Page 42 of Breaker

I can and will get Cora and I can and will stop Rune. But I have to do this before I can go back.

I suck in a breath and pull.

Dirt explodes at the tree line at least a foot away from the target. My heart does next, adrenaline rushing through my veins like mercury.

“Good girl,” Striker says. “Again.”

I pull back, shooting the tree next to the target, and grin.

“Better,” Striker says. “Again.”

I adjust my aim slightly and shoot again, feeling that silvery excitement coursing through me faster. The bottom corner of the target ripples.

“Good,” Reaper says, my grin growing wider as Striker taps my arm, silently telling me to shift the rifle to the left.

I do and when I pull the trigger, the target ripples outward from the center.

I gasp, lowering the gun so fast that Striker snags it from my grasp and pulls it away. “Did I hit the black part?”

Reaper stalks forward to inspect the target while my eyes inspect him.

Striker’s hand lands on my lower back and he pulls me close. “That was good,” he whispers, warm breath fanning my ear.

My hands land on his chest, fingers curling to feel the solid muscle beneath.

“There he is,” Reaper says from behind me. I turn to see him gesturing toward the cliffs. Slipping from Striker’s embrace, I see Viper walking up, strong legs eating up the distance between us. Just the sight of him sends heat between my legs.

God, I’m so fucked.

When he’s within shouting distance, Viper calls, “Hey, have you guys seen Breaker?”

Striker meets my eyes. My heart leaps, skips,sings, and I bite my lip to hide my smile.

Chapter 13

Cora

Before I was kidnappedand taken to a secluded run-down mansion by four hot masked men who threatened to fuck me constantly, then claimed me in some weird primal way, then two of them actually did fuck me, I enjoyed work.

I loved waking up, preparing myself for the day, picking out sharply tailored suits and stiletto heels, slipping them on like armor readying myself for battle. Because that’s what the days often felt like. Being a head accountant for a large corporation isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s not just numbers and keeping track of expenditures, it’s looking into deals and finding loopholes. It’s making sure we’re the one’s fucking someone over, rather than getting fucked.

And then there was the ledgers. Hiding millions. Laundering hundreds of thousands through mergers and bullshit purchases. Delly and I were good at it. Delly was always able to spot a flaw in a deal and rework the numbers. I was good at hiding money.

We grew Rune’s fortune. We hid his activities, even though we had no idea what we were hiding. We made this job look easy, the two of us.

Today I’m dreading it. Today I feel like a pawn, just a piece to be moved around on the board. Even though I’m wearing my armor, I don’t feel ready. I miss my pretty floral dresses and my combat boots. I miss my warm sweaters and thick socks.

I miss them.

I don’t want to be here, tucked between Clyde and the side door, headed for the office to resume my job, return to my role as Rune’s accountant. Until I’m Zane’s wife that is. Maybe he won’t care if I have a job, or if Rune uses me. It’s not like Zane’s marrying me because he likes me. He’s doing it for money, greed, and to be connected to Rune even more.

It’s all just a cruel reminder that after wanting away from Rune for so long, I’m finally getting my wish. Except now instead of freedom, I’m getting Zane, and his darkness is just as bad.

When we pull up in front of the office complex, my heart hammers. Last time I was in this building, I was watching Rune’s soldiers being shot and was forced away from the only life I’ve ever known and thrust into a dream.

I feel like I’m waking up now, but instead of reality being a comfort, it’s a nightmare. Like layers of gauze are being stripped away as the hours pass and everything I went through, the confusion, the fear, the lust, and the acceptance, were just some dream and I never left here. Like my body stayed and my mind wandered to a place that I was wanted and desired and dare I say, liked.

I lean back into the leather seat as Conner hops out and rushes around to open my door. My heel clacks on the concrete sidewalk as I step out. Noise hits me like a train. Cars honking, people talking. The sound of a motor revving, like a race car or motorcycle, from nearby, makes me wince.

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