Page 103 of Diamond Kisses

Had he taken his guards with him?

It would explain the ghostly emptiness—

Someone cleared their throat up ahead.

I went fatally still.

No one moved.

Sighing heavily, I pointed down the corridor and fell back into a prowl. The heavy gun took the last of my reserves to hold it in position. My numb feet and whip-torn back did their best to rob me of my strength.

But no matter how my body tried to warn me to stop, I’d reached the bottom of my tolerance.

I’d been pushed into primordial extremes.

I won’t stop until he’s dead.

Creeping down the empty corridor, I hated that there was no other way out. Claustrophobia clawed. Animalistic instinct screamed to leave before it was too late.

Another door appeared up ahead.

Brighter light shone beneath it. A golden glow in the keyhole.

Shit.

Turning to face Ben and Stewart, I drew a finger across my throat.

Abort.

Turn back—

“You might as well come in, Henri.”

Motherfucker.

Snarling with loathing, I spun around and glowered at the door.

Victor’s voice appeared again through a small speaker on the corridor wall. “You’ve been on camera ever since you entered the battlements. Don’t be shy. Come in. Have a drink. You look like you could use it.”

If I opened that door, I’d die.

One hundred percent, I would die.

But…at least I could take Victor with me.

Ily would be safe.

Peter.

All the rest.

This ends tonight.

Here and now.

Eyeing up the door, I raised my gun.

“Ah, I wouldn’t fire if I were you. It’s bullet-proof. You’ll only succeed in shooting yourself.”

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