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Nicoli leans in, kissing my cheek tenderly, then whispers words of reassurance into my ear. As he pulls away, all I want to do is grab him and never let go. Glue myself to his side and refuse to let him leave. I’ve never wished for a different life. I grew up in a world with wealth and luxuries some can only dream of, but just like everything else, it comes with a price—this moment right now being it.
“I love you,” I murmur, and he silently mouths the exact words back at me before shutting the door. I clutch my stomach tighter, feeling the bile rise in my throat. It’s a familiar sensation, one that I’ve experienced before when faced with danger. But this time, it feels more potent, like the poison flowing through me is stronger than ever. The fear is crippling, harshened by a single thought. Maybe this was the last time I’d ever see him.
My husband.
The love of my life.
* * *
NICOLI
This feels different.This isn’t just fear or panic. It’s worse. Far worse. I’m watching her being taken away from me, knowing this war is about to reach its peak, and I’m sending her into the belly of the beast. I’m going against every goddamn instinct I have to protect her, choosing to cling to hope that this plan works. Why do I suddenly feel like the dumbest fuck in the world?
The atmosphere is charged with tension, the night trained on us like a heat-seeking missile ready to strike. One wrong move and I lose everything. One second of hesitation, one wrong decision will cost me more than I can bear to pay, so all I can do is pray to God that He gives me the strength to see this through.
I swallow back my feelings of fear and desperation and put on a steely mask of determination. This is no game; the stakes are too high. One misstep could cost me everything I love and cherish, so there is zero room for error tonight. Each breath is measured and focused as if my life depends on it—because it does. Mira is my life, and I’ll rain down hell on the entire goddamn world if it means I finally get to end this for her.
The engine of Mira’s SUV starts, and I kick at the gravel as my boots stomp across the asphalt toward one of the other unmarked cars.
“You ready?” Maximo says as he opens the passenger side door.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
We get into the car, adrenaline pumping through my veins, and I start the engine, keeping my eyes glued to the SUV Mira is in.
“Tonight is the first time in my life that I envy Rome, thinking that if I had done the same, none of this ever would have happened.”
“This life is in your blood, Nicoli. Our blood. And something tells me it’s in hers, too.”
“I always thought your sister is too good for this world. I still do. But somehow—” I grip the steering wheel “—somehow I think she has a better chance at surviving this life than any of us do.”
“My sister’s a fighter, I’ll give her that.”
Alexius knocks on the window, and I roll it down.
“We good?”
“Yeah. You make sure your wife and kids get where they’re going safely.”
Alexius gives me a knowing look. “Are you sure about this?”
“No. But it’s—”
The back passenger door gets flung open and Caelian slides into the back seat. I whip around to face him. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m coming with you.”
“We agreed you’d go with Alexius and Isaia.”
He shrugs. “Well, I changed my mind and I no longer agree with that plan. So, I’m coming with you two assholes.”
“No, you’re—”
“Just take him with you.” Alexius straightens. “He might come in handy. Besides, if you don’t get to kill anyone tonight, you can kill him.”
“Fuck you very much, brother,” Caelian calls after him as he walks away, then sits back in his seat, adjusting his collar. “I’m buying all of you assholes unicorn dildos for Christmas you can all go fuck yourselves with. Just saying.”
I put the car in drive, revving the engine as Alexius and Isaia get into the car behind us.
