Page 134 of Power & Punishment

“You’re bluffing. I backed you into a corner, and now you’re grasping for straws.”

Adrian laughs in response, but this time it builds low in his chest and vibrates throughout his entire body. And then he makes a move.

Keith sucks in a sharp breath as Adrian grabs Mia’s arm and yanks her against his body. Then he sticks the barrel of his gun snug against her ribcage.

White spots pop into my vision and the only thing I see is her.

But Mia? She’s not scared.

She looks fearless, her chin held high.

“Really?” she deadpans. “This move is cliché even for you.”

Jesus Christ.

She really is magnificent.

I’m going to marry her if we make it out of this alive.

But then my vision opens up, settling on the crazed look in Adrian’s eyes. He looks moments away from snapping her neck.

“Mia,” Keith warns under his breath.

“Sorry,” she says, struggling against his hold. “I’m tired of playing hostage.”

A loud bang shakes the house, rattling the framed paintings on the wall. I take the opportunity to step closer.

Then one of Adrian’s men bursts through the door, clutching his nose with a blood-soaked handkerchief. Mia grins from ear to ear.

“Boss, they’ve breached the back entrance⁠—”

Gunshots ring out nearby, followed by the sound of Dante Russo’s loudmouth screaming, “Where is my sister?”

Adrian curses under his breath, his head swiveling from side to side, trying to figure out what to do next.

That’s when I know we’ve won.

Because like he taught me, desperate men make mistakes.

Mia’s eyes light up as Adrian loosens his grip, clearly distracted. She locks eyes with me, and I want to scream at her not to do anything reckless. But it’s useless.

She spins into action, thrusting her body against his hard enough to knock the gun from his hands.

It’s a risky move.

But it works.

Adrian stumbles back, caught off guard long enough for her to reach for the gun in her pants and point it directly at his chest. At the same time, she kicks the discarded gun to Keith and within seconds, the power has shifted.

Adrian’s eyes widen, his mouth agape for the first time all night.

There’s real fear sitting on his face as he realizes he’s not the one pulling the strings for once. He finally has to face his inferiority, and I’d be lying if I didn’t feel a small twinge of joy from that.

Keith scrambles for the discarded weapon and then aims it at the remaining guard by the door.

“Don’t,” he warns when the idiot reaches for his waistband. “I think your nose job is a huge improvement, Mia.”

Mia’s mouth quirks as the man rolls his eyes, but then it flexes into a calm and level straight line once she looks back at Adrian. I step behind her, ready to back her up.