Page 448 of Coal Hearts

I wasn’t prepared for how violently that picture hurt.

How the thought of Henri touching another made my insides knot into thorns.

He chuckled as I braced myself against such a ridiculous response. “A little possessive, are we? Fancy that you’re his only plaything?” He shook his head and clucked his tongue again. “You poor deluded little thing.” Raising his gun, he aimed directly between my breasts. “Tell you what, I’ll put you out of your misery. I’ll be the Master he never could and release you from all this pain.”

The nude-coloured underwear barely covered me.

The bullseye on my skin distorted and smeared.

But the lines were still visible.

Marking the spot for his bullet.

Mollie and Rachel looked at one another.

The comradery between us faltered with fear.

We could’ve fought off one Master together.

Maybe even two.

But four?

God...

My knife seemed utterly useless against four Masters with guns—even just paintball ones.

If I charge them, I might be able to stab one...

I shifted, ready to run.

The other three Masters behind the scary dead-eyed one raised their guns too. “You can have that one, Kyle, but we’re taking the others.”

Kyle snarled and whirled on them. “No one else fires. You can do whatever the fuck you want to the others, but I’m the only winner, do you hear me?”

I waited for a battle to break out.

The whiffs of testosterone choked me.

But whatever they saw in Kyle’s face made them lower their weapons and nod. “Fine.”

“Good boys.” Kyle blew them a kiss.

And that was my cue.

I bolted.

On silent aching feet, I threw all efforts of survival into attacking first.

“Kyle.” Two of the Masters feinted back, arching their chins in my flying direction.

Kyle spun to face me.

Metres separated us.

Too many metres.

With a surprised, far too gleeful laugh, Kyle swung up his gun and grinned. “Time for some fun, little jewel.”