Page 150 of Inside the Wicked

It kills him instantly, through his right temple.

I’m completely numb to the death, only focused on what is next. And next. And next, until we’re out of this nightmare and I have Ana by my side.

I cross to the kid, kneeling down and peeling him from Allie. His face is too young to look so distraught, but I can’t explain the desperation in me at seeing him as a second chance for Jacob.

“Listen to me. You’re going to grow up with this shit trying to twist and turn you. You’re going to feel rage, even guilt, as if there was something you could have done to save your brother. He might not be with you now, but there is a way to save him, you hear me? Be. Fucking. Better. A better man. Be good,helppeople. Vengeance is lonely and maddening. That’s not the life you live.”

I’m harsh with my tone, tight with my hold, but I think he understands in his timid nod.

“Whatever you do, don’t look down,” I say.

The door swings open, and Micah whistles low. “Of course I saw that coming. So I’m here to set you up with round two.”

I don’t immediately stand. Mark’s small frame covers me enough as I click out the barrel of the revolver.

“I have to say, it was rather anticlimactic though. I expected more of that rage to come out before you put the bullet through his head,” Micah says arrogantly.

They checked me for guns and knives, but they didn’t feel the single bullet I have tucked away in my jacket. I slide it into the barrel, set it back, and don’t waste a breath as I aim it at Micah’s chest.

It fires, and he cries out, slamming into the back wall. Then I’m moving on rage and instinct. Two guys enter, and I grip the first guy’s wrist, snapping it back, and his piercing wail only irritates me more. I take his gun, firing into his skull, and then my next two bullets enter the chest of his buddy before he can lift his own gun. With them down, I storm to Micah, who’s slumped in a pool of his own blood, but still alive like I hoped.

“You want to see my violence, you piece of shit?” I snarl, then I hit. Again and again and again. He becomes limp meat beneath me, but I can’t stop.

“This is for touching my fuckingwife.”

When I slam his head to the stone I think it’s over. I can hardly stand to look at the mess of him, but even then, it still doesn’t feel like enough for what he did to Ana.

“Rhett ...” Allie says my name tentatively.

I’m gathering my breath as I push up, blinking myself back to reality with my violent adrenaline dwindling. Allie doesn’t look down; she holds Mark, keeping him from looking at any of the bodies either.

“Let’s go,” I say, reeling myself back and realizing what I did in front of her. I wouldn’t blame her for wanting nothing more to do with me. Knowing about what we do is one thing; seeing it is a whole other bloody clarity.

I’m alert as a hawk for any sign of Alistair’s men, who could ambush us and take Allie around a back exit. As soon as we’re outside I spot Rix and Adam by the trees at the back of the property.

“Stay with them—I’ll be right back,” I say to Allie.

“Please get Liam out,” she croaks.

I nod, and it’s a relief to finally be certain he didn’t cause her harm. He somehow managed to save her from being taken and kept her away from it all for months. I’m indebted to the guy.

I don’t have time to linger with Ana still in there. Taking a new gun from Rix, I run back inside and straight to Alistair’s office. Something doesn’t feel right. Sound right. It’s too hot, and before I can place what it is, an impact slams into me.

My head pounds from the force, but I get up, blinking away the disorientation. To my horror, I’m staring right into Alistair’s office through a blasted hole in the wall. The side of the building has blown through too, opening out to the back lawn.

Through it, I spy AlistairfuckingLanshall hobbling toward the trees. I step through the wall despite the blaze and the smoke choking my lungs. I’m about to chase after him when I scan the room for Ana, hoping to god I don’t find her.

The form on the ground slams me. My relief is wrapped in crushing guilt because it’s not Ana, but I grit my teeth, letting Alistair get further away as I scramble over debris to Kenna.

For a second, fear grips me that she’s dead, but her chest moves, and these fluctuating emotions are going to be the death ofme.

“Shit,” a voice hisses.

Looking up, I don’t have the capacity to care that Silas is here. I’m livid over what he did, but all that matters is that he came for Kenna.

“Get her out of here,” I snarl.

He cuts me a glare as he takes her into his arms. “This place is going to blow in minutes, Kaiser. You’d better run fucking fast.”

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