Page 40 of Temptation: Discreet

No. They didn’t get her. She got away.

I shake the fear away for a moment. I can’t keep hiding here. Slowly, I make my way back towards the exit. The mustached man stands directly in front of me, smiling as he returns his gun to his holster. Before I get a chance to bring my gun back up and shoot the fucker, he grabs my wrist in a firm grip.

Using the self-defense techniques I learned with the Serpents, I twist our bodies so that I’m on top of him, pushing his face to the ground. I punch him again and again, taking everything from my training and applying it. His strength may be far greater than mine but my determination to live, to be free is by far more than his.

He wraps his hand around my throat, pushing with all his might to force me off. I can barely breathe as he constricts my airway. Instead of going for his throat, I use my thumbs and dig into his eye socket. The sickening sound of his eyes rupturing fills the air, blood oozing down his face. His agonizing scream pierces my ears as he finally releases his grip on my throat. The metallic stench of blood overwhelms my senses. I’m not sure how I got here, how I ended up covered in the blood of my enemy and became a killer.

I stare at the blood as I’m transported back into a nightmare. The piercing shrieks of my mother’s final moments still haunt me. Trauma of that night lingers in the air as I try to maintain a steady heartbeat.

The sounds of gunshots drawing closer breaks me out of my mind. Doubt creeps in, fuck. The number of gunshots must mean that they are under attack. Sierra wouldn’t have gotten far, right? How long has it been since she left?

The door next to me creaks open, revealing the creep that’s been holding us hostage. He flings the door open further and charges towards me. A sudden blast comes from behind him, sending him to his knees. A gruesome spray of brain matter follows the fatal headshot that he was given.

Enzo is standing behind him, meticulously surveying every detail of his surroundings. I knew he would come. If anyone could find me, it would be him.

“Princess, we have to leave,” he says, extending his hand out to me. His eyes hold a glimmer of hope and relief, but I can see the hint of curiosity and concern in them too. I place my hand in his, the electric connection between us jolts through my body as if I were just struck by lightning. Even after everything we’ve been through, my body comes back to life when he grips my hand tightly.

Sierra got the worst of it and I pray she will forgive me for dragging her into a life that was not her own. I’ll never be able to make it up to her for getting her caught in a war.

The sounds of gunshots pierce the air once more. Enzo’s grip on my hand tightens more before he shoves me behind a wall. The impact of my body hitting the cement sends a jolt of pain through me.

Losing sight of Enzo,panic sets in as I quickly open my eyes, only to see his body fall backwards, his shirt clings to his body as blood begins to cover him.

NO! No, no, no.

This can’t be happening.

My pained cries grow hoarse from the intensity of my screams. This is what I was trying to prevent. Dropping to my hands and knees, I crawl over to where he lies. The hard, cold floor of this prison feels like ice beneath my knees as I make my way over to him. He groans, putting pressure on his injured right shoulder. I don’t hide the relieved exhale that leaves my lips knowing he’s alive as I help him add pressure to the wound. We need to leave before he loses too much blood. He groans again, his eyes fluttering open briefly before sliding shut. Gently tugging at his uninjured shoulder, I try to wake him, willing him to stay conscious.

It doesn’t help.

His eyes remain closed.

Chapter 30

Iwake up from the darkness to see the most beautiful pair of honey brown eyes staring at me, tears frantically stream down her face. Forcing my hand up from my wound, all I can think about is the need to feel her soft skin. Her soft sensual gasp feeds my need for her as I smear my blood on her cheek. Fuck do I need to caress her, comfort her, and reassure her that I will be okay. She needs to know that I love her, that I’m obsessed with her. I can’t help how I feel for her. My Catalina. I would die for her as much as I would live for her.

“You look beautiful,” I rasp, “with my blood on your skin.” Her eyes darken at my words, as I wipe away the tears from her face. I can’t help but watch transfixed, as her tears mix with the redness of my blood.

“Go, Princess. Get out. I had Rocco wait in the car for you. You need to leave. I’ll be okay. Julian will find me,” I demand. She shakes her head, tears filling those beautifully broken eyes.

“Do as you’re told, Catalina. Go. Now. ” I push her hands away, causing her to stumble slightly to the wall by the exit. Hesitation fills her features, and for a moment I think she’s going to refuse. Her softening gaze is evident that she doesn’t want to leave me but I would only slow her down. She needs to escape and get to her brothers. She needs to live. She walks back over to me, swiftly touching the scruff on my face before placing her sweet plump lips against mine. I memorize this moment savoring the salty taste of her mixed with her tears.My tongue sweeps along her bottom lip as I pull away from her embrace.

“Go, Dolcezza,” I whisper as I try to stand. My legs are weak, I’ve already lost too much blood. That doesn’t stop me from watching her walk away. Her peach ass is the last thing I see as she disappears through the doors with the silent sniffle being the only reminder that she was here. Even when her heart is shattering with thoughts of the unknown, she can stay calm and collected for me.

She doesn’t glance back. She simply disappears, taking my heart with her.

Out of all my years of training and my time in a special task force, I have never felt a greater pain. I’ve been shot multiple times and have shrugged it off like I was not injured, running back in the field like a man made of steel. But with my heart away from my body, the unknown thoughts on whether or not I’ll even make it out of this warehouse. Or the thought of this being the one thing that breaks my beautiful angel. The pain from this bullet is aching twice as bad. I’ve been able to apply pressure and slow the flow of blood to my shoulder, luckily the bullet wound went straight through, instead of making a home inside me. An explosion goes off in the distance, with more screams and firearms.

“ENZO?” My name echoes off the wall. Is this it? The fucking angel of death is here for me already. My name is yelled out once more, I'm relieved when Julian’s stern and annoyed voice finds me. He rushes over to me, blood soaking through the only white of his mask and his blouse. He attempts to help me stand but there's a pain shooting through every part of my body.

“Fuck,” he curses loudly as he gently places me back on the floor.

My body has held up as much as it could. Blackness threatens to take over as the pain continues. Voices surround me, the smell of smoke and cigars soothes me. But her eyes are all I picture as I allow the darkness to take me.

Chapter 31

As soon as I open the door, the sun shines brightly down on me. I raise my hand to cover my eyes from the glare, taking a few moments to my eyes to adjust. When I finally don’t have to squint anymore, I’m able to make out Rocco standing next to a dark car.

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