Page 154 of Ensnared

“Dom?”

Yankingmyself back,Ipress the grip of theBerettato my forehead and pray for strength. “Eden?”

Openingthe door,Imove to grab her and then have to stop.She’s... loaded up.Shehas a bazooka slung heavily over one shoulder—the fucking military grade rocket launcher she andLuckystole from my room—and a duffel bag hanging off the other.She’spanting, red cheeked and wide eyed.

“Whatthe hell did you do?”Reholsteringmy pistol,Ipull her inside and take the bazooka.It’snot light, andIdon’t know ifI’mpissed or impressed. “Eden,Iappreciate the thought but this thing is useless without—”

“These.Iknow,Luckyshowed me.”Sheunslings the bag and unzips it quickly. “Icouldn’t carry that fancy box thing soIjust grabbed a duffel.”

Nearlya dozen rounds spill out, andIflinch at the careless way they’re packed.Myheart is thundering in my chest, andIdecide now isn’t the time to yell at her about weapon safety.Thereare high explosive rounds, anti-tank rounds, illumination, smoke, area defense munitions...

“Eden,”Ibreathe, kneeling beside her.

Shelooks up at me nervously. “I’msorry,Iknow you said to go to the cave, butIwas thinking about... anywayIremembered about all the weapons, andIthought, ifIcould just get them to you then—”

Iyank her to me, cutting her off with my tongue and kissing her thoroughly.WhenIpull back, she stares at me, breathless and dazed and looking like every fantasyInever realizedIhad.Arumpled, repressed librarian with more courage thanIever gave her credit for.

ThenIhear shouting though the window—Jayk?—and a spray of gunfire, andIcome back to earth.

“Youdid good, pet.Realgood.Isthere more?”

Blinkinga few times, she sucks in a breath and then nods. “Yes, loads more.Ijust couldn’t carry them all.”

Reliefand desperation spikes. “Okay, listen to me carefully.Ineed you to bring me some things.”

Iquickly describe the weaponsIneed while loading the bazooka.Ihave no idea whatLuckyhas stashed—Ithought we used most of what we grabbed from the base—but the damn guy was a magpie.

Isa magpie, damn it.

Ilift the loaded weapon to my shoulder, andEdengets to her feet.

“Eden?”Isay as she turns to go.Whenher eyes lift to mine, as big and intelligent as the first timeIsaw her,Imurmur, “Thankyou.”

Shegives me one slow, shy smile before she darts off, andIwatch her go with a mix of pride and worry.Thatgirl may have just saved our asses for the second time in less than twenty-four hours.

Forcingmyself to refocus,Iturn back to the fray.Thischanges everything.Ihave the firepower to smoke these assholes, trees notwithstanding—Ijust needBeauto get out of my way.

Ipull out my radio, but just asIdo, it flicks on, andBeaustarts talking into the line beforeIcan get a word in.

“Okay, buddy, this might be it, andIdon’t have time to argue with you, so for once you’re just going to have to listen.You’rethe best friendIever had, the best friendIever could have had.Iknow the last while has been rough between us, andI’msorry about that.Inever should have let anyone get between us, andIain’t proudIlet my jealousy get the better of me.Ijust...Iwant you to be happy,Dom.Youdeserve it all.”

Mythroat closes over, and my head starts to spin.Itnever happens during combat, not ever, but pure horror starts to cloud my senses.Itry to speak over him, but he has the line open, not letting me get a word in.

“Youtake care of our girl, okay? ’Causethat’s what she is, even if your stubborn ass wants to take its sweet time admitting that.”

“Youcut this shit,Beau.Cutit right now,”Isnap into the radio, but he can’t hear me.There’sno point.Iknow what this is, and he’s making this one sided. “Ican take care of this, idiot, just get your ass gone.Openthe damn line.”

“IthinkIcan take these guys out,Dom.Ormost of ’em anyway.JasperandJayk, they’ll have a bit of time—not a lot, mind, but a bit.NowLucky’scleared out the other side, they should have a straight shot to you.Coverthem.”

Beauswallows, and it slices through me.

“Takecare of yourself, too,Dom.Ilove you.”

Theradio cuts out, andIimmediately try to open the line soIcan yell at him, stop him,something, but he’s disabled comms likeIknew he was going to.

“Fuck!”Ishout, shaking.

Thisis some kind of sick cosmic joke.Ihave all the firepowerIcould want, butIcan’t use it without guaranteeing his death.

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