Page 177 of Volatile Obsessions

“Let him go.” The softest snarl left her.

“Can’t do that, Lux.”

“Let. Him. Go, Vic,” she gritted out.

“I told you, I can’t do that. If you make it here in time, you may be able to save him, though.”

And there he was, only half-struggling, pushed along the way by Benji towards the SUV. We’d zip tie his wrists together once he was inside to avoid any sudden outbursts.

“’Cause you’re gonna tell me how to get to him, right? Do you think I’m—”

“It’s not a secret, sweetheart. Liza wants me to tell you.” It was the complete and honest truth. “Now, here’s the deal. Rome’s about to get in the car. Either you stay quiet or—”

The rear passenger door flew open.

“Get the fuck off me, mate!” Roman roared, resisting Benji’s attempts to toss him in the back. “I can get in the damned car myself!”

As he slid inside, I slung an arm over the passenger seat and waited for him to notice me. When our stares locked and his expression morphed into that of confusion, I flashed him a subtle grin.

“Top of the mornin’ to ya, ol’ chap.”

“Vic? What the actual fuck is going on?” he asked incredulously, completely oblivious of Benji securing his wrists behind his back until the door slammed shut.

“Rome!” Lux bellowed, igniting a raging fire in his eyes.

I sighed impatiently, squeezing the bridge of my nose. “Jesus-fucking-Christ, Lux, did I not tell you to be quiet?”

“Where is she?” Rome growled.

“Back home where you left her, safe and sound.”

“I’m coming for you, Rome, do you hear me? I’m coming for you! Vic, you better text me that information—I’ve already bought the next flight out. It leaves in two hours.”

“Excellent.” I nearly rubbed my palms together. Everything was falling into place famously. “In the meantime, here’s a little motivation to get you moving faster in the event you thought I was joking…”

With lithe speed, I reached for the pistol tucked between the seat and flung my arm back, whacking the damned thing against Rome’s head.

Roaring in pain, he fell back into the seat as deep crimson blood began trickling from his temple.

“Stop! STOP!” Lux screamed in terror. “Don’t touch him! Don’t fucking touch him!”

“Oh, I won’t be, but I’m sure Liza can’t wait to get her hands on him one last time,” I mused.

Very slowly, Rome turned toward me, squinting through the aftermath of my assault. “Liza?” he rasped.

“The very one.”

“They’re working together!” Lux yelled, widening Rome’s expression in tenfold.

“You’re working with fucking Liza? Are you shitting me?!”

“How do you think she found you, brother?” I flashed him another grin.

But it didn’t last long.

One second I was lucid, and the next, well, I wasn’t.

The world around me was fading.

Fading.

Closing in on me.

Black.

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