Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
“Go, Empress,” Roman shoots back at me.
I swallow over the lump in my throat, hating the thought of leaving them in the middle of battle, but I know they can handle themselves. They’ve faced down so much worse and have always come out the other end so much stronger.
Marcus doesn’t hesitate to grab Sebastian and set him on Dill’s back, the same way they do at home before running amuck and destroying my home. “Hold on tight, kid,” Marcus tells him, grabbing Sebastian’s chin and holding his stare. “You did good. You were brave. Today, you earned the DeAngelis name. But now you need to be the man and look out for your mom and your new little sister, okay? Don’t let anything happen to them.”
“I won’t,” Sebastian promises, taking his job as seriously as he takes his love for dino nuggets, though I don’t miss the curious glance he spares the screaming baby in my arms. Then with determination pounding through his veins, he leans down and curls his little arms around Dill’s throat, threading his fingers tight into his fur and holding on with everything he’s got.
Marcus leans in and presses a swift kiss to my lips, his hand curling around to squeeze my ass. “Now go.” He gives Dill a firm stare, and with that, Dill and Doe hightail it out of the room, doing everything to keep my boy safe. With one more glance back at Roman and Levi, I take off after them, my new baby clutched tightly to my chest.
We run and run, throwing ourselves down the endless stairs two at a time as Doe takes the lead, ready and willing to take out any threat that stands in our way to freedom.
Before I know it, we’re racing out through the very door we came through, skipping over the slew of fallen bodies, and as we race over the threshold and out into the yard, I see the convoy of SWAT trucks storming through the front gates.
The lawn is filled with dead bodies. It’s a fucking bloodbath out here, but my army quickly dealt with them, and with their job done, I’m glad to see they’ve already retreated to the thick cover of the woods, following orders just as they should.
They stand guard, waiting for further instructions just in case they need to take out the convoy of SWAT officers, and I watch with absolute relief as both Dill and Doe finally reach the safety of the woods, disappearing between the thick row of trees. I race in after them, clutching the newborn baby to my chest, and my men immediately form a protective barrier around me. They try to usher me further back into the woods, but I stand right on the edge, peering back at the big property, waiting with bated breath.
I feel Dill move in beside me, watching just as I am, and I can’t help but reach down and clutch Sebastian’s hand, the feel of his touch quickly putting the shattered pieces of my heart back together.
“Where’s Daddy?” Sebastian murmurs beside me, his voice the only sound in these thick, eerie woods.
“He’s coming, baby. He’s coming.”
Nobody says a word, and I watch with fear as the SWAT team spreads out across the property with trained ease, knowing exactly where to go, and I don’t hesitate to glance back at my men. “Retreat,” I tell them, knowing damn well the second the SWAT team notices us lingering in the woods, they won’t hesitate to shoot, and fuck, I can guarantee their aim is a lot better than the Dragoni’s hired help.
My men don’t dare question me and instantly fall into line, quickly moving back through the woods and to our fleet of SUVs hidden within the thick trees. But me, I stand right here, my heart racing, refusing to take another step without my family at my side. If I have to send my children away with Dill and Doe and head back in there, I will. There’s not a damn thing I wouldn’t do for those wicked men who have completely claimed me, mind, body, and soul.
The SWAT team makes their move, storming the estate as the snipers set up shop, their rifles trained heavily on the property. My heart races like never before, having no idea how the hell they’re going to escape the property unseen, when all at once, the three snipers watching the back of the property receive a message that has them grabbing their rifles and moving away from the back of the estate.
Then just as they disappear around the corner, Roman, Marcus, and Levi climb through the second-story window and out onto the roof, and I know without a doubt that diversion was set up by Agent Zeke Davidson, and for the millionth time since first meeting him as my mother’s second in command, I find myself sending him a gracious whisper of thanks.