Page 62 of Cruel Master

Scarlett whipped around on him. “She’s my fucking friend, Hadrian.”

“And her husband will take care of her,” he replied. “Just like Wolf or I would for you. Stay here.”

“But—”

“We’ll need someone to guard the hackers,” I said, stopping her tirade before it could start.

Hadrian, it seemed, wasn't done yet, either. “You have an obligation to go home to our fucking daughter, Scar,” he said.

Scarlett blanched but didn’t refute the statement. “I want to help,” she said instead.

With a sigh, Hadrian approached her and cupped her face. “You will,” he said. “Archer and I need to make sure no one sneaks up on us while we work. You’ll guard us and make sure we’re safe while we fuck them up from the inside out. Got it?”

A moment passed, and she finally nodded in acquiescence, and not too soon either. I was ready to get a move on. We had wasted enough time as it was. It was time to lead the team into the mansion and get my fucking wife back.

“Alright, now that we’ve got that decided.” Jensen’s voice rang throughout the clearing as he moved towards the opening of the trees. He paused and looked back before lifting a pair of dynamite sticks with a grin. “What do you say we blow both gates open and go get our target?”

29

ANGEL

Explosions rocked the grounds. The sound of them was not at all familiar, but I knew what they were—and they were just what I needed them to be. A distraction. Before he could react, I barreled into Blade and took him to the ground.

The knife in my hand turned and I slammed it into his side, enjoying the satisfying shout of pain that escaped his lips. The doors blew open and several men barged inside as I withdrew the blade and then scrambled away. Holding the knife up, I stared wide-eyed as the ginger from earlier growled and stormed forward.

A sharp pop sounded somewhere from the hallway and he froze for the briefest of moments. His eyes went down, and I followed the trail, spotting a large dark spot forming in the center of his chest. Blood.

Acting on instinct, I dove forward as he collapsed to his knees. My hands went to his side and I ripped the gun strapped there from its holster. Turning, I took aim and pulled the trigger. Once. Twice. A third time. Both men on either side of the ginger went down like piles of bricks before they could even draw their own weapons.

The recognizable sound of my sister’s shrieking dragged me forward. I stepped over the bodies and stumbled into the hallway, falling into the wall as my foot slipped. Liquid slid down the front of my aching, burning legs. My earlier stab wound wasn’t much better. Who the hell had killed Ginger? I looked down the hall and frowned as a man decked in all black was shooting around the corner. I dimly recognized him as the man from the sex club—Ian.

What the hell is he doing here?I wondered.

I didn’t have to wonder for long. He turned and cast a look back and blinked when he spotted me. “Get over here!” he snapped.

He was here with Gaven then, I realized. Hurriedly, I scrambled after him, the sounds of screaming and more gunshots ringing throughout the house and getting louder. The smell of gunpowder permeated the hallway. I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall as I got to the man. My body ached and my head threatened to cave in on itself.

“Are you okay?”

That question had me reopening my eyes as Ian hovered over me, his brow scrunched in concern. I parted my lips to reply, but as I did, he turned away again and pressed something inserted in his ear.

“Hey, this is Marshall. I've got the target with me. She’s wounded. She’ll need treatment.”

“I’m fine,” I defended. “I can make it out of here.”

He looked back at me and his expression remained concerned and doubtful. He shook his head and then grabbed my good arm, pulling me away from the wall. “Come, we’ve got to move. This part of the estate is under fire.”

That much was for sure. I didn’t argue with him as he led me around the corner and down another hallway. It’d been five years since I’d been home, and despite the obvious changes that had been made while I’d been away, I still recognized we were heading for the bottom floor towards the foyer.

I turned my head as we passed other hallways on our way down. I’d heard Jackie scream earlier, but where was she? Was she already dead? For some reason, I didn’t like that. No, I didn’t want Jackie to die and disappear from my view. I wanted to see it. I wanted to watch the light dim from her eyes the same way she’d watched our father’s. She deserved that. To see her own failure.

“Wait!” I shouted as I pulled up short. “My client! There’s another man here, his name is Ronald Wiser. We have to get him.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ian snapped. “One of my men already found him.” He frowned back at me. “You should really worry more about yourself.” His gaze panned down to my bloody legs.

“I told you I was fine,” I reminded him tartly.

His lips twitched, and the frown eased slightly. “God, you remind me of my wife.”

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