who he was, but he’d helped get Annie away, and he was an ally, and that was enough. Then, for good measure, I shot each of the crew he’d rendered unconscious. If he thought that was overkill, he didn’t say.

Together, we scanned the area, alert for any more threats. But it was over. Diaz and his men were down.

I glanced at the stranger. “Shit,” I muttered. My cover was blown. Was Annie safe? “Annie?” I asked again.

He pressed a hand to his ear, then nodded. “Exfil left, package on board. Next exfil, ten out,” he confirmed and extended a hand, which I took. His grip was firm, and when he released the hold, he nodded. “Ryder. Ranger.”

“August. SEAL.”

We stared at each other, like knowing like, as he wiped blood from around his eye. A cut that ran from his temple to past his nose had to hurt like a bitch, but it didn’t seem to faze him as he rolled his neck and stretched out his arms. “And now?” he asked after a moment.

Commonsense dictated we went the way we were heading—exfil was only ten out, and I knew the woods, but I wasn’t thinking about getting away. Annie was safe.

She didn’t need me.

And I needed to take this nest down.

Headcount this morning was sixteen, that included Amos and Clara, Annie’s companion, nanny, whatever. Of course, I didn’t know who was in the top rooms, he or she could have their own private army for all I knew, but I was observant, and I’d seen no sign of forces beyond my capability. Six dead here, at least five when they first tried to take me down, that didn’t mean many were left here.

“She’ll be safe? She doesn’t have any family to take her. James’s parents wanted nothing to do with him, or her. So, you’ll find someone?” I asked, maybe a little desperately.

He tensed at my words, but he knew I was staying right here—understood I needed to make things right.

“You’re going back.” It wasn’t a question.

Of course I was going back. If I could take this cartel down, find the top dog, finish it, then James’s death would mean something. It was the ultimate revenge.

The absolute ending of what I’d seen and done.

“I’m going back.”

“Fuck—”

I waited. This wasn’t on him, and he was thoughtful, his dark gaze assessing me as he smoothed away more blood trickling down from his temple. He was a good-looking hunk of military bad ass, blood, muscles, dead focused, and throwing a feral smile at me. He checked the bullets in the chamber of his gun and gave his face one final wipe.

“You lead,” he said, giving up control to me given I knew the terrain and had knowledge of at least some of the people inside. “I’m coming with you.”

Chapter Seven

RYDER

Back at the compound, the adrenaline still pumping through my veins, I followed August’s lead. The compound, once a hub of illicit activities, now looked like a ghost town in the wake of the chaos we’d unleashed.

“Cargo is clear and safe. Reinforcements are on the way.” Cain’s voice was firm, insistent as we navigated through the maze of buildings. “Tell me you can hear this.”

I wished I could tell him. Hell, I was lucky the ear piece hadn’t dislodged when my face had hit the dirt. August was alert, constantly scanning, same as me.

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