Page 83 of Queen of Wrath

What the hell?

Emory was quick to reach for me, helping me up from the ground.

“What are you doing here?” I meant to sound as grateful as I felt, but instead, my words came out all guttural and aggressive.

“We go where we're needed.” He gave me a gentle smile as I looked behind him to see his people, the rebels, entering the building in droves.

It felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from my chest. Now more people could be saved. More than I would’ve been able to get out by myself.

“Do you have any idea what's going on?” As I recovered from my transformation, I moved away from the support of Emory’s arms, not wanting to appear weak.

“My sources tell me that it's Diesel, but I have no clue why he’d set fire to his own nephew’s company.”

“I think I know why,” I said forebodingly. “Omara left him. Then he threatened Kiyan. And now he’s getting back at Jax for defying him—and burning all evidence of his illegal activities here while he’s at it.”

“Where is Jax? Did he get out?” Emory asked as he looked around us to see if he could spot the man in question.

Why did a sense of guilt wash over me? I suddenly wished I hadn’t brought up his name.

My eyes dropped away from Emory. “He’s not even aware of this happening yet…”

“How can you know that?”

“Because…I left him asleep on my couch.”

The air between us became stale and vacant.

“I see,” was all he uttered, hurt and disappointment etched into his eyes.

“I don't think you do. Everything I do is for the mission. Nothing else matters,” I retorted in a desperate attempt to tuck away the feelings of shame overwhelming me.

Emory frowned and tilted his head at me. “That can't be true—why else would you be out here risking your life to save others? Which, I’m sure, isn’t part of your plan for revenge, but still you’re doing it.”

I jerked my head back, annoyed at him, but had no words to throw back at him this time.

“Lea,” Emory whispered my name in earnest. “You’re so set on denying your true?—”

Before he could finish, warm liquid splattered against my face.

In a daze, I looked up to see if it had started to rain, but the sky was clear except for the black smoke. When I lowered my gaze back to Emory, I gasped in horror. There was blood, far too much of it, pouring from his chest!

Emory’s lips parted, as if he was trying to say something to me, but fell forward onto his knees instead.

I caught him before his face hit the floor. “No! No!” I sobbed.

“You,” a deep voice accused from where Emory had just stood, and a cold shiver skittered down my spine.

Time slowed to a crawl as I looked up from Emory’s worried gaze to find Diesel towering over me.

“Uremma Mirth… Would you care to explain to me why you were consulting with a known rebel?” He took another step forward, grabbing Emory by his shoulder to pull him to the side. “You always seem to be in the most inconvenient of places.”

Diesel dropped Emory into a pool of his own blood. He was weak and barely holding onto consciousness, but he managed to lift his face to look at me with pleading eyes. “You have to get out of here!”

I backed away slowly, but refused to leave him, much less turn my back on Diesel.

“You've tried to fight me once, and failed miserably. Are you really going to try again?” He let out a maniacal laugh at the mere thought of someone like me facing him.

My scowl deepened as I stopped backing away. I stood firm, deciding then and there what I was going to do.

---