Page 183 of Sinful Games

My eyes narrowed. “What are you?—”

But before I could finish my question, the building's alarm erupted into a deafening roar. The piercing wail sliced through the air, coming from the rooftop and reverberating through the walls.

The sound was so fucking intense that I had to cover my ears.

Leila tossed her phone onto the ground with a vicious flick, the device shattering into pieces as it hit the pavement. Her eyes, now steely and focused, turned back to me.

Then, she checked the gun in her hand, ensuring it was ready.

The noise was relentless, making it hard to think, harder to focus.

“Goodbye, Al?—”

Before she could finish, I lunged at her, tackling her to the ground.

We both crashed down, the impact knocking the breath out of me. Her legs thrashed as she tried to kick me, and she bit down hard on my arm, her teeth sinking into my flesh.

Struggling to maintain my grip, I reached for the gun, my fingers scrabbling for the weapon. With a swift move, I managed to wrench it from her grasp. Finally, I scrambled to my feet, clutching the gun tightly in my hand.

“You fucking bastard!” she screamed, scrambling to her feet and charging at me.

I reacted instinctively, pulling the trigger as she lunged. The gunshot rang out sharply, and she cried out in pain as the bullet struck her arm. She collapsed to her knees, clutching her wounded arm, her face contorted in agony.

“What did you do, Leila?”

She looked up at me with a twisted smile. “What do you think? You’re going to die the same way you killedmySadiek.”

My blood ran cold. “You set fire to the fucking building?”

A grim satisfaction in her eyes as she struggled to her feet. “Good luck, Alexsei.”

With a final, defiant glance, she turned andsprinted toward the edge of the rooftop. She then leaped off the building before I could react.

Wait! She fucking jumped out of the building?

I cursed under my breath as I ran to the edge of the rooftop. Peering down, I saw her body sprawled on the ground. She was spread out like a star, blood pooling around her in a dark, grim halo.

Fucking bitch!

I had no time to dwell on, though.

The building was going up in flames, and I needed to get the hell out before it was too late. But then, Leila’s words came crashing back into my mind.

Seeing as you’ve managed to carry on, Caia has to be next. It’s only fitting.

Caia could be in serious danger right now.

I had to find her and make sure she was safe. Ignoring the smoke and heat engulfing the building, I sprinted toward the nearest exit, my mind racing with the fear of what might be happening to my wife.

I bolted down the emergency staircase, the smoke thick and suffocating. Every step felt like an eternity as I descended, my lungs burning from the acrid fumes.

I fumbled for my phone, trying to dial Angelo’s number through the haze of panic and smoke.

Just as I reached the landing, the call connected, and Angelo’s voice came through.

“Alexsei? Where the fuck are you?”

“I’m coming down,” I yelled over the deafening roar of the alarm. “Leila just jumped off the building, and she set the place on fire. But she said something about Caia—I think she might be in danger.”

---