Page 68 of Ruthless Commander
“No!”I screamed, hurling myself through the air as the jet pulled forward, then accelerated hard. They were gone before I had a chance to reach them, gone even before my roar was snatched away by the wind. My boots slapped hard against the asphalt, shooting shockwaves into my ankles before I skidded to a stop, watching the jet’s wheels lift at the end of the runway and my only hope of escape climb into the sky.
“FUCK!”
That was going to be our way off the island. Option goddamn B…now there were only the boats left. Boats that could be outrun by a bigger motor…boats that could be destroyed. Selfish goddamn assholes. Vad Kardinov I understood. The lowlife fucking scum was a damn weasel. But Alexi…and Leila, of all people. After all the things I’d done for him. When this was over…I’d kick his goddamn ass.
“Commander!”Dom called behind me.
But I couldn’t face him, couldn’t meet his gaze. I wanted to kill someone, and the bodyguard was far too close for comfort.His comfort.Instead, I turned away, until my phone vibrated in my pocket at the same time a crack came over the two-way.
“There’s two men in black heading toward Building Five,”the control room operator barked. “Three more coming from the east end of the island now!”
I jerked my gaze toward the eye of the cyclone out over the water, then lunged, reaching for my gun as my phone started to ring.
I yanked it up.Caller ID Unknownand I let out a curse before answering. “Not a good time, bro.”
“Well,bro.”Edon gave a grunt before apopsounded through the call.
A sound I knew only too well. But I didn’t slow, just kept on running, charging around the open side of the hangar toward the water as something hissed past me and cracked into the side of the metal building.
“Shit!”Dom roared, and opened fire on a dark blur that ducked back at the edge of the building.
“Gotta go,” I muttered. “Got a situation here.”
“Mat—“ he started as I ended the call and shoved the phone back into my pocket.
The gunman charged out from the corner of the building, raised his gun, and fired. The shot narrowly missed me, but hit Dom as he rushed forward, firing at another as he came from the water’s edge.
He gave a grunt, stumbled to the side, and went down to the ground as blood bloomed through the dark material of his black khakis. In an instant, the island was invaded. Men dressed in black rushed toward me. Instinct kicked in, forcing me to track the movement with the muzzle of my gun before I squeezed the trigger.
Crack!
I hit one, but three more took his place and opened fire. I lunged, driving toward Dom as he struggled to stand. I grabbed the massive man, heaving him to his feet.Xael...
Her name slammed into me, forcing me to glance toward the building in the distance.
“Go!”Dom roared, shoving me away.
I left him behind, my heart hammering as bullets shot past, narrowly missing me. My phone rang…and rang, the vibration distracting me. All I wanted was her…to see her…to protect her. I kept driving my body forward until I was hit in the side.
The sting was instant, slamming me sideways until I fell. I raised my gun as the image of Xael’s face filled my mind.Get to her!
But my damn hand shook as I took aim. Agony roared through my side as I squeezed the trigger…but the shot found its mark. The gunman went down, clutching his knee as he went. Darkness moved over me, sweeping in like a wraith…and as I lifted my head, I knew it was over.
The muzzle of the shotgun was aimed at me, point blank.
There was no escape from that, not from this end, and as I stared down the barrel, it wasn’t the faded recollection of my parents I thought of…it was her,Xael.The one good thing I had in my life, and now I was about to lose her for good. I lifted my gaze to the cold empty eyes of the assassin. My lips curled and bared my teeth. "Do it," I snarled.
But he didn't have a chance to squeeze the trigger.
Crack!
The shot filled my ears, making me flinch.
The gunman flew backwards and hit the ground with a sickeningthud. Blood trickled from a neat hole in the center of his forehead. That vacant stare was one I knew all too well. I jerked my focus over my shoulder, finding the man who'd saved my life. Edon lowered his sniper’s rifle, his gaze fixed on mine before he strode toward me, his long, powerful legs closing the distance quickly.
"I tried to tell you," my brother growled. "But as usual, you didn't listen."
“Where the hell did you come from?” I glanced at the building behind him, but of course he was alone.
