Page 94 of Tabitha

TABITHA

Walking into the streets is like entering a battle zone. Dead bodies litter the road, while astringent white smoke moves across the compound like an army of ghosts. The women slowly gather in the doorway behind us, their anticipation heavy in the air.

I lift my gun, then nod to the girls. “I’ll lay down cover fire. Head toward town. Keep to the shadows. Move in groups of two or three at a time.”

Bitchy girl gives a nod of understanding and takes lead.

To buy them time, I head toward my house to warn the others. No doubt, Banks will have the place surrounded. We’ve only taken a few steps when I stoop and grab an extra mag off a dead body. I press my gun and mag into River’s hand, then arm myself with the knife. “Let’s do this.”

All the streetlights along the cul-de-sac are blown from tiny bombs that I set to go off like flashbangs. Banks’ car still smolders, just a burned-out husk now, thanks to my bomb and drone strike. The grass is ablaze, the lawns torn up where I emptied the water from the sprinkler system and filled it with gasoline. The instant Gage pressed the button, the sprinklers activated and a tiny spark set them alight until it was like a waterfall of fire being poured over the enemy.

In my rush to get back to the guys, I don’t have a chance to notice if Gage set off the other two tricks I planted. We manage only a few meters before River lifts his gun and shoots into the mist. I don’t even see the guy until he topples from the smoky world and falls face-first, dead at our feet. Unable to help myself, I turn and kiss River, enjoying his start of surprise. His hands sink into my hair, and he grabs my neck to hold me still as he devours me.

He pulls away much too soon, and I almost whimper at the loss, licking my lips for one last taste of him. He presses his forehead to mine, his chest heaving, his voice gruff. “We’ll continue this later.”

“Promise?” I ask, suddenly worried that I’ll never see him again.

“Always. You never have to beg me to kiss you. My heart, soul, and body are yours.” With one last brutal kiss, he pulls away and takes the lead.

My head is spinning both from his declaration and his touch, and I force myself to concentrate so I don’t get us killed. When a slight shuffling from the shadows reaches me, I whirl and throw my knife.

River spins just as one of Banks’ men stumbles out of the shadows, his eyes wide as he looks at me. He reaches for the blade buried in his chest, but he can’t seem to get a grip on it, then he just topples to the ground, dead.

I crouch and grab the weapon he dropped, then quickly check the rounds—only two bullets.

Great.

It will have to be enough.

Mansion row resembles a war zone, and it takes us too damn long to reach the house. Shots echo in the distance, but eerie silence fills the cul-de-sac as we push forward.

Not good.

We’re almost at the house when we stumble upon Bast. I sense him more than see him, his dark skin tone allowing him to melt into the shadows. A soft chirp of a bird has me turning, and it’s only the whites of his eyes that give away his location.

I pull River along with me, joining Bast at the edge of the porch. His spicy teakwood scent envelopes me, and I can’t resist melting against his large frame, pressing my face against his chest until the reassuring beat of his heart fills my head.

He pulls me against his chest, his arms automatically crushing me close. He kisses the top of my head, and I sigh, reluctantly pulling back. “Banks?”

“Inside.” His voice is barely a whisper of sound. He captures my jaw, tilts my head back, and scans my face. The back of my neck prickles at the serious expression on his face. When I try to back away, his arms tighten. “We have enough information about Banks to call in the cavalry. Heading into the house is suicide. I’m asking you to step aside and leave with River.”

My heart feels like someone is trying to strangle it.

I take a step back, but his grip remains firm, refusing to release his hold, as if sensing that I would bolt. “What about you and the others?”

When he doesn’t immediately respond, understanding dawns, and blood drains from my head so fast that I struggle to remain upright when vertigo hits. Ringing fills my ears and my mind goes blank…then complete and utter rage fills up my soul.

“I won’t leave the others—”

“I can get them back.” Bast practically shakes me, his deep voice like a roar in my head, but we both know it’s not a promise he can keep.

Staying has very little to do with the mission at this point. While I want that fucker Banks dead, the need to get my men out alive is paramount. I reach up and cup Bast’s face, the man becoming vital to my heart. “How about we work together on getting everyone out alive? Because I don’t think I can survive without each of you in my life. I can’t go back to the way things were before I met you.”

“Tabitha—”

“Don’t.” I place my hand on his chest to stop him, crushed to know that I’m somehow disappointing him by refusing to go. “My life is not more important than any of yours. I—”

“I beg to differ,” River interrupts, then only shrugs when I glare at him. “What do you expect us to say? It’s the truth, and I won’t ever lie to you.”

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