Page 81 of Cruel Dominion

Their corpses now lay bloated at the bottom of the ocean. Food for the fishes.

I drove as fast as I could without killing myself. It took me half the projected time to reach the destination, which turned out to be a modern-looking condo building.

I skimmed the names on the doorbells, hoping to see one I’d recognize. Thank God, one stuck out.

James O’Callahan.

I remembered him from Paulson’s files on the people close to Anna. He was Summer’s current boyfriend. This was his apartment.

Was it his voice on the other end of Anna’s phone?

I left the door open, rushing from the car at the very front of the building, seeing two men in the distance, speaking in hushed tones into their earbuds. I recognized them as mine. One pulled his weapon, his head moving on a swivel at something he heard on the other end of his earpiece.

I almost called to them, but an older woman exited the building with a dog, and I used the advantage to get in without busting the double glass paned doors. I held one open for her, forcing a fake smile as my phone rang again.

Grinding my teeth, I pulled it to my ear.

“Go.”

“We got a lead on a group of mercenaries headed into the city to collect,” Paulson rushed to say. “My guys are checking their last known location and tracing them from there. Looks like they’re somewhere in the east end but moving fast. We lost them on Fifth.”

I was in the east end. This fucking condo was east end.

Anna.

I didn’t bother waiting for the elevator. I sprinted up four flights of stairs, the image of Anna’s fear-filled face driving me to move faster than I ever had. My heart pounded, repeating her name.

Anna. Anna. Anna.

I tore into the hallway, skidding past apartment 404, backtracking, gripping the frame as I threw a booted foot into the door.

The wood cracked easily, letting me stride right into the open concept kitchen and living room. A girlish scream pierced the air and I whipped my head to the left to find three sets of wide eyes taking me in from a kitchen island. Anna’s quickly turned icy, even as her cheeks flushed pink.

“Dude, what the hell?” James demanded. “Who the fuck are you?”

I ignored him, heading straight for my little siren, who had hopped off a stool to greet me. She was perfectly intact, and relief washed over me in waves.

Her palms met my chest and she shoved, making me falter a step.

“Anna.”

She shoved at my chest again, a vulgar expression on her face.

“Out,” she hissed. “You can’t just go around breaking down people’s doors whenever. The. Fucking. Mood. Strikes!”

She punctuated each word with another shove until I caught her wrists.

“Anna. Anna, stop.”

I hushed her, pulling her in by her wrists to cradle her face with my free hand, needing to feel her.

Her lips twitched in annoyance. Fuck, she was so adorable when she was angry.

She struggled against my grip on her, muttering that I was an inconsiderate asshole.

Behind her, James moved around the countertop, and I flicked my gaze to him, fixing him with a look that made him stop in his tracks. His throat bobbed.

Prey recognizing a predator.

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