Page 94 of Sinful Lies

Then it came—a guttural, ear-splitting grunt that cleaved through the stillness.

My head snapped up, and there it was—a massive boar, eyes glowing red, charging straight at me like it had been sent by hell itself.

“Oh my God, Lazzio!” Jade screamed, spinning to run.

Her foot caught a branch, sending her face-first into the snow.

For one goddamn second, my focus wavered, watching her fall like a fucking idiot. But then the boar shrieked, a high-pitched wail that sent a jolt through my skull.

I didn’t think.

I raised the rifle and fired.

The first shot hit its side, blood splattering across the snow.

The second tore through its neck. It staggered, but kept charging.

The third shot dropped it, its massive body skidding across the bloodstained snow, leaving a red streak as it slid to a stop inches from me.

The stench of blood and wet fur filled the air as I lowered the rifle.

I stared at the beast, steam rising off its blood-soaked body like it was still alive—still fucking raging.

“Well, that was fucking close,” I muttered, smacking the snow off my pants.

I turned, and?—

Che cazzo.

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

Jade was still facedown in the snow, sprawled out like some moron trying to make a snow angel. Arms wide, legs splayed, completely frozen.

I let out a breath through gritted teeth, glaring at her limp form.

“Miss Whitenhouse now is not the time to play fucking dead. Get up.”

Nothing.

No twitch, no smart-ass comment—just dead weight in the snow.

“You better be out cold, Jade, because if you’re not, I swear to God?—”

Still nothing.

“I said,now, Jade!”

Silence.

Thick, gut-twisting silence, the kind that settles in your chest and squeezes.

No fucking way.

She knocked herself out. Had to.

I dragged a hand down my face, fighting the urge to lose it.

This is what I got for bringing Miss Little Nudist into the damn woods.

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