Page 166 of Corrupt Me

Once we park the van farther away, we change into black bulletproof coveralls, putting the infrared goggles on as we make our way toward the cottage.

Ten men roam the perimeter, and we’re extra careful as we can’t have them call for help, aware of what is at stake. Stealthily, I move to the first one, slicing his neck. With the silencer on my gun, I move further in, shooting a second guard and waiting to see if his body landing on the ground gathers attention. My cover can’t be blown. Not yet.I’m here, love.

I hear muffled grunting noises in the distance as my friends take care of the rest of the guards. Everything becomes silent once again, except for the hooting of owls in the distance. The eerie quiet seems to carry death with it.

The next guard appears to be on his cigarette break. I pull my knife out, stabbing the blade into his heart with rapid jabs, catching him before he drops to the ground. Placing him down, I spot the same tattoo of the Family crest etched on everyone I’ve taken down.Felix’s reign will end tonight.

As we haven’t had time to watch the guards properly, we don’t know when they use their walkie-talkies to check in. The closer I get to her, the more my patience wavers. I couldn’t care less about risks—she’s been here for almost an hour. Not even an army could keep me from her.

“Ten more inside,” Mia informs us.

“That fucker really sold his soul to the devil,” Kaden says, sounding more insulted than anything.

“A desperate man,” Celine reminds him.

That was one fundamental rule in the Family’s guidebook:Never get in a position of desperation, or you’ll be owned.

Followed by the second important rule: Every connection must hold equal importance for quid pro quo.

We have surrounded the cottage. It’s time to go inside. But once we do, our cover will be blown. I check her position. She’s somewhere in the basement at the farthest end.

“I’ll go in first,” I say through the comm.

“We’ve got your back,” Celine assures me.

“Do not come inside until I give you the go. If something happens to her leave me here.”

“Stop being so dramatic. We got it,” Kaden says—hypocritical asshole.

I open the door and slip inside, blending into the shadows with my all-black attire. Like in a dance of hide and seek, I move easily through the house, avoiding detection. I’ve trained for years to become a ghost when needed.

Reaching the basement, I spot two guards posted at the door. If I get my knife in one and shoot the other, I might be fast enough to stop them from calling for backup.

But my plan blows up when I hear a scream piercing through the door.

I don’t think—I act.

“Now,” I tell my friends, throwing the knife at the first guard. Both men look at me like gutted fish, their surprise frozen on their faces.

I am quick to shoot the second guard, but he fires at the same time. His bullet grazes my side, while mine gets him square in the chest. Blood pours out of their bodies, painting the floor in deep scarlet.

A commotion erupts upstairs, but my focus is singular—finding Bailey.

Hurrying down the stairs, I yank at the basement door, but it doesn’t give.I need a keycard.

Fuck it. I don’t have time to find Felix and take his. I pull a small device that resembles gum from my vest. It’s designed to eat through steel on contact.

I place it right on the handle. Every agonizing second passes so torturously slow. I can hear her muffled cries through the door while he laughs maniacally.

I’m here, love.

When the door gives way, I ram my shoulder into it with all my strength. It flies open, crashing to the floor with a thud—a warning of the violence I’m going to let loose.

Their heads snap toward me.

The scene before makes me murderous with rage.

Eric has her pinned on the bed while she fights to escape him. She slams her elbow into his nose, breaking free. Her lip is busted, and bruises in the shape of fingerprints blemish her arms.

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