Page 80 of His Ruthless Queen

“Basement is clear,” I say, my own breaths ragged.

When we breached through the back door that led into the kitchen, Corbin and I were met with one of the five enemies. We took him down together, and then the rest of the crew followed in, splitting into our groups, and heading the way we had planned.

No one in the basement, which means they’re all on the second floor. Waiting. Who knows what kind of weapons and ammunition they have. Or if they’ve got traps set up for us. We’ve made our announcement, and they’ve now had precious minutes to prepare for us.

A slew of shots pop off above my head. Six in quick succession, then three more.

“What’s going on up there?” Declan asks.

Both of us rush for the stairs, Yuliya and Callum following our lead.

“One more dead,” Paddy groans. “He came barreling down the steps. I’m hit.”

“Same,” Corbin says through a sharp intake of breath.

“Wait for us to clear the second floor,” I say.

“Mother fucker,” Callum says.

“We’re good,” Paddy promises. “Just got the wind knocked out of us.”

“Idiots,” Yuliya mumbles. “How the hell did you make yourself a target?”

“Not all of us can be so perfect, Liya,” Corbin mutters.

We’re all wearing bulletproof vests, thank fuck. We reach the top of the steps, all of us rushing to get to the rest of our group. Corbin and Paddy are in the living room, shaking off their hits while Jericho and Sean wait by the staircase.

The stairs aren’t wide enough to take two at a time, and whoever goes first is taking a huge risk. We hold the disadvantage when we’re below and heading up. We’re going in blind.

“I’ll head up first,” I say. It’s the only reasonable option. I’m the lowest man here. The governor shouldn’t even fucking be here. And the rest of us are high up in the Mob food chain. The grunt always goes first.

“No, I will,” Corbin argues.

“You’re the most valuable person here. Not happening,” Jericho says.

“He’s right,” Sean chimes in. “I’ll go. We split off into groups when we reach the top.”

“You’re the baby of the family,” Callum chimes in. “You get at the back of the line.

“There’s too much testosterone here,” Yuliya says, unimpressed with our pissing match. She brushes past all of us, gun aimed upward, and stalks right up the steps.

“No regard for her safety,” Corbin snaps, glaring at Jericho. “You did that to her.”

Jericho huffs, following Yuliya. “She can handle herself,” he says at the same time Yuliya says, “I’m a big girl, pretty boy.”

The rest of us split up, breaking into different groups. Sean and I head to the right, kicking in the first door we reach. It’s a crowded guest bathroom, with few places to hide. I step in first, turning right and yanking back the shower curtain. Empty.

Sean steps in behind me, our backs practically touching in the tiny space. He kicks the cabinet door open with his foot. Also empty. “Bathroom—” His voice is cut off by an enemy dressed in black. The woman that Declan said would be here.

She’s hanging onto his back like a monkey, her legs wrapped around his waist while she wraps a string around his neck. He’s spinning, then slamming his back against the mirror, trying to get her off. Her head hits, and it cracks the reflective glass with impact, but she doesn’t release him.

She’s determined to kill. Dressed in cargo pants and a t-shirt, the same as us, it’s clear she’s not just a lover, if she’s even a lover at all. She’s strong, and she’s going for a kill.

Not on my watch.

He sucks in a breath, which is the worst thing you can do in this type of situation. It creates space, and makes the hold tighter. Worse, more painful. He stops moving his lower half as much, now focused on cutting the string.

Sean’s hand slides into his pocket and he pulls out a knife, his face red with the lack of oxygen. I press the barrel of my gun to her head.

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