Page 67 of Scorching Lies

“You won’t make it out of here tonight, Stone.” Addington spits. “I’ve already made arrangements to take good care of Ms. Kingston, so don’t worry about her.”

The look in his eyes makes me lunge forward, my hands closing around his throat. I don’t see Arden swinging the butt of the gun until it’s too late, but West is right there on top of him knocking it from his hands. My fist slam into Addington’s face over and over until Cole shouts my name. Looking up I see Cole cornered by Arden, who has the gun aimed at his head. My eyes search for West where I find him lying on the floor with blood running down the side of his hairline.

“Give up boys. Your dad made a mistake trusting three young kids with such a big job.”

“The mistake you made is thinking they were alone.”

Her soft voice echoes off the walls, pistol in hand, she presses it up to Arden’s head. Cole’s eyes meet hers over the professor's shoulder. They hold each other's attention when she pulls the trigger without hesitating. Blood sprays across Cole’s white shirt, covering his face. I feel the thud of Arden’s body falling to the floor through the soles of my feet. No one moves. Addington groans below me, blood spilling from his mouth, both eyes swollen. Leaving him on the ground, I look to my little killer.Kenna drops the gun to her side, hand shaking. I kneel beside her and take the weapon.

“Kenna, baby, look at me.”

Standing, my finger tips her chin back, forcing her to look at me. Cole pushes me out of the way, taking Kenna into his arms, he whispers something into her ear. My hand itches watching my brother hold my girl against his body, but I give him a moment with her, knowing he just watched the woman he hates save his life. Releasing her, he steps back nodding his head at her before storming from the room.

“Wait.” She calls out, but he’s already gone.

“Let him be, he needs to clear his head.” I tell her.

Looking to West, I motion for him to follow Cole. Hopefully he can keep an eye on him. Knowing that he’s struggling with it being Kenna who saved his life, and not the fact that he could have been the one with a hole in his head. Pulling out my phone I dial G’s number, telling him to send a crew to clean up. Thankfully the music pouring into the room from downstairs seems to keep the guest in the dark about what’s going on one floor above them. Kenna’s hand trembles at her side.

Leaning down, my mouth hovers over hers, “Where did you get the gun, Killer?” I ask.

Moving the slit on her right leg to the side, she reveals a black holster strapped to her upper thigh where the gun must have been resting.

“It was a gift.”

Her tone is bitter, but she smiles up at me anyway. Her long lashes fan across her cheeks with each blink. She’s breathtaking.So fucking magnificent and beautiful, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. A pile of ashes we tried to bury her in.

“Come with me.” I state.

It’s not a question, yet not a demand either. G’s crew will be here in minutes so I decide to leave the fucker on the floor with the dead body beside him. Squeezing her hand I guide her from the room, but after a few steps she snaps out of whatever trance she was in to pull away from me.

“Ally.” She barks.

Raising an eyebrow, “What about Ally?”

“Her last name isn’t Adler.”

Not understanding the urgency, she plants both hands on my chest, looking at me fiercely.

“Have them meet us somewhere so I can explain everything and this time I’m going to make you all listen.” She says, her words final.

She storms off, her long legs move too fast heading to the center of the party. The silver snake holding the back of her dress together damn near has me falling to my knees. Ready to kneel at the feet of a temptress. Instead I trail behind her. Loud boisterous laughing mixes with the low hum of music that’s playing throughout the party. Keeping my eyes on the top of Kenna’s head, my body follows her through the room like she’s pulling me by my balls. I’m so lost inside this woman all I can see is her. Fueled by raw adrenaline she storms up to Ally, who’s dancing with an older man, and drags her off to the side.

“We’re leaving.”

Ally looks between us with a confused stare, “but.”

“I’ll meet you back at the dorm later.” Kenna looks at me over her shoulder before turning back to Ally with a small smile. “It might be tomorrow.” She gives her a shy look.

My girl is anything but shy so I know it’s only for show. Ally does some sort of girlie shimmy on her toes, purple curls bouncing with the move. Ally shoots a wink at Kenna, ignoring the fact that I’m standing right here, and bounces away to who the fuck knows where.

“Well, that was weird.” I chuckle.

Leaning down, my lips hover over the soft dip between her shoulder, “Now what?”

“Now we head back to your place to meet your brothers.”

She tries to hide the way I affect her, but the slight hitch in her tone gives her away. Kissing and nipping up her neck I whisper in her ear.

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