Page 92 of Bound By Revenge

He lets out a strained half-laugh, half-groan, rubbing a hand over his face. “Kat,” he says, his tone dangerously close to pleading.

Flipping the panel open, I study it quickly. “All right, here’s the deal,” I call out, my tone lighter than I feel. “I’ll keep it simple for you two civilians. Normally, I’d call in A.J. for something likethis, but lucky for us, I know my way around this type of panel. It’s basic tech. The catch? This model has two options: one opens the gate, and the other—well, it sets off an alarm. No way to tell which is which.”

Nik’s jaw tightens, his voice low. “You didn’t mention that before you decided to fling yourself in there.”

“Obviously,” I reply with a shrug. “You’d have said no. It’s a fifty-fifty shot. I like my odds.”

“Kat—” Nik starts, his tone sharp, but I’ve already made my decision.

“Here goes nothing.” My fingers press down on the keypad, and for a moment, there’s a hopeful silence. Then the overhead lights blaze red, and an ear-splitting siren shatters the air.

“Fuck,” Vladmir hisses, his head whipping toward the approaching shouts.

“Kat!” Nik barks, his voice sharp and angry.

“My bad!” I shout, sprinting for Nik’s car. I wrench the door open, throw myself into the driver’s seat, and mash the start button. “Step back!” I yell through the window.

Nik and Vladmir barely have time to leap aside as I slam my foot on the gas, ramming the car into the gate. The impact reverberates through the vehicle, but the gate holds. Gritting my teeth, I reverse, then floor it again. This time, the metal crumples and collapses to the ground.

“Get in!” I shout, yanking the gearshift into drive as Nik yanks open the passenger door, sliding in with a muttered curse. Vladmir dives into the back, pistol already drawn.

I stare at the gun in Vladmir’s hand, momentarily frozen, my mind struggling to process why he even has it.

“Kat. Drive the fucking car,” Nik snaps, his sharp tone jolting me back to reality.

I slam my foot on the gas, the car lurching forward as screams echo behind us. Bullets whistle past the vehicle, and Vladmir leans out the window, returning fire.

I gasp, instinctively jerking the wheel, and the car swerves wildly. Nik’s hand shoots out, grabbing the wheel. “It’s all good, Kat,” he says, his voice calm and steady. “Just keep your hands on the wheel, eyes on the road. Don’t worry about the bullets.”

“Don’t worry about the bullets?!” I shout, glancing at him incredulously. “Wow, genius advice. Why didn’t I think of that?”

The car veers again, and I grip the wheel tighter as we hurtle down the driveway and onto the main road. Nik exhales, trying to soothe me. “Shh. Just focus. You’re doing fine. Let’s put some distance between us and them.”

His words are barely out when headlights appear in the rearview mirror, too close for comfort. My stomach clenches as Nik and Vladmir exchange a look that sends a chill through me.

“What is it?” I ask, my voice rising.

Nik leans back, his gaze fixed on Vlad. “Can you drive with one hand?” he asks, his tone clipped.

Vladmir hesitates, then gives a sharp nod.

“What? Why would he need to drive with one hand?” I demand, glancing between them and the ever-approaching headlights.

Nik doesn’t answer, and neither does Vladmir. Instead, I notice something—a crude splint wrapped around Vlad’s right hand, the bandages stark against his skin.

“What happened to your hand?” I ask, my voice softer now. Vladmir shifts uncomfortably, throwing a quick look at Nik, who stares straight ahead, his jaw locked.

The realization hits me like a slap. Nik. My breath hitches.Nik broke his hand. The thought is outrageous, but the truth is written all over their faces. And then it clicks—the punishment. This possessive, unhinged man…

I grip the wheel tighter, my knuckles bone-white as anger surges through me. “You broke his hand,” I whisper, the accusation trembling in the air. Then my voice rises, sharp and shaking. “Youbrokehis hand!”

Nik lets out a sharp sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Kat…” His tone is meant to calm me, but it only stokes the fire.

“No,” I snap, cutting him off. “Are youfucking insane? What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Look,” Nik says, his voice suddenly hard as steel, “we can talk about this later. For now, will youpleasefocus on driving?” His hand shoots out to steady the wheel as the car wobbles slightly.

“Focus?” I shout back, gripping the wheel tighter, my chest heaving. “How the hell am I supposed to focus when I just found out you’re actually insane? Youbrokehis hand—because he touched me? What thefuck, Nik?”

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