Page 202 of Brutal Savage

Before I can take my next breath, she whips out her own gun from her handbag, aiming it at him. And seeing her like this, I don’t even recognize her.

Who is this woman?

Did I ever really know her?

Was she pretending the entire time?

“Gran, don’t!” I shout, realizing I don’t want her to die. Not even after what she did.

But she ignores me, both of them staring each other down.

“Your time is coming to an end, you old bat.” Jerry laughs.

And just as they’re about to shoot each other, there’s a knock on the door.

His eyes widen, and he gestures for one of his men to go see what’s going on.

My heart punches in my chest. I hope it’s Tynan coming to save me. But when I register the door opening, it’s a woman’s voice that I hear.

“I’m sorry. Can you help me? My tire is flat, and my boyfriend just broke up with me.” She starts to cry.

“Wrong house. Leave now,” the guy tells her.

“Please. I’ll do anything if you could just change my tire. I can pay you a grand. I have one in the trunk. I just don’t know how to do it myself.”

Rogue’s vision connects with mine.

He knows. Of course he knows.

He’s gonna ruin everything.

“For fuck’s sake!” Jerry hollers, rushing for the door, Rogue on his tail. “Get the fuck out of?—”

But his words die in his throat, and the rest happens in a blur.

Gunshots fire off, and Gran frantically rushes out of the room for a few seconds. When she returns, she’s hurrying toward me, cutting off my zip ties with a knife.

“We need to go! Now!” She tries to grab my arm, but I fling it away, knowing help has arrived.

Because the woman at the door was Iseult.

“I’m not going anywhere with you! Get away from me!”

“Elara, we have to?—”

“You heard her, Gran.” Iseult comes marching toward us, dragging a bloody Jerry by his shirt.

But he’s still very much alive.

Though Rogue? He’s not with her…

She gives me a little wink, her red-painted lips curling, not a single red hair out of place. “You hurt?”

I shake my head. “Is he here?”

Every cell in my body craves to see him. To throw my arms around him and never let go.

“He’s here.” She grins wider, just as a few more shots fire. “He’s just taking care of some loose ends outside.”

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