Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“Given your friendship with the capo of the Restrepo cartel,” Tiago said, “it’s safe to assume you’re no longer working for the American people.”
“Right.” Cole blew out a breath. “Sometimes I work for criminals and walk a blurry line. But I don’t murder or kidnap innocent people for money. And when I was betrayed, I didn’t go on a ruthless killing spree. I faked my own death, went into hiding, and lost my goddamn soul mate.”
“Good for you.” Tiago laughed hollowly. “I guess that makes you a better man than me.”
“No.” Her hackles flared, and she grabbed Tiago’s arm, turning him toward her. “I’ve never condoned the things you’ve done, but you know what? Cole didn’t lose his parents and only brother. He didn’t watch someone heartlessly gut his wife. There is no comparison. I don’t know him that well, but if someone murdered his fiancée in front of him…” She jabbed a finger at Cole. “I think there would be a very different man standing there.”
“You’re defending him?” Cole asked with more hostility than she appreciated. “Do you know what he did to Tate and Lucia?”
“Yes.” She jutted her chin.
“Are you free?”
“What?”
“Are you free to walk away from him? Right now?”
A numb, paralyzing thud echoed in her ears, and her neck ached to shake her head. Now was the time to tell him, to let him know she couldn’t escape.
Tiago would never release her. He would never let her see her friends, or pursue a career, or carry a loaded gun, or go for a walk alone. Cole needed to know this. He could help her. But her muscles wouldn’t work, and her voice deserted her.
“She’s not free.” Tiago’s fingers shackled her wrist as he shoved open the freezer door. “If she wants to go with you, I won’t allow it. If you try to take her—”
“You’ll kill me. I figured as much.” Cole flicked his gaze to her. “This isn’t over, Kate. I’ll get you out.”
“The fuck you will.” Tiago ushered her out of the freezer, into the warm kitchen, and toward the hallway, where Arturo waited.
“Hang on.” She dug in her heels, trying to slow his long strides so she could explain the situation to Cole. “I just need to—”
An enormous explosion erupted somewhere in the house. The percussion was so forceful it reverberated in her ribcage and rang in her ears. She lost her balance in the heels, and in the next breath, strong arms came around her and her feet left the floor.
Tiago hoisted her against his chest and swung back toward Cole. “Tell me that isn’t an assassination attempt on the President.”
“With that bomb? It must be.” Cole raced past them and poked his head in the corridor. “It probably dropped from overhead.”
“Drones.” Tiago’s entire body turned to stone. “Goddammit, there will be more. We need to get the fuck out of here.”
She choked down the sound of undiluted fear as it tried to escape.
A cloud of dust shook from the ceiling. Alarms, shrill and deafening, blared to life, and in the distance, the blast of gunfire rent the air.
“Opposition activists.” Cole shoved a hand through his brown hair. “I heard a rumor the Colombian president was rallying an attack.”
“And we’re caught in the middle of it?” Her heart lurched.
“Gonna need you to run, Kate.” Tiago lowered her feet to the floor. “Kick off your shoes.”
He supported her balance as she toed off each heel. Then he guided her arms into the sleeves of the jacket still draped over her shoulders.
At her questioning look, he said, “In case there’s any flying debris, the jacket is better than nothing.”
“The rear exit is blocked by the gunfight.” Arturo appeared in the doorway. “We’ll have to leave out the front with everyone else.”
“Mass fucking exodus.” Tiago pulled her into the hall and laced their fingers together. “No matter what, don’t let go.”
The flashing, screeching alarms in the ceiling fucked with her bearings. By the time she scrounged up a nod, he was already dragging her at full speed toward the ballroom.
Cole and Arturo stayed on their heels. Until the second bomb hit.
It detonated so close it threw her against the wall. The acrid scent of smoke burned her nose, and she tasted the grit of dust as she coughed.
Given the noise of glass, the ear-splitting howls of people, and the rush of nearby footsteps, the explosion must’ve blown through the ballroom. If her sense of direction could be trusted, that was just around the next bend.
“Keep moving.” Tiago hadn’t let go of her hand and pulled on it roughly, urgently, propelling her forward again.
Her pulse thrashed past her ears as she sprinted to keep pace with his strides. Around the corner and through a doorway, they burst into what was left of the ballroom.
Dirt and smoke scattered into the atmosphere, creating a nebulous, eye-burning fog. Windows shattered. Shards of glass and twisted steel continued to drop in a groaning, deadly rainfall from the huge bite that had been taken out of the far side of the room.