Page 226 of Kiss the Villain

That’s why he came here in the first place. Gareth doesn’t like the thought of someone else ending my life.

But I’ve already made my decision.

“I won’t die.” I brush my lips against his forehead, and he goes still, a faint shiver rippling through his body. I step back, meeting his gaze. “You didn’t allow me to, remember?”

“You better not,” he murmurs, his hand sliding up to wrap around my throat. His chin quivers, his grip firm but hesitant. “I didn’t forgive you yet.”

“All right, we really need to go.” Jethro reaches for Gareth’s arm, casting me a wary glance.

“Protect him,” I tell Jethro, my tone brooking no argument.

Jethro gawks at me. “Pretty sure it should be the other way around. I’m the nerd in this situation.”

Gareth steps toward me, but I turn, pushing the door shut.

And lock it.

As I walk out, a gun in hand, I send Jethro a text.

Take him the fuck out of here. Drop him at his parents’ and tell them to ask their mafia connections for protection.

So maybe I lied.

Pretty sure I’m dying today.

Even if my brother’s men don’t manage it, the other founding families will. In their eyes, I’m an anomaly—a dangerous precedent that needs to be wiped out. And as a high-ranking member, they’ll want to make an example out of me, a gruesome one at that.

But at least Gareth is safe.

A long breath escapes my lungs as I move through the chaos, firing at anyone in my path. Each shot is a message—a dent in Grant’s little army for daring to come at me at the worst possible time.

“The fuck are you doing here?” Simone shouts, swinging her knife at a guy’s throat. Blood splashes across her face, matting her hair, and I notice her jacket is ripped and soaked with red.

“Helping?”

“Fuck, Kayden, you should’ve left!”

“And let you die alone?” I grin, reloading. “Am I that much of a monster?”

I raise my gun and shoot a guy aiming his rifle at her, right between the eyes. The crack of the shot echoes, but I’m already running low on ammunition.

Simone takes a hit in the leg, and she stumbles.

“Shit,” she grits out, blood streaming down her thigh as I rush to her side.

I sling her arm over my shoulder, half carrying her as the men under her command create a shield around us, returning fire.

We barely make it outside when I see Grant.

He stands with a few of his men, his posture rigid, his face as stoic and impassive as ever.

“Take her,” I order Isaac, shoving Simone toward the car as she twists in my grip, shouting.

“Kayden, don’t be fucking stupid!”

“Just protect them for me, yeah?” I wave her off, ignoring the way her bloodied fists pound against the window as the car screeches out of the driveway.

Her muffled screams echo as I turn to face my brother.

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