Page 125 of The Scarab's Game

“Honor.” Enzo spat on the deck, his contempt evident.

Noah’s eyes turned heavenward for a moment. Had Scarlett been right about the fracture in the Fenix team? Or was it only Noah and Enzo who appeared to hate each other?

“Guns down, everyone!” Noah commanded, his voice ringing with authority.

To my surprise, the armed men lowered their weapons, with the exception of Enzo. It might have been Massimo’s yacht, but Noah held control here.

Noah extended his hand toward me. “Let me see it.”

Will said over my earpiece, “The second drone’s five minutes out.”

You’ve got this, Em.

Cautiously, I stepped onto the yacht’s deck and passed the disc to Noah. My gaze locked with Jenn’s, all her fear and desperation on full display. Infusing my voice with every ounce of confidence I could muster, I said, “It’s almost over, honey.”

Noah walked toward a light, holding the disc up to examine it.

Enzo jostled Jenn, and she sobbed, a strangled noise that cut through me like a knife. “She makes the same noises when I hit her that you did. Crying like a little girl.”

Fire built in my gut, threatening to consume me.Keep control of yourself.My hands clenched into fists at my sides. This was a job, but she was my woman. I couldn’t risk her life by doing something foolish, like attacking him.

Not until the right moment.

Enzo stepped closer, dragging Jenn by her hair. “Maybe I should taste her before you go.”

She sniffled, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Scarlett whispered in my ear, “Stay calm, Emmett.”

I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to remain steady as I addressed the scarred asshole. “We agreed to a fair trade.”

Enzo growled, swinging his gun to point at me instead of Jenn. “We win again, don’t we?”

That’s it, Enzo, stay with me.I took another step, this time sideways, further from Noah and closer to the water’s edge. “I suppose you’re just better than us.”

Enzo took the bait, sidestepping to match my movement. “We always have been.”

“Thirty seconds,” Will’s voice came through the earpiece.

I sidestepped again, and Enzo mirrored me, his attention on our dance rather than the world around us.

Massimo stormed over to Noah. “Why are you so quiet?”

Noah’s response was measured. “I need to be sure.”

“Four. Three,” said Will. He paused and then, with a tinge of regret, added, “Goodbye, baby.”

I shifted in the opposite direction I’d been moving, my eyes locked on Jenn.

“Drop!” I shouted.

A small explosion erupted from the yacht’s starboard side.

Enzo’s head snapped toward the noise, his gun pivoting away from me.

Jenn dropped to the ground.

I lunged forward, adrenaline spiking exactly when I needed it. I grabbed Enzo’s gun arm, forcing it upward and away from Jenn. With my other hand, I drove a punch into his gut, his grunt of pain satisfying a need inside my soul.

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