Page 77 of Sinful Embers

I pull out my gun, my voice low but firm. "No mercy. We take them down, we get Leigh, and we end this fucker once and for all."

They nod, their faces set in grim determination.

We move.

LEIGH

A loud crack shatters the silence. Gunfire.

Carlos curses, standing so fast his chair clatters to the ground. His men scramble outside, barking orders. My pulse leaps. They came.

Radomir came.

Carlos grips my jaw, forcing me to look at him. "If I go down, I’m taking you with me."

I don’t doubt him.

With one last sneer, he yanks me upright, the rope binding my wrists digging deeper into my skin. "Move."

He drags me toward the back door, the distant shouts and gunfire growing louder. My heart slams against my ribs as I dig my heels into the ground.

"Carlos—"

A gunshot rings out.

Carlos jerks, his body stiffening before he collapses forward, his grip on me going slack. Blood pools beneath him.

I spin toward the tree line.

Viktor lowers his rifle, his expression unreadable as he confirms the kill.

Carlos is dead.

Radomir bursts through the doorway, his face wild, frantic. And then his eyes land on me, scanning for injuries. He crosses the space between us in two strides, his hands cupping my face, his gaze burning into mine.

"Are you hurt?" His voice is raw, thick with emotion.

Tears burn my eyes, and I shake my head. "No. I—"

I don’t get to finish. His lips crash against mine, desperate, possessive, claiming. A sob escapes my throat as I cling to him, my fingers fisting his shirt, grounding myself in the only place that has ever felt like home.

The others flood the cabin. Sabrina lets out a relieved curse. Gunner actually wipes at his eyes before scooping me into a suffocating bear hug. "Shit, Leigh," he grumbles. "Don’t do that again."

Sabrina snickers. "Pretty sure that’s not how this works, Gunner."

Slowly, everyone filters out, giving me and Radomir space.

And then it’s just us.

RADOMIR

Leigh stands before me, still trembling, her green eyes glistening. I cup her face, my thumb brushing over her cheek.

"You ran," I say hoarsely.

She swallows hard. "I had to."

I exhale sharply, resting my forehead against hers. "You should have trusted me."

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