Page 91 of Sin & Secrets

And it’s insane that I’m jealous of that laugh. That something else managed to make her smile like that. Her laugh is like a drug to me, and drawing one out of her is the sweetest thing I could ever achieve.

Yet when she begins to sing, the jealousy melts away. It’s just pure pride that lingers.

I’m proud of the woman before me for taking on every hardship and coming out the other end. For even being able to get up on that stage—despite the fact her abusive boyfriend put her there to begin with.

I’m proud to call her mine and that she, in turn, did not run at the very thought.

“Teo,” I finally gasp out.

“Boss?”

“I love her.”

“Fuck.”

SHHHHHHHHH.

The power cuts out with an ominous, draining noise, and theCandelabrais flooded in darkness.

I’m on my feet in an instant.

“Get to the generator,” I hiss to Teo at my side as I blindly check over my pistol and immediately begin to climb onto the stage.

If this is an ambush, I need to get Cas out of here now.

BANG, BANG, BANG.

“Rocco!”

I vaguely hear the sound of Teo screaming my name.

But all I can concentrate on is the rib-breaking impact of three shots to my chest, wedging themselves into my concealed bullet-proof vest.

The force pushes me straight off the stage and sends me crashing into the table below. Glass and alcohol shatter around me, but I can barely breathe, barely get enough oxygen to form a coherent thought.

Slowly, too slowly, the ringing in my ears subsides long enough for me to make out the screaming and chaos around me.

“Rocco!” Teo shouts again. He’s so close to me, yet his voice sounds like a whisper.

“Cas,” I tug at his arm. “Where’s Cas?”

“You’ve been fucking shot!”

“WHERE IS CAS?”

The shock either wears off, or the adrenaline kicks in a split second later. I scramble to my feet just as an all-too-familiar scream reaches my ears.

“Rocco!”

To his credit, Teo moves as I do, without thinking, toward Cas screams.

We scramble onto the stage in unison, ready to greet whatever we might face.

Only we can’t see a thing.

It’s pure instinct that has me dodging out of the way of the knife that swings my way. I don’t think as I grab my assailant’s arm and twist hard. I hear them drop the weapon, but I have no idea where it falls.

“Ugh!” they grunt, giving me a helpful reference point for their face.

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