Page 103 of Darkest Retribution

Jade would hate me if she knew those words came out of her mouth. But I don’t care. She can hold her own, I know. But there’s always someone who can best you, and I have no desire to find out if tonight will be when Jade meets her match.

It takes about five seconds. I step into the doorway, aim, and fire twice. Blood and brains sprays all over the kitchen as the bodies fall to the floor.

“So much for being quiet,” Felix mutters.

I don’t bother with a reply because I’m already heading for the stairs. A gunshot sounds from above, followed by the shattering of glass.

No. God no.

Felix and I both break into a run, but at the same time, there’s a loudthumpand a male scream from the basement.

Skidding to a stop and turning back, Felix says, “You go up, I’ll check on Willow.”

I take the stairs two at a time, sending a silent prayer that Jade and Rosie are all right. Once I’m on the second floor, I hear another shot from the closest room. But before I can get to it, I see movement in the corner of my eye.

I whip around just in time to dodge the knife cutting through the air, held by a large, angry-looking man.

“You’re not going in there,” he says, swinging again, this time catching my arm.

I grab his wrist before he can inflict any more damage, twisting until he grunts. Then I knee him in the balls, and when he doubles over, I hit him over the head with the butt of my gun.

He falls to the floor with athud,unconscious. I leave him, creeping toward the room I heard Rosie from. I can just barely see David through the crack of the door, facing away from me, holding Rosie by the arm. Unfortunately, I can’t see Jade, so I’m not sure what I’m walking into.

“Let me guess,” he says. “You already know Blaze and Brooke’s location, don’t you? And you thought you could escape me before your time ran out?”

What? She has no idea where they are.

Rosie screams as David pushes the barrel of the gun to her head.

I can’t wait any longer.

“Tell me where they are,” David snaps as I ease through the open door.

I spot Jade immediately, pinned to the floor by another man, a hopeless look on her face. “Schultz—”

“Schultz Resort in Miami,” I say, cutting her off.

Wait, what? How the fuck did she know that?

Figure it out later, Dom.

David turns to face me, and I’m struck by the resemblance between him and Jade. But I don’t let myself think about how stupid I am for not putting the pieces together sooner.

This isn’t the time.

So I raise my gun, aiming for David, and pull the trigger.

Chapter twenty-four

Jade

AssoonasIleave everyone behind and head upstairs, I feel myself falling into working mode. The problem is, the stakes are higher now. This time, I actually have something to lose.

Just treat it like a normal job. If you don’t, you’re going to lose control.

I keep my breaths even, forcing myself to stay focused. Otherwise, my mind will downspiral into a chaotic mess ofwhat ifsandif onlys.I can’t afford to lose myself right now.

“Daddy, why did you take me away from Auntie Jade?”

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