Page 141 of Crave Me

I sprang into action, dropping the closest one with a bullet through the gut, then storming into the fray and leaping up into a spinning kick that knocked another back into a guy behind him like a domino effect. As I wailed on them, moving rapid-fire and giving absolutely no quarter, two dropped around me and I saw Bastian’s gun in firing position in my peripheral vision, making me smile at him having my back so perfectly.

Damien took the remaining one out by wrenching at the guy’s hair and smashing his face into the wall repeatedly until he passed out.

The three of us made our way down the staircase and caught sight of Caleb through the kitchen with Luke battling another three hostiles.

The lobby itself was clear, the fight obviously having moved further into the manor.

As we made it to the corridor, I registered my dad further down, throwing an opponent over his shoulder. He winced and stumbled because he was still in recovery from his injury, but then Riley was there, driving her booted heel into the hostile’s ribs. Another came at them and she leapt into a brutal kick that sent the guy careening through into the dining room and crashing into one of the dining chairs. And then she supported my dad’s weight and headed toward the room that had the entrance to the sub-level. Relief sung through me. He’d be safe.

Just as they disappeared into the room, Dante barreled on out with a machine gun in hand, Rambo-style. Holy hell. That was where he’d been. He was packing a shitload of weapons.

“Motherfucker’s come to play,” Damien said, a moment before automatic fire rang out, tearing into the assailants. He had some major skill, avoiding all of us, and just taking out the enemy. Blood spattered, screams and roars filled the space, echoing all around.

Through the chaos, I didn’t notice movement behind me until a hand wrapped around my mouth and I was suddenly jerked back.

Bastian noticed, but then he was set upon by two newcomers who must’ve come in through the destroyed entrance at the height of the chaos.

I didn’t get to see anything else as I was dragged out into the courtyard.

“Long time, S. Too fucking long, don’t you agree?” Jeremy’s awful voice hissed at my ear.

He had me in a body lock and dragged me to a concealed corner where three of his men were waiting.

Then he released me roughly and kicked me to my knees.

I hit the grass with bone-rattling force, eating dirt in the process.

“You’ve lost your mind,” I choked out.

I took in his three guys training their guns on me and surrounding me as he stalked around me in a manic fashion.

“This is done, Jeremy. You’ve been defeated.”

“That in there was nothing. There’s a lot more where that came from. Elijah’s holding court with them back at our current base of operations. I’m here for you. I’m supposed to bring Caleb too because Elijah wants his pet back. King’s supposed to come to give us control of his empire. But it looks like that won’t happen tonight. I’ll settle for you, though. After all, that’s all I want.”

“You’ve lost sight of reality.” Even that was understating it. “If you leave now, you can survive this.” For a short while, until we came for him, but he didn’t need to know that.

He crouched down in front of me and grasped my chin in a harsh grip. “You’re coming with me. Elijah taught me how to train you to my liking, just like he did with Caleb.” His eyes flashed dangerously. “I can’t fucking wait to have you all to myself.” He dug his nails into my skin, making me hiss. “And you’ll beg for it when I’m done with you.”

“Never happening.”

“But it will, S. It absolutely will. Like I said, Elijah has given me the tools now. You’ll forget all about your boyfriends here. In fact, I’ll erase them altogether. All you’ll see is me. All you’ll want is me. You should’ve seen what Elijah was able to do with Caleb in such a short time. He had him surrendering to him.”

Three rapid-fire consecutive shots rang out, making me jolt.

Jeremy pulled from me as his guys fell, dead to the world.

I looked over my shoulder to see Caleb standing there, gun aimed at the psycho.

“It was a very convincing surrender. Not reality, though,” Caleb told him.

Jeremy held his hands out to the sides. “What are you talking about? I saw—”

“You saw what I needed you both to see.”

“How—”

“Mental tricks, disassociation, a little acting thrown in too.” Caleb stepped closer and grasped my arm, helping me to my feet while keeping his aim on Jeremy. “Either way, I’m living proof that the tricks Elijah has apparently taught you won’t actually work. Your plan on taking Sky for yourself is severely flawed. Accept that and stand down, then you become our informant and don’t lose your life here tonight.”

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