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Her lips tremble, the tears still streaking her cheeks.
“It’s okay. I promise.” I wipe away the moisture and slam my mouth against hers, needing the split second of co
She sobs into my mouth, her nose nuzzling mine as more tears flow.
“I’ve got your phone.” Hunt’s boots enter my line of sight and he crouches down next to Sarah. “You need to get moving.”
He strokes her hair, trying to wake her, and gets a soft moan for his efforts.
She’s okay. For now.
“He’s right.” I inch back and don’t deny the euphoric twist to my stomach when Keira’s eyes peer up at me with relief.
She’s so fucking beautiful. Even here. Now. Surrounded by a mass of chaos.
Then her expression falters. Fractures. Her baby blues turn frantic, her skin immediately pale.
“No.” She shakes her head. “Cole, no.”
I hear the click of a cocked gun a second before the barrel presses into the back of my skull.
“Cole, please.” She thrashes despite her bindings, her face a picture of grief and horror.
“It’s okay.” I climb off her, retreating slowly, and turn to face Torian.
This was always going to be the conclusion. If not here, then somewhere else. Somewhere soon.
“You’re the snitch,” he accuses.
I thought I’d be scared in the moments before my death. I anticipated hysteria. Panic. Maybe even regret. I feel none of that.
Nothing but calm now Keira is safe.
“Yeah.” I hold his stare. “I’m your snitch.”
“No. No. No,” she wails. “Cole, stop, let me explain.”
He doesn’t acknowledge her pleas. I’m not sure he hears them through his anger. “For how long?”
“Back off.” Hunter steps toward us, Sarah cradled in his arms. “You don’t want to do this. Not here. Not now.”
“Like hell I don’t. I’ve been searching for this son of a bitch for too damn long.”
“You’ve been searching, but it’s not him.” Hunter starts for the door. “He’s not the fucking informant. He’s covering for me. But I ain’t talking shit in here. We need to leave.”
“Bullshit.” Torian’s lip curls. “I know it’s him. I’ve always known.”
There’s a wealth of conviction in his tone. An undeniable belief. It’s the waver in his hand that catches me off guard and the slightest hint of uncertainty with his scrutinizing look.
He’s not entirely convinced.
“You’re a smart man,” I mutter. “Too bad you didn’t stop me a long time ago.”
Hunt’s not going to take the fall for me. Not even temporarily.
After everything that’s happened this week, I’m too fucking tired of hiding in plain sight.
“No. They’re both lying,” Keira wails. “It was me. I worked with the Feds. It was all me, Cole. That’s why you thought it was Sebastian, but could never find proof. It’s because you never suspected me. You never would’ve imagined I’d be the one to betray you.”
Torian’s scrutiny increases, and his weapon lowers a click.
“Think about it.” She wiggles in her toppled chair. “I killed Richard. I put us in this situation with Drake. I’ve lied to you about everything. It was all me.”
“Keira, don’t,” I whisper.
The warehouse door swings open to slam against the metal wall, and Luca storms in. “Did you think I was joking?” He runs toward us. “We need to leave. I can hear sirens.” He places a hand on Torian’s extended arm and meets my gaze. “Everything else can wait.”
A silent message passes between us. One that doesn’t hold a threat of violence.
For once this Navy fucker isn’t throwing me under the bus.
He might actually be trying to save me.
My fucking hero.
“What’s it going to be, Torian?” I ask.
He doesn’t move.
Dead bodies are scattered around us, Keira is bound to a chair that’s toppled to the floor, and cops are approaching, yet he doesn’t budge an inch.
“Cole. Please,” she pleads. “You need to listen to me.”
He steps closer, nuzzling the gun into my chest. “Don’t even think about ru