Page 106 of A Twisted Arrangement

“Oh my. You’ve really got it wrong.” I slice forward, cutting through his Achilles. I feel the shot go off just past my head as he collapses beside me.

I slam my knife into his throat and say as he bleeds out, “Ikilled your father. He underestimated me too. It’s unfortunate you weren’t able to learn from his mistake.”

His eyes go wide as he grabs his throat, desperate to stop the bleeding.

There’s no point, and within seconds, he’s out. I scramble up, knowing I have to get out of here. There’s no way he’s alone if he set up this trap to catch Matthias and his brothers. Panic lances through my chest, sending ice through my veins. I have to warn him.

There’s a loud boom from the other side of the building. Just as I take a step towards the door, the sound of gunshots fills the air from the other side of the building.

Too late. He’s here.

Chapter 50

Matthias

Xander pulls upto the dock seconds behind me. The sound of waves covers the crunch below our tires. The tracker shows she’s in the white building a block ahead of us.

Bash and I get out of the car and head to the back of Xander’s Range Rover. The chill rolls down my spine as I throw on my tactical vest. It wasn’t too long ago that we’d been doing this to save Misty, and that went to hell fast. If we’d been any later, we’d have lost them both that night.

My fingers tremble as I slide extra magazines into their slots. I can’t let that happen again.

Xander grips my shoulder. “It’s going to be okay. We are going to take every last one of those assholes out.”

“Hell yeah, we are! They’re going to learn exactly what happens when they fuck with our sister,” Bash cheers, but there’s an edge to it.

They’re both ready to go, with enough weapons to take down a fort. It’s clear they’re all in, that they want to get to Scarlet as badly as I do, but going in now without any backup is a suicide mission, and I can’t let my baby brothers risk their lives like that.

“Wait for Damon and backup.” I turn to them.

“The fuck are you talking about?” Bash replies.

“We’re not little kids anymore. This is as important to us as it is to you,” Xander adds, adding another gun to his arsenal. “Our men will be here soon. They’ll cover us.”

I search their faces, but they stare back at me with hard expressions.

“Don’t fucking die,” I command like I can actually control what happens next.

Bash grins. “Double promise.”

I blow out a breath. “Let’s go.”

We hide in the shadows as we approach the building, scoping out what we’re up against. There are only three men stationed out front. They’re dressed in plain clothes, nothing like you’d expect going against us.

Bash comes up beside me. “Do you think they’re trying to lure us into a false sense of security?”

“I don’t think so. Look how they’re carrying their guns.” Xander points out. “These aren’t high-class mercenaries. Whoever was stupid enough to take her likely doesn’t have enough money to fund something like this.”

I cock my gun and step out into the light. “Let’s hope you’re right.”

All three men are down, bleeding across the pavement before they can turn in our direction.

Bash kicks one of the men’s guns away from him. “I know we should be happy about it, but honestly, I’m a little disappointed. No fun at all.”

“Scarlet’s in there somewhere, and you’re complaining it’s too easy?” My voice travels through the parking lot, echoing off the buildings.

“Jeez…I was just joking around.” He heads to the door first, getting into position, and signals to Xander he’s ready.

Bash opens the door, and Xander scopes it out, his gun ahead of him and half-covered by the doorframe. He gives me the all-clear sign and waves me forward.

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