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I raise my chin, sinking into the pain taking over my throat, letting it sharpen my thoughts. “No.” I don’t believe it. I won’t. “She must have told someone else. I didn’t breathe a word to anyone but you.”
He glares his fury, his stare more lethal than any weapon. “The game is over. Quit the fucking act.”
Fuck.
I’m done.
Dead.
“Hunt…” I swallow to clear the rasp from my voice. I can’t believe Keira betrayed me. I can’t figure out when. I don’t understand how. “Let me explain.”
“Fuck.” He shoves me. “It’s fucking true?” He retreats a step and another, the gun still trained on me. “Jesus. Fuck.”
Guilt takes over, the toxic agony rushing my veins, pounding into every limb, through all my organs.
“Let me tell you every—”
He rushes forward, grabbing me around the waist to haul me to the ground. My head hits the dirt. All the air leaves my lungs. I grapple to get on top, but I can’t bring myself to fight him. I fucking can’t.
He straddles my waist, the gun still pointed, as he strikes with punishing blows. He punches my chest, my ribs, my stomach. Agony takes over my insides, the wounds more emotional than physical.
“Fight back, you dog.”
I can’t. I don’t want to.
I deserve the punishment. I’ve earned the beating.
“Do you know what you’ve done?” He keeps his fist cocked, preparing to make another strike. “You’ve put my neck on the line. You’ve made me look like a fucking accomplice. But that’s not the worst of it. You’ve done this to Sarah, and that’s un-fucking-forgivable.”
He punches my sternum, the crack of bone ringing in my ears. I don’t do a thing to stop him. I won’t deny him the retribution. Not for himself. And definitely not for his woman.
“I had no choice,” I wheeze.
He lets out a derisive laugh. “Money or freedom? What did the DEA offer you?”
“It’s not like that.” I shake my head and grunt as he lands another blow. “Luther is involved in horrible shit you can’t even imagine. He—”
“Are you really going to make this about morality?” he roars. “I’m paid to kill people. You’re paid to help me.”
“It’s more than—”
He lands another blow, this one against my jaw, the smash of teeth and tongue filling my mouth with blood.
“It’s more than death?” he bellows. “Fuck you, you traitorous little fuck. How am I going to explain this to Cole? How the fuck do I tell him you’re the informant?”
Wait. What?
“He doesn’t know?” I mumble through a mouth full of gore.
“Nobody fucking knows. He thinks it was another external attack to take down his family. He’s pulling his hair out trying to find the culprit.”
“But Keira…”
“Hasn’t answered his calls. As far as I can tell, the dead-father strategy was something she thought of on her own.”
“You’re telling me you had no proof?” I huff out a chuckle and my ribs protest with a bite of pain. “You were working on a hunch?” My laughter becomes maniacal. Delirious. “I fucked myself over? All I had to do was keep my mouth shut.”
He grabs me by the shoulders and slams my back down on the ground. “If it wasn’t today, your dumb ass would’ve fucked up sooner or later.” He climbs off me, coming to stand beside my hip. “Get on your feet.”
“No.” I remain one with the earth and spit the coppery taste from my mouth. “If you’re in such a hurry to kill me, you can do it like a coward.”
He grabs the front of my shirt, twisting the material in his fist. “I’m in no hurry. I’m happy to make this slow if you like.”
“I’d prefer if you fucking listened.” I prepare to play the only card I have—knowledge. “I’ve got years of research at my house. I’ve got thousands and thousands of files you’re going to want to see. Let me show you what they’re doing. Give me the chance to explain why I’m here.”
“I don’t give a shit. I’ll never give a shit.”
“Maybe not, but Sarah will. And she’ll never forgive you once she finds out. Especially if my death is on your hands.”
His jaw ticks.
“Come on, Luke. You don’t want to kill me.”
He stiffens at the sound of his real name, his fury surging.
“If you do this,” I continue, “I promise you’ll lose Sarah. She’ll leave you as soon as she learns the truth.”
His hold on my shirt tightens as he presses the barrel right between my eyes. “If it’s so important, tell me.”
I smirk, and my swollen lower lip protests over the movement. “You know that information is the only leverage I have.”
“You’re wrong.” His voice softens. Slows. The defeated tone inciting fear. “You’ve got no leverage. You’ve got nothing but lies.”
My friend disappears from sight, a cold-blooded killer taking his place. The barrel presses harder against my skull and I see death swirling in his eyes. My death.
He’s going to pull the trigger.
He’s going to end my life.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur.
His eyes glaze, the depth of his breaths increasing. He’s preparing himself, finding the necessary calm to do the job.
“Hunt, believe me, I’m fuckin’ sorry.” For the past, the present, and now, the future.
I duck to the left and slam his wrist upward, breaking the lethal trajectory of his weapon. The gun fires, the blast ringing in my ears as the bullet shoots toward the ceiling.
He swings back toward me, and I latch onto his hand, shoving it in a high arc as I lean in and strike with a double elbow slash, the menacing blow hitting the right side of his jaw, then returning against his left. His head jerks with the motions. He stumbles.
I don’t let go. I swing around into him, my back to his chest as I wrench his arm over my shoulder. His elbow hyperextends. He tries to choke me as I jerk him down, once, twice, threatening to break the joint before he gives in and drops the weapon.
I keep him hostage as I kick the gun away and watch it skitter through the dust. He pummels my face with his free hand. But it’s not until he gouges at my eyes that I have to drop to my haunches and set him free.
I scramble away and turn to face him nursing his elbow, his feet spread wide, knees bent, preparing for battle even though shock is written all over his face.
He’s never seen me fight. He probably thought this smartass, tech head had no moves. Truth is, my skills have always been capable of rivaling his own. I didn’t storm into hell armed with nothing but a computer and a cocky attitude.
I knew I’d have to fight for my life one day.
Fight or die.
“What’s wrong, Hunt?” I raise my brows, letting the adrenaline take over. “You didn’t anticipate me kicking your ass?”
I studied him. I know he works best when he’s calm and in control. I don’t plan on letting him have either.
He smirks, the curve of lips predatory and feral. “You fight like a little bitch.”
“Says the man who had to lower himself to eye gouging.”
“Lower myself?” He laughs. “I’ve been wanting to ruin your pretty boy face for a while.” He inches forward, beckoning me with his left hand. “Come on. Let’s finish this.”
“I don’t want to finish it.” I steady myself, hands raised, waiting for him to strike. “I want you to walk out of here and go find my research.”
“You think I don’t want that?” He comes closer, almost close enough to pounce. “If this was just me and you, things would be different. But I can’t protect Sarah from Torian. Not every minute of every damn day. You put me in the middle of this. And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.”