Page 176 of Seven Deadly Sins

Annie screamed and charged.

Harper lifted the chair leg above her head. She swung it like a bat. The thud of it hitting the other woman’s skull vibrated up her arm.

Eyes wide, Annie collapsed, her sightless eyes staring into the camera lens.

The shock of actually killing someone left Harper numb, but she couldn’t dwell on those feelings. Not yet. Not until they were safely out of the cellar and away from the compound.

She dropped the chair leg and rushed to snatch the shackle keys from the table Robert Thompson had dropped them on. She retrieved Annie’s gun from the floor and tucked it into her waistband, then quickly released Liam.

He sagged against the wall, his breathing as ragged as hers. “Dang girl, you can fight.”

“I had no idea. All I knew was that I was fighting for our lives. Can you walk?”

“I’ll crawl out of here if I have to.” He leaned on her and let her help him up the stairs and outside.

The allotted time had expired during her fight with Annie. Firebombs were flung over the wall, igniting anything made of burnable material. One side of the wooden gate hung open.

People surged from the buildings and were rounded up by FBI and SWAT team members. Harper couldn’t see any sign of Robert. “Let’s get you some medical help.”

“Not until we find Thompson.”

“You’re too injured to deal with him.” She headed for the gate.

Liam’s arm slid from her shoulders. “I’m going to finish this, Harper.”

She nodded at the determination on his face, feeling the same way. “Okay. Let’s check his office.” She glanced at the burning building. “We’ll have to hurry.” Only fools rushed into a burning building with no intention of saving someone.

They had to be quick. Liam’s strength wouldn’t hold up for long.

She spotted the FBI director. “I’m sorry.” She cupped Liam’s face and kissed him. “I love you.”

“Sorry for what?” He frowned.

“For this.” She turned and yelled for the director.

Spotting them, he rushed their way, calling for a medic. As Liam was ushered from the compound, a betrayed look on his face, Harper backed toward the main building. She’d apologize later. With one last look at the man she loved, she darted into the burning building.

Smoke filled the building. Upstairs, she pulled the neckline of her shirt over her nose and headed for Robert’s office, pulling her weapon from her waistband.

Robert sat at his desk. A revolver lay next to his right hand. He made no move to pick it up when she entered.

“It’s over.” She kept her weapon trained on him. “Your people are being rounded up. Annie is dead. Let’s not have any more bloodshed.”

“I really am impressed at how you and the agent reacted in that cellar. The clues the agent gave. Oh, I know Annie is dead. The sight of her face in the camera will haunt me for the rest of my life. A life that won’t be much longer.” He twirled a pencil on the desktop. “I had such grand ideas for a new world, Detective. Now that it’s gone, what is left for me?”

She had no answer for him other than the fact he’d spend the rest of his short life behind bars. “Let’s go, Robert. This place won’t last long.” Already the smoke burned her lungs. She coughed.

“No need.” Before she could react, he lifted the gun, pointed it at his temple, and pulled the trigger.

Shock reverberated through her. She took in the scene for a second, then whirled to race from the building.

~

Liam woke lying on his stomach in a hospital bed. His back burned under a thick bandage. He turned his head to see Harper slumped over in a chair fast asleep.

A groan escaped him as he moved.

Harper’s eyes popped open. “Are you in pain? I can fetch the nurse.”

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