Page 76 of Kilo's Edge

My gaze met Kruzman’s as he looked down at me. I jumped to my feet, tossed the sand in my fists into his eyes, then dove off to the right, rolling under a truck. I bit back a scream as gunfire split the night.

“Please be okay,” I whispered to myself as I hid. Guilt was heavy in my stomach as the men fought for me while I laid here, but I had no weapon and if Kruzman got a hold of me again itwould do more harm than good. It was better that I was out of the way so I couldn’t be used to tie their hands again.

I bellied backward, trying to come out on the other side of the truck so that I could find a better hiding spot when something grabbed my ankle. Gasping, I looked over and saw Ashley there.Asshole.I kicked with my free leg and my sneaker hit him in the face. It felt great, but it didn’t stop him from jerking me out from under the truck. I sputtered as dirt flew into my face and mouth.

He yanked me to my feet and once again started dragging me. At least it was away from the battle this time. “He knows I have you. We’re going to let those fuckers fight it out and then I’ll get my money afterward.”

“What if Kruzman dies?” I huffed, trying to get my feet under me so that he wasn’t just dragging me along. His stride was much bigger than mine, so I was having to take more steps just to keep up.

“Then your friends there can pay to get you back.” He scowled down at me. “Either way, I’m getting my money.”

I tugged at the hand holding me, trying to break his grip, but he was too strong. The last thing I wanted was to be in Kruzman’s hands again, but I also didn’t want to go with Ashley. And I really didn’t want him to profit off all this. Denying him his money was the only way to really hurt him. If I could get away and run off into the desert, he’d have no bargaining chip.

Clasping my hands together, I threw them into his side as hard as I could. The small grunt he gave didn’t give me much hope, but I kept hitting him. He must have gotten tired of me because he stopped and threw me over his shoulder. I kicked and hit at any exposed flesh I could find.

He heaved a sigh and I saw his elbow swing toward me too late. It was lights out again.

CHAPTER 33

Kilo

We ducked behind the SUVs once Camila made her move. She’d scrambled under one of the sicario’s vehicles and now that she was out of the way it was open season on these assholes once more. Kruzman was staggering back behind his line of men, rubbing at his eyes. My girl had tossed a bunch of dirt in his face. My smile was full of pride as I aimed my rifle and took down one of the bastards.

Our brothers had waited in the shadows, circling around to the sides so that they could take out any who tried to run off on us. We were corralling them in so it would be like shooting rats in a trap.

“Kilo!”

I looked over at Merc’s shout and saw that filthy fucking FBI agent dragging Camila away from the fight.

“Go get her,” Ruck ordered.

Leaving them to take out the rest of Kruzman’s men, I ran around the vehicles and after my target. The headlights lit up the area enough to see that Camila was fighting him, trying to keep from letting him drag her off. When he tossed her over his shoulder, then elbowed her, I growled and poured on more speed. Running through the sand in my boots was something I had years of experience with, but the FBI dick seemed to be struggling, especially with Camila’s dead weight. She was limp over his shoulder and seeing her unmoving made fury build inside me.

As soon as I saw him throw her to the ground earlier, I knew I was going to kill him. He’d touched what was mine. Tried to trade her life away. He was going to pay for that. I didn’t dare fire at him. I could hit Camila, so I dropped my rifle and tackled his legs from behind. I hoped Camila would forgive me for the way her body hit the ground, but I couldn’t focus on her right now.

He came up swinging, but I blocked the head shot with my arm. Returning the punch, I landed a body blow that had him grunting in pain. Kicking out, I swept his legs out from beneath him and followed him down. He seemed to be favoring his left arm, so I swung my fist there. As soon as I landed a punch to the left side of his chest he let out a cry of pain and started to fight like a wounded animal.

He managed to pin my leg and roll us in the dirt. “I’ll fucking kill her for this,” he snarled as we grappled for the dominant position.

This wasn’t Shawn. It was more like the fight with Dustin from before. This man was trained, just like me, and he knew how to fight. It wasn’t a clean sweep that I was going to win easily. But I had more I was fighting for. Camila was lying unconscious, sprawled out, nearby and I wasn’t going to let him get his hands on her again.

Blocking another blow with my left arm, I grabbed the Glock I had holstered at my back but he managed to knock it out of my hand before I could use it. The agent ended up on top, and he’d managed to grab his pistol. My arms made an x as I tried to keep him from pointing that fucking gun at my face. If he pointed it at me, this was all going to be over and Camila would be in danger again.

Our muscles strained as we fought for control of the gun. We were silent, other than harsh breathing, eyes locked, faces pulled back in grimaces while locked in this battle to the death. He had the upper hand, for now. But I wasn’t giving up and I was a stubborn bastard. Releasing my right arm, I held his gun away with one hand on his wrist and hit him in the side as hard as I could. The gun slipped closer to my head.

Planting my feet, I prepared to try to flip him, when a familiar voice started screaming.

“Get off him!”

I stared in amazement as Camila’s head appeared next to the agent’s. She’d jumped on his back and had her bound hands around his neck. There was blood all over her temple and face, but here she was riding this asshole around like a bucking bronco.

He shoved off of me, trying to pull her from his back. It gave me the opening I needed to rip the gun out of his hand, but with Camila directly behind him, I couldn’t use it. Dropping the gun, I pulled out the knife I’d taken off the sicario. This damn thing had just become my lucky weapon.

The FBI agent froze when my knife plunged into the side of his neck then yanked right back out. Shock spread over his face as he stopped reaching for Camila and grabbed the gushing wound.

Wanting to make sure he was dead, I stuck him again, this time through his hand into his throat, and twisted the blade. He dropped like a rock.

Reaching out, I grabbed Camila to steady her, cut the zip-ties from her hands, then pulled her into my arms. “You okay?” I asked, breathing heavily.

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