Page 158 of Manacled Hearts

“Yo—you love me?”

Pulling back, it’s my turn for my eyes to bulge. I did say that, didn’t I? Holy shit… I do. I love her.

Fuck me.

“I didn’t stand a chance against you, Evie darling. You’re a bright fucking star in a soulless world, and you burned right through the shackles that held me back.”

Her gaze softens, the words sinking in slowly, caressing her soul as she clutches the back of my head and pulls me in. We kiss feverishly, allowing ourselves these stolen moments before the very thing that brought us together will end.

When we break apart, her eyes seem to sparkle even through this darkness. They spell overwhelming emotions I’m not going to make her put into words right now.

“We have to go, Finn. We have to get him. Please don’t waste this shot. If he escapes again—”

“Is this why you’re insisting? Evie, darling, he’s not getting away. I promise you.”

“I want… I have to—damn it!” the struggle is vivid in her features. “I need to be there.”

Does she not trust me to do this? Or maybe, like me, she needs the visual confirmation that the bastard is dead.

I shake my head, pressing another kiss to her forehead. “Trust me to do this for us, Evie. Bartiste will die at my hands. I’ll get you all the proof you want, just don’t ask me to put you in danger.”

Her chest rises on a slow, thoughtful breath, and after her eyes drift off for a moment, she finally nods.

“I trust you.”

But no sooner she speaks the words, our world explodes into chaos, splintering pops hitting the trunk of the car.

“Down on the floor!” I shout as I put the car back into gear and drive off, the acceleration pressing me back into the seat.

In the rear-view mirror, headlights approach at dangerous speed. More bullets hit us and the shattering of glass sounds behind us as Evie slides as far down in the foot-well as she can.

“Finn!” she yelps, pleading but unsure for what.

“Goddamn it!” I swear as the passenger of the car following us holds a gun out of the side window. “Stay down!”

Another bullet pierces the back window, but this one passes through the front, too close to my head, and I floor it as I speed through the industrial estate. This is gonna be a shitshow. There are still civilians driving on these streets. Granted, not many, but it’s enough for one to call the fucking police.

I press a few buttons on the car screen, and after two rings, Carter answers.

“We’re taking fire in fucking traffic! Call the Chief to manage this bullshit!”

“Done. Where are you?”

“Edge of the business park in the industrial estate.”

“Are you hit?” Carter asks.

“Only the car. I’ll get rid of them.”

“The plan is in motion, that’s why they came for you.”

“Shit, I thought I had time to drop her off.” Another shot pierces the car body and I swerve, narrowly missing the curb.

“It’s sooner than expected, but we’re ready.”

“Send the feed to my car. I’ll meet you as agreed. And Carter…”

No answer comes as he waits.

---