Page 59 of King of Malice
But also…
The tone. It takes a half second for me to process and then I know. It’s Ava. Ava stands on the other end of this field.
My body springs into action before my mind catches up, and I take off at a full sprint. I reach Alex first. “They can’t reach the woman,” I grit out. “Stop them at any cost.”
Then, I push forward to the first contestant.
I’ve been trained since childhood to be a fighter, and I don’t hesitate now. I jab my fingers into the side of his throat. My attack is unexpected, he goes down like a ton of bricks.
The thunder of the other men’s feet keeps them from hearing, and I keep the element of surprise.
Ahead of me, Ava has curled into the fetal position on the ground. It pushes my legs faster, as I reach another of the hunters, hitting him in the kidney with a blow that sends him falling to the ground. He’ll recover and then he’ll be behind me, but my first job is to get to Ava before any other man.
I reach the next man and swipe out a leg, tripping him and sending him crashing to the ground. I hear the crack of bone as he hits the ground, but I don’t look back.
There are only two men in front of me: Tazz and Callum.
Tazz veers to his right, knocking into the other man with such force, that Callum flies to the side, landing with a thud in the grass.
I grit my teeth and pump my legs faster, air burning my chest. My best move is to push him hard right before he reachesher and then stand guard as any able fighter makes his second attack.
Tazz snarls as he looks over his shoulder, meeting my eye. And then with a burst of speed, he pulls away.
I roar rips from my chest as I push my body harder, my lungs near bursting from the effort.
But that’s when a figure in black steps from the shadows. For a moment fear beats like a drum in my chest. I’m losing ground and now there is another man…
The dark figure sends a fist flying through the air, the punch landing with deadly accuracy on Tazz’s jaw. He stops mid stride, dropping like a stone.
That’s when I meet the eyes of the man in black.
Killian Smith.
I don’t have a moment to consider what that might mean as I draw closer to Ava. I slow my speed, pulling up and spinning my legs landing on either side her where she’s curled in the fetal position on the ground. “Ava,” I push out of my bursting lungs, barely able to say the words. “It’s me.”
She looks up at me her blue eyes looking…haunted. And then, she’s wrapping herself around my leg, locked so tight, I’m not sure I can even fight.
But her touch, it clears my head, my body infused with adrenaline as I prepare to protect my woman.
Two of the other fighters surge toward us a I turn to face them, but Killian steps between me and them. “If you want to live through the next five minutes…” He pulls two pistols from his belt. “I’d suggest you stop.”
The other fighters instantly obey, and for a split second, I let out a breath of relief. But that’s when I hear the click of a gun next to my temple. “Sorry, Dimitri, but you don’t get to keep her.”
Trent.
The barrel presses into my skin.
I’m going to kill him slowly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Ava
I can’t think,can’t breathe, as I hold on to Dimitri. How he ever reached me, the miracle of it, I can’t even begin to understand, but I’m not sure I care. They’ll have to kill me before I let go of his leg.
Which feels like a distinct possibility as I hear the click of a gun’s hammer. I jolt against Dimitri. His response? He drops a light hand on the top of my head, his fingers massaging my scalp.
“Sorry, Dimitri, but you’re going to have to hand over the girl.”
