My truth.
An eerie silence suddenly reigned the smoke-clogged room. A shrill echo that rang in my ears. A disturbed lull that charged my heart into mayhem where I was pinned below Silas.
He was suddenly rolled away, and a man I didn’t recognize was in front of me, tearing the gag from my mouth and dragging a blade through the ropes that fettered my wrists and ankles.
“Are you okay?” he demanded.
I only had one answer.
“Silas.”
It was a plea.
A groan.
Desperation as I managed to roll around, my bruised, battered body protesting as I climbed onto my hands and knees.
Scrambling to where Silas was on his back.
Kent Ellison was dead beside him. His skull opened and spilling onto the floor.
I gasped but kept moving, my hands fumbling for Silas. They were frantic as I ran them over his chest, searching for a pulse.
For this life that we’d just found, even though I didn’t deserve it.
But I’d gladly take his hate just to see the glint in the gold flecks of his hazel eyes again.
I choked over a sob, and tears blurred my sight as I hovered over the top of him. Frenzied hands flitting all over his cut.
I jolted when strong fingers started winding into my hair at the side of my head, and a low voice murmured, “Wildfire.”
My gaze darted to his face.
To those eyes, bright enough to shine through my tears.
He pushed up to sitting. “Wildfire. Are you hurt? Fuck, please tell me you’re okay.”
Gasping around the relief, I fumbled to get to him.
“You were shot. You were shot,” I mumbled, close to incoherent.
His head barely shook, and with his free hand, he took mine and settled it over his cut. “Bulletproof vest.”
“And believe me, that shit fucking hurts.” Brody suddenly stepped forward through the dust and debris, and he tore off a mask and helmet as he howled with laughter.
He smacked himself across his chest, acting like it was no big deal where he’d been hit.
Deliverance sped through my veins, a shuddering of shock and disbelief. Of pain and regret.
Another man was cutting through Dereck’s bindings, and strained air raked from my brother’s throat as he slumped with a groan to the floor.
Though his head was turned, his eyes on me, full of loyalty and an apology.
“Dereck,” I croaked.
“Everything will be fine,” he gurgled. “Like I promised you.”
Love and grief spiraled. Binding me as tightly as the ropes. The anger and burden I’d carried were smashed while my own guilt surged to the surface.
