Page 73 of Ruthless

Then she kisses me, a tentative, reverent press of the lips that feels almost holy, and in that brief, suspended moment, she shows me the trail leading back to myself. I tug her close, remembering how it feels to be human rather than a killing machine.

I push her hood off her head. “You’re all right.” Even though it’s not a question, she nods. Relief fills me. “Good. We need to move.”

Holding the gun with one hand, I guide her cautiously through the house, maneuvering over debris and sidestepping bodies.

Someone races out of the dining room. I aim my gun and lower it again as Gregor careens to a halt at the sight of us.

The side of his head is red with blood. It looks like a bullet tore off the tip of his ear, but he’s ripe with adrenaline and doesn’t seem to notice. I shake my weapon at him, so mad I could chew gunpowder and spit bullets. “And where the fuck were you while Sara was getting shot at?”

Gregor’s brows draw down in confusion. “You texted me. Told me to head next door and offer backup. Said you would take care of Miss Boyd.”

At his guileless expression, my gun arm drops to my side.Shit.I’ll need Luca to investigate further, but someone must have hacked my number and rerouted my messages. Which confirms the mole is working under me.

I need to find this bastard before they can do any more damage.

Sara glances around as she clutches my arm. “Oh, god. Where’s?—?”

A coughing Angela pokes her head out from beneath the overturned settee. “I’m here.” She winces. “Shit. I think I got glass in my ass cheek.”

“The neighbors have probably called the cops.” Gregor pushes the couch off Angela and bends to lift her into his arms. She blanches with pain, and he gentles his grip.

“Casualties?” I assess the destruction, my mood darkening further. If the secondary house looks this bad, the main one’s probably in shambles.

“Two on our side.” Gregor goes to the window and peers out, careful to keep most of his body to one side of the curtains. “No telling how many Luca has on his end. Most of them fled after the explosion.” Gregor shoots me a look, his eyes swimming with admiration and pride, like a die-hard football fan gazing at his favorite NFL player. “By the way, Boss…very cool.”

I grunt in response. I’m not used to such praise. Papà was always stingy with it, especially with Marco.

Speaking of Marco…he enters now with Pistol, looking like he spent the last few minutes in a lounge rather than a war zone. You can say many things about my brother, but he knows how to wear a suit. He’s also one of the few people I trust with my dog, which is why I tasked him with taking her to the groomer.

More concern than I’m used to seeing pinches his handsome facial features. “You’re okay? You weren’t hit?”

“I was the one doing most of the hitting.”

Gregor huffs a laugh. “If that ain’t the truth.”

After subjecting me to a visual inspection, Marco holsters his gun and ruffles my hair. “Well, if you boys are done playing soldier for the evening, I have an appointment. Make that two appointments. Simultaneously. Thankfully, the two cretins I shot had the decency not to bleed on my Armani.”

With an irreverent salute, he strolls off.

Gregor’s expression seems trapped between wonder and disapproval. My brother tends to have that effect on people. In fact, I think he deliberately cultivates it.

Shaking my head, I focus on my soldier. “Find out if there are any survivors in masks and have Luca send them over to the main house.” My lip curls as a new, fresh wave of outrage rolls through my blood, and I dismiss him by jerking my chin. “Make it quick. You and the other men need to get the fuck out of here before the cops come. We’ll get word to the ones on our payroll to run interference as much as possible, but you should still find somewhere to lie low for a couple of days.”

Gregor nods once. “Yes, sir.” With Angela still in his arms, he heads off to pass the message on to everyone else.

Once he’s gone, I focus on Sara. My stomach twists as I meet her eyes, bracing myself for irrefutable proof in her blue gaze that this world isn’t for her.

What I find isn’t terror or disgust, though, but steadiness mixed with awe. This unexpected discovery almost causes me to stumble.

“You saved my life.” Her fingertips brush my cheek, and my eyes shut. The warmth of her palm offers safety and relief. I nuzzle into her, kissing her fingers and smiling when her heart-shaped face flushes pink. “You always show up right when Ineed you the most. Just like you did with those college guys the first time we met. And with that man at the bazaar.”

I study her profile, the fan of her lashes, and the gentle sweep of her jaw. Fear’s dulled her cornflower blue eyes and painted dark circles beneath them. How can someone so delicate have any hope of surviving this life?

Yet, so far, survive is exactly what she’s done, with more skill than I would have given her credit for. “You were out of your depth tonight.” Her lips purse, but she doesn’t respond. “Still, you handled yourself well. You should be proud.”

I flip her hand, examining the gouges in her skin from the pearl leash. Rage boils in my veins at the sight of her blood.

I have to pause before I can speak past the lump forming in my throat. “You’re bleeding.”