Page 150 of Ensnared

“I—”

Domlifts his hand in a silencing gesture, andIbite my tongue hard enough to draw blood.Aftera moment, he nods and grabs my wrist, tugging me closer to the tree line.

“Didyou kill him?”Imumble, shocked at how quickly that happened.

“Yes.”

Iswallow hard, then follow him through the darkness, stepping around the body.Fromhere, we’re about a hundred yards from the action.Thereare men everywhere, firing toward the barn.Thereare men all through the trees too.It’shard to see through the smoke.It’schaos.Purechaos.

Myheart lurches at the sight.Shifting,Isee they’re not firing on the barn, but towardJayk’struck, which is parked beside it.Ina frenzied, disorganized group, they’re slowly converging on the vehicle.JasperandLuckyare pinned behind it,Domsaid, and nowIknow what that looks like.

“Fuck.They’retoo close.”Domgrunts, then looks down at me, clearly distracted. “Ihave to go.Youcan make it from here.”

IknowIcan.Thecave is only fifteen yards away, and away from the action, butIhesitate, eyes dragging back to the awful scene.

Domnudges me. “Go,Eden.”

Ishould.I’llonly be in the way, and this is far too much for me.Thisis far more than one man in a tree.I’mreally, truly just about to leave whenJasperroars.

“Lucien,no!”

Ispin back around to see a slender figure push from behindJayk’struck.Thesmoke clears enough for me to see his golden hair catch the light.Hefires wide, running sideways into the open field, and throws something toward the cluster of men who are far too close.Afew men drop underLucky’sbullet spray, but he’s soexposed.

Ilurch forward and hardly notice as an arm wraps around me and yanks me back.Clutchingat my throat,Itry to track the wild mix of bangs and shouts.Myeyes dart everywhere, trying to work out what’s happening.

ThenLuckyjerks once, twice.Icanseethe heavy impact on his body pushing him back.

Myheart lurches. “No.”

Luckydrops, and the clearing lights up seconds before a huge, roaring explosion decimates the area where the group of men were standing.Thearms around me tighten asDomthrows us behind a tree, andIsqueal as shrapnel ricochets into the trees, peppering them with small, sharp thuds.

Grenade,Irealize when my brain and heart restart.Hethrew a grenade.Luckythrew a grenade right before he—

Theimages of his puppet-like jerks, his crash to the ground, play on repeat in my mind.Tearssqueeze between my eyes as if trying to dislodge the horrendous reel.

“No.No, no, no, no.”

Somethingshakes me. “Stop,Eden.”

IrecognizeDom’sgrowl, but there’s a rawness to it.Ican hear the devastation in his voice.Thatdoes it.Asob escapes.

Heshakes me again. “Stop.Wedon’t have time for this.Ineed to get to the house ifIhave any chance of keeping the others safe.Youneed to be safe.Tearslater, you have to pull it together now.”

Theotherssafe.BecauseLucky...

Ican’t help the low groan of pain, andIpush my forehead intoDom’schest.Hisstern orders ground me, a little, but this is too much.

Hishand finds my chin, and he pulls my face up to his. “Enough.Go, little librarian.Ican’t keep you all safe at once.”

Thebeautiful amber light in his eyes captures me.Ican see the barely restrained urgency in him, but also the worry.Hehas to go.Thatstarts to sink in.Idraw in a steadying breath.Hehas to go, andI’mstanding here panicking.I’mnot a soldier.Ican’t compartmentalize and keep my fears locked down so easily.Ican’t just let him...

Whenhe looks back toward the barn with barely concealed frustration,Ican’t help it.Istep into him and rise up on my tiptoes soIcan press a light, nervous kiss to his mouth.Domgoes entirely still, and watches me asIdrop back down on my heels.Forthe first time in hours,Ihave his complete attention.

“Becareful, please,”Ichoke out as red stains my cheeks. “Andsave them.”

Dom’sgolden gaze rakes over my face, and he gives me one slow nod.Thenhe turns, jogging through the shadows like he was born to them, slipping into the house.

Sick, terrified,Iturn toward the cave, knowing there’s nothing moreIcan do here.Ican’t do anything for any of them.Idon’t have training or even a weapon.I’mnot likeLucky, keeping a convenient stash of—

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