Page 89 of King of Wrath

The ping of the hit echoes through the open air and we all know that the car is about to blow.

The pilot must see it too because the plane revs up, beginning to taxi down the runway to the far end.

Which is a good call, we don’t need to add jet fuel to the inferno that’s about to ignite.

All the doors to the SUV open, five men jump out of the car.

I only care about one.

I set my sights on Toni, even as more bullets begin to pepper the air.

Luke has his pistol out too and he returns fire.

I level my gun, aiming right for Toni’s chest.

He raises his hands as his men cease fire. Standing between them, he glares at me. “I want my daughter. That’s all.”

“The one you tried to suffocate with a pillow?” I bark back. “I don’t think so.”

“I’m doing you a favor, Jake,” Toni calls. “She’ll never be faithful to you.”

“You’re confusing her with yourself,” I growl back. I don’t believe it for a second. I was there when Nia chose me over escape. I know her wounds like I know my own.

The ones this fucker gave her.

If I give her love, the kind that isn’t selfish, she’ll be mine forever.

“She isn’t yours,” Toni snarls. “Hand her over and I’ll end the vendetta between us. I’ll surrender another casino, you’ll get your tunnel.”

I shake my head. “We’re getting your casino and our tunnel either way, old man.”

He shakes his head. “That’s what you think.”

I have no idea what he’s got planned and I don’t care. I’ll surrender Nia over my dead body. “No. That’s what you think. Admit it, Toni. You’ve lost.”

He snarls and quick as a snake, he raises his gun. Mine comes up too, both firing at the same moment.

I barely feel the prick in my arm as my shot hits him square in the chest.

One of the other men pops off another shot at Luke before they all scatter.

Luke volleys several more shots, but I don’t think he hits anyone as they keep running.

“You go,” Luke cries over the noise of the plane. “Get out of here before the car blows.”

“But—” This is a big mess to clean up.

The plane stops again, further down the runway. Luke might be right. If we don’t get out of here, we might never leave. Then again, as the man in charge of security, I have the most justifiable reason for shooting. Toni fired first.

It’s Roman who is still holding Nia tight. “We got it, big guy. Go. Get her out of here.”

“But I’m the one with the license to…”

“We’re not going through police,” Roman murmurs. “He’s a wanted man and he’s going to disappear like one.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “Now, you get out of here and get yourself patched up.”

“Patched up?”

That’s when I look down to see my arm covered with blood. “Fuck.”

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