Page 111 of Her Mercenary

I felt like I was getting my own form of revenge.

The fog was burning off but still lingered, creating an obstacle for allowing the guards to see me. I kept glancing over my shoulder for Roman. Of course, he was long gone.

I focused on the weapon in my hand, the strength of it. The strength of the woman carrying it.

Finally, I reached the lodge. My chest heaving and adrenaline roaring, I peeked from behind a tree, getting the lay of the land. Two men stood guard on the deck outside, and another silhouette moved inside.

Nerves fluttered inside my stomach.

My gaze dropped to the ground below the lodge. Below the heavy, wet soil lay the basement where I’d been held, countless women had been held, and two innocent children were still being held as slaves.

Setting my jaw, I narrowed my eyes on the guards. Hate boiled in my veins.

Here I am, motherfuckers.

I stepped out from the cover and began moving along the tree line. Not two seconds passed before one of the guards spotted me, shouting to his comrades. More shouts, then all hell broke loose.

I spun on my heel and took off like a rocket. Angry voices yelled out to me, footsteps pounded the ground.

I began counting.

Five ...

Four ...

Three ...

Two ...

I planted my feet.

One ...

Lifting the grenade, I pushed the button.

I turned and hurled the ball at the three men sprinting toward me. Spinning on my heel, I lunged forward, slipping on the wet earth before taking off again.

Three ...

Two ...

I leaped over a fallen log, dropped to the ground, and covered my ears.

One.

The explosion shook the ground, followed by cracks of tree limbs breaking.

Even over the blast, I could hear the sounds of the screaming men, the retching as they vomited, the weight of their bodies hitting the ground.

Joy, hysterical jubilation, ignited inside me. I pushed off the ground and looked over my shoulder at the ball of smoke before racing back to the truck.

I did it. I did it.

We did it.

Back at the truck, I checked over my shoulder, searching for any signs that I’d been followed. Once I was sure I was alone, I slid inside the cab, locked the door, hunkered down, and kept my eye on the tree line, waiting for Roman and the children to emerge.

I waited.

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