Page 95 of Torched

33

LIAM

PRESENT DAY

Thegunshotisloudas fuck, echoing through the hollow area, but not as loud as Cristina’s excruciating scream that follows right after.

“You bitch!” she wails, gripping her thigh in agony.

“What? I just spared your life,” Gen blurts, incredulous. “That was just to make sure you don’t run.Thisis me being a bitch.” Without a second thought, she pulls the trigger once more, this time shooting her in the foot, and Cristina starts to yelp like a banshee.

I watch the entire scene, wishing I had a drink in my hand, a little shocked at this sudden plot twist.

Gen pushes the gun to Kane’s chest, then closes the distance between us before she launches herself around my body. I clutch onto her like she’s the tree and I’m the koala, instead of the other way around, burying my nose in her cherry scent.

“Are you okay?” I whisper.

“I am now.”

I take her face in my palm, holding her tightly against my chest with the other. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“I know.” She presses her lips against mine.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

She giggles innocently, her words almost drowned out by Cristina’s continuous screeches.

“I won’t. I promise.”

“For fuck’s sake, shut up before I blow a bullet through your head to do it for you!” Kane squints his eyes, as if the sound of Cristina’s voice is physically paining him, but it does work. She finally shuts up, her chest heaving.

“You are psychopaths!”

“Maybe.” Kane chuckles. “But since you’re the one squirming on the floor, I guess that’s another thing we’re better at than you, aren’t we?” He twists his neck to face us. “This was fun and all, but who’s getting the honors to end her? Should we do rock, paper, scissors?”

“Let her rot in jail, Kane,” I suggest.

“What? No. She’s going to die.” He aims his gun.

“We’re too late, brother.” I point at the SUVs stopping outside the chapel with screeching tires. “Hobbs isn’t going to let us off the hook if he knows he could’ve gotten her dead.

“Fucking hell,” he mutters, knowing I’m right. A few months ago, he wouldn’t care who he pissed off, law enforcement or not. But we discussed this; we want to make a clean slate as much as we can now that our family is growing and we’re selling the business. “Don’t get too comfortable,Crissy.” Kane dips his chin to Cristina, who’s looking a little confused at this outcome. “Just because you’re locked up doesn’t mean you’re safe.” Her face falls and Kane’s smile returns. “Jeremy, can you drag this piece of shit out, please?”

With a smile that’s just as wicked as Kane’s, our team puts Cristina’s hands in cuffs before they escort her out of the faded building.

“What’s going to happen to her?” Gen lowers herself from my body, keeping her arms wrapped around my waist.

“That’s for him to decide.” I point at the man who steps inside the chapel wearing an FBI bulletproof vest, his gun pointed in front of him, and a big smile spanning his face when he sees Cristina being guided outside.

“NO! You can’t lock me up! Let me go! I can’t go to prison!” Cristina throws a fit. “They will kill me! He will kill me!”

He puts his gun back in his holster as soon as he realizes the party is already over, then walks deeper into the building with spread out arms. Cristina’s futile attempts grow fainter outside until she’s shoved into a car.

“She’s still alive? It must be Christmas morning!”

“Hey, Howard.” I extend my hand to his, shaking it before he does the same with Kane. “You have to thank this one for the fact that Cristina Reyes is still breathing.”

His gaze swings to Imogen, an appreciative smile coming her way as I tuck her closer against my side. “You’re the one who shot her in the leg?”

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