Page 100 of Sin & Secrets

Cas screams.

That same bruising pain winds me as the bullet lodges itself in my vest once more. I can almost hear my ribs cracking on impact as I stagger back a few paces.

I can’t take another shot. This knowledge launches me forward faster than I’ve ever moved before.

The goon steps backward as his gun clicks to indicate that it's empty. His shaking fingers attempt to reload before I launch myself at him. But it’s no use.

I’m on him in an instant, arms wrapping themselves around his neck as I squeeze, ignoring the way his body thrashes against mine. I take in a breath and then twist.

SNAP.

His body slumps in my arms.

My chest heaves as I try to rally my strength to take down my final opponent.

Click.

Cold metal presses into my temple.

“Easy there, big boy,” Lazzaro sneers as he jams the barrel of his gun into my head.

I stay entirely still. I’m half kneeling as I cradle the final goon in my arms.

“Drop him.”

The body hits the floor with an unceremonious thump, and I raise my hands in a display of surrender, eyes staring resolutely on the floor.

“You have no idea how good this feels.” Lazzaro laughs cruelly in my ear. “After you stole Cas from me and flaunted how you were fucking her in front of everyone.”

I cringe at his words. I had done nothing to dispel the rumors, all of them aiding my subterfuge to get to the very man now pointing a gun at my head.

But there was no way of explaining this to Cas. Not when she’d never believe another word out of my mouth.

“The Cartel was supposed to kill you, but I prefer this one hell of a lot more.” He raises his voice for Cas to hear, “Fate works in mysterious ways.”

“Let me do it.”

My eyes snap up to find Cas approaching. That haunted expression on her face barely acknowledges my existence.

Never before had I noticed how she resembled her father. But when she looks at Lazzaro, I’m struck by how similar she looks to Carmine.

She looks the way he did when the calm claimed him in his final moment.

My heart races in my chest. No. She wouldn’t.

“Cas. Please,” I beg, but not for my own life.

“He killed my father,” she continues, ignoring me. “He lied to me. He kept me from ever meeting him. He stole me from you, and he…he made me fall in love with him.”

My breath catches. No. Not like this.

“His life is mine to take.”

Lazzaro regards her apprehensive. “You don’t have it in you.”

“Neither do you.”

We both regard her in confusion.

---