Page 104 of Captive Vow (Mafia Marriages 2)

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Moreno

My ears ring.

Everything aches.

But I’m still alive.

The shockwave slams us against the ground. The heat of the fire blasts behind us from the explosion as the building becomes nothing but ash.

“Paige,” I whisper.

Where is she?

I should be relieved she wasn’t in the building, but we didn’t have time to search every room or floor from top to bottom before the explosion. We were focused on rescuing the girls, screaming for help.

My radio is fried. My phone is dead.

The explosion killed my equipment, but Sawyer’s phone appears to be working. He’s communicating with someone, but all I hear is ringing in my ears.

I feel like I’m screaming when I speak.

“Paige?”

I need to know that she’s all right.

He’s nodding slowly, and I can see him mouthing the word ‘yes,’ but that’s all I can make out.

* * *

We took three vehicles on our mission. The soldiers rode together in one SUV.

Sawyer rides back with the girls, dropping them off at the police station. We want to get them help but also don’t want to get any further involved and have the police ask us questions.

Caden and I head straight back to the compound.

Paige is there.

Or was there?

I can’t make sense of what was said, only that I need to return immediately.

My stomach sinks as we near. The gate is wide open.

Leone was manning the gate. Why the hell isn’t it shut? Where the hell is he?

The booth is empty. There’s no sign of him, only a smear of blood.

“This doesn’t look good,” Caden says.

No shit.

There are three vehicles that I don’t recognize parked in front of our compound.

Vance and his men.

It’s the only explanation that makes sense. He led us away to conquer our home, our castle.

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