Page 99 of Sin & Secrets

I hear Lazzaro’s frustration before I see it. His clumsy feet pelt against the ground as he runs toward me, tired of waiting to enact his revenge.

But I savor my final look at Cas, taking in her perfect face, those soft features I had peppered with kisses only a few short hours ago. She’s the woman I had begun to imagine my life with, the woman I’d only just realized I loved.

My hand snaps up to grab Lazzaro’s neck, a mere arm’s length away.

But still, I hold Cas’ gaze.

“I’m sorry.”

For your father.

For who I am.

For what you’re about to see.

My other hand reaches for Teo’s pistol, and I turn away.

I regret leaving him behind to search for leads on Cas’ location. He’d intercepted a police report on a busted-out taillight and suspected kidnapping, and I hadn’t not thought twice.

At least I had the wherewithal to take his gun, so I wasn’t completely unarmed.

Lazzaro claws at my arm as I walk us forward, using his body to shield me from the Cartel, who are now drawing their own guns.

BANG.

The goon on my right goes down, the shot piercing through the middle of his temple.

I cross my arms to aim at the goon on my left.

BANG.

The second man goes down before the remaining three can begin their own firearm assault. I dart to the side to ensure Cas isn’t in their line of fire as gunshots begin to rain around me.

“Don’t fucking shoot me!” Lazzaro screeches at them as I keep us weaving through the onslaught toward my next victim.

When they don’t listen, he switches to a new tactic. He bites down on my arm hard enough to draw blood.

I curse, throwing him into one of the other attackers, toppling them both over while I round on another.

The man before me has no time to point his gun before I disarm him. My elbow snaps his forearm as my free hand snatches the knife from my belt. The pistol drops to the floor, and I kick it away.

BANG, BANG.

The third assailant opens fire, and I barely have enough time to maneuver my disarmed friend into the spray of bullets before they pound into his back. Blood dribbles from his mouth, his eyes wide with shock.

I wait to reload until I have dropped my cover and thrown my knife at the third assailant.

He reaches up to bash it away, but he’s too late. The blade buries itself in his neck, and he falls to his knees, spluttering out the blood now gurgling in his throat.

I turn back just in time to find Lazzaro and his final goon getting to their feet. Lazzaro is seemingly unarmed, but the goon is scrambling for his gun again.

I draw mine once more, but the hollowclickthat sounds as I pull the trigger has me throwing it to one side.

Claudio rushes me as I approach in an attempt to tackle me. But a knee to the chest and a blow to the head have him dropping to the floor a second later.

But a second is all the goon needs.

BANG.

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