Page 158 of Bound By Revenge

If I’d known she was going to come into my life, even for a little while… maybe I could’ve been better. Done better.

Most of my life, all I cared about was survival. No matter how bad things got, I just kept going. But for Kat? For her safety, her happiness, her future? I’ll give it all up without hesitation.

Salvatore takes a step closer, the click of his polished shoes echoing in the chamber. His smirk deepens as his eyes rake over me, his gaze gleaming with triumph. He’s enjoying this, eating up every second of it.

I square my shoulders and hold his stare, refusing to look away. Let him think he’s won. I know better. The truth is, I’ve already won. Kat will be free—from him, from me, from all of this.

The only thing I regret is that I hurt her. That we wasted so much time we could’ve spent being happy together.

As Salvatore approaches, I close my eyes for just a second. Kat’s face flashes in my mind—her smile, her warmth, and the way she made me feel like I mattered.

She’ll be my last thought.

My life ends here. But hers is just beginning.

And that’s enough.

Chapter 57

Kat

Hiddenbehind one of the crumbling marble columns, I glance around the old bank, my stomach twisting with disgust.

The air is thick, stale, and reeks of mildew. There’s no breeze down here, not even a faint draft to stir the dust that’s been collecting for God knows how long. Broken leather chairs and bullet casings litter the gold-veined black marble floor, now dull and filthy.

It’s been over ten years since this place was abandoned, and it shows. The paint is peeling in long strips, and the walls look like they’re rotting from the inside out. The whole building feels like a relic from another time, its former grandeur nothing more than a fading shadow.

I drove like a maniac to get here, but it still took an excruciating hour. Every mile felt endless, the dread in my chest growing heavier with every passing minute. By the time I pulled up, I was sure I’d be too late—that Dmitri and his father would already have executed Nik.

Movement catches my eye a dozen yards away under the dim, flickering light of an ancient overhead fixture. A small group of men has gathered, standing stiff and silent. Members of the Seven Families, no question.

I press myself against the column and stay completely still, watching, careful not to make a sound. If this plan has even the slightest chance of working, A.J. and I need the element of surprise. Of course, that all goes out the window if Nik’s already dead. But I can’t let myself go there. Not yet. I have to stay focused.

Barely daring to breathe, I take in the scene. The small crowd of men stands in a semicircle under the light. The expensive cuts of their suits can't hide the unmistakable bulge of weapons tucked away—holstered at their sides, strapped to their ankles, or jammed beneath their waistbands.

Is that what they’re planning for Nik? To gun him down like that?

I glance at their faces, searching for any cracks in their composure. Most of them seem uneasy—stealing wary glances at one another, shifting their weight like they’re standing on unstable ground. It’s obvious they don’t want to be here, trapped in this dark, decaying room with their enemies.

A chill runs down my spine as I catch the coldness in their stares, the sharp gleam of cruelty lurking in their eyes. I don’t even want to imagine what they’d do to me or A.J. if we were caught. The idea alone threatens to root me to the spot, paralyzing me with fear. But I can’t let that happen.

I shove the thought away, forcing myself to focus. My eyes dart around the room, scanning for any sign of Nik, Dmitri, or thestronzohimself.

Then, finally, I spot them.

Dmitri steps into the light, dragging Nik behind him, and my heart nearly gives out. Relief crashes over me, so overwhelming that my knees almost buckle. I grab the column to steady myself, barely holding it together.

Nik is still alive.

My vision blurs as tears threaten to spill, but I blink them away. There’s no time for that.

Thestronzofollows them into the light, his greasy smirk turning my relief into fury in the span of a heartbeat.

Even in the dim light, I can see the fight draining out of Nik. His posture is perfect—his head held high, his shoulders straight. He looks like he doesn't have a care in the world, but I know him better than that. I can see it in his eyes—he’s given up.

I glance across the room until I spot A.J. in the shadows. She catches my eye and nods.

Dmitri drags Nik forward, pushing him into the center of the semicircle. The men exchange uneasy whispers, their words too low for me to hear, while Salvatore pulls out a shiny revolver, practically beaming as he does it.

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