Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Bolton made a move and knocked the gun from Theo’s hand.
My heart gave a lurch, watching the battle turn toward defeat.
Bolton slashed with his knife, backing Theo across the room and drawing enough blood that it immediately stained his shirt. Bolton rushed him again, getting a surge of energy from his impending victory.
Theo didn’t react to the cut he’d received and managed to slam his knuckles underneath Bolton’s chin and catch him off-balance for just a second. The dagger fell to the floor, and when Bolton went to reach for it, Theo stepped on it with his foot and hit Bolton harder than I’d ever seen one man hit another.
Bolton was sent to the floor.
I tried to skirt backward farther into the couch, but I had nowhere to go.
The fire became worse. The smoke unbearable. The heat made every part of me sweat.
But Bolton popped back up like the dead from the grave and kicked Theo in the leg, freeing the dagger. He lunged and grabbed it and then sliced it across Theo’s leg.
Theo stomped on his hand then kicked him in the face.
But Bolton was a cockroach that wouldn’t die, and he was back on his feet, slicing with one hand and then using the other hand to punch.
The men were locked in a deadly battle, two titans moving as silhouettes with the fire as the backdrop, other men still fighting, smoke everywhere.
All I could do was sit there and try not to pass out.
I couldn’t even follow what was happening anymore, both men moving with speed and strength that were unparalleled. Something happened, and Theo ended up thrown into the wall. He almost slid to the floor, but he caught himself before he fell.
Then I saw the blade sticking out of his shoulder, just inches from his neck.
“No…”
Bolton reached for the gun on the floor.
It was one of those moments when I had less than a second to make a decision—and I did. I threw myself at Bolton and knocked him to the floor, making the gun fly across the floor.
Bolton threw me off him and punched me in the face. But he pulled his fist back when he realized it was me, and the rage on his face was something I would never forget. The glow of the fire hit his eyes…and made them look like lava from a volcano.
At that moment, part of the ceiling collapsed, sparks of ash filling the dark air. Some of the men were trapped underneath, and their screams accompanied the gunfire.
Bolton glanced at the distraction then got to his feet and pulled me with him.
I twisted out of his grasp.
But he grabbed me again and started to force me. “Get up!”
“Fuck off!” I twisted again then punched him square in the face. It made my hand sting, either because I punched him so hard or I just didn’t know how to throw a punch.
Another part of the ceiling collapsed.
“You’re going to die here.”
“I’d rather die here than be with you!” Angry tears came to my eyes, seeing a man I no longer recognized, a man whose funeral I would never attend. I despised him with every ounce of my being.
Bolton finally let me go and turned away.
But Theo appeared again, the blade gone from his shoulder, and he punched Bolton so hard it sent him flying into the smoke.
“Theo!” A man’s voice came from the haze. “This is gonna come down. We’ve got to go.” He stepped out of the smoke and grabbed me by the arm.
I didn’t turn away, because it was Axel.
“Take her.” Theo turned away to go after Bolton.
“Theo.” Axel grabbed his attention with just his voice. “I’m not leaving here without you, so come on. He’s not worth it.”
Theo continued to stare at him.
“We’ve got like ten seconds,” Axel said. “And Scarlett will kill you if I die.”
Theo grabbed my hand in the smoke and pulled me with him.
I coughed harder than I had before, and my mind turned hazy…as if I only had seconds left. He pulled me out of the burning building, all my memories torched in fire, my past engulfed in flames, and led me into the cold winter air outside.
I gasped for air—and finally got a breath.
A breath of freedom.
The stars were impossible to see through the smoke. People were in the street watching the madness unfold. There were no police, like they somehow knew to stay away. Theo continued to pull me by the hand, and I just let him, unable to think for myself because it was all a blur.
He walked up to a Hummer and yanked the door open before he helped me inside in a rush.
I fell into the seat and turned to look at him.
But he shut the door and hit his fist against the window.
The driver immediately pulled away. The house disappeared. So did the fire.