Page 136 of Inside the Wicked

He shrugs. “I’ve been to shooting ranges a few times.”

I resist the urge to groan, because that’s hardly adequate experience for this, but I don’t have time to consider. I pass him my handgun and head around to the trunk, pulling out a case of two pistols. I fit one in my waistband and carry the other.

“This is insane,” Adam mutters as we take off in the car. “Did they get the bomb off Jer?”

“I don’t know yet.”

The silence is filled with the accelerating buzz of the engine.

“Listen, I know I said I won’t apologize for anything, but we might very well die tonight, and I guess I feel like I should say you’re good for her. As backward as that feels to say given the shit you’ve dragged her into ... she’sbetterwith you.”

Any other time I might feel something at his words, but truthfully, I wouldn’t care if he told me I’m the worst thing for her. Then I consider what Ana would want. She tagged Adam as a close friend despite everything. I love her fucking heart. And I guess for her, I might try to tolerate Adam being in her life.

“Your speech at the graduation ... she means a lot to you,” I say.

“Yeah, she does. Ana understands me in a way no one has, and I was jealous of you two. I wish we could have worked, but we never would have done.”

I don’t question his sexuality. I’m certain his feelings for Ana were genuine, but not enough for either of them. Now there’s something going on between him and Rix that isn’t my business, but it sure will become it if Adam hurts him.

“Thinking you were gone really broke her. So you stay the fuck alive, all right?”

That manages to pull a single huffed laugh from me. “I plan to.”

“Oh shit,” Adam mutters as I slam the car to a stop.

My world tilts as I stare at the wreckage of cars.Don’t be Ana. Don’t be Ana.

I get out, and when I see the heap crawling across the ground, I know nothing but rage and vengeance. My shoes crunch over car debris, and one car tipped on its side is blazing at the hood. We need to get the fuck out of here before it blows, but I can’t tear my target from Jacob Forthson.

“Where is my fuckingwife?” I snarl, kicking his stomach, which throws him onto his back.

“You-you were too late. She’s mine,” he says, smiling with blood-soaked teeth.

I see white. Though I have bullets, I kneel over him, and my fists slam into his face over and over. Gunshots ring out, but I’m lost to violence.

“Rhett!” Adam shouts. I would ignore him, but then he adds, “It’s Ana!”

Her name is the only thing that rears back the monster unleashed within me. I breathe heavily, staring down the bloodied mess of Jacob, who coughs and heaves beneath me.

Snapping my gaze, I find Adam crouched behind the toppled car, gun poised. I’m in the line of fire of my guys againstForthson’s. Two guys come running at me, and I pick up my gun. My surge of instinct is halted when I see the serpent tattoo on one’s forearm.

“What do you need, boss?” one asks. I don’t know the names of everyone in Xoid. The network is expansive, and only a fraction of the members frequent the Den.

“Take him. Tie him up, gag him, do whatever the fuck you want, but don’t kill him yet,” I order.

They nod, covering me as I race across to the car wreck.

Peering down through the shattered car window, my heart tumbles out my fucking ass. “Ana,” I say urgently.

To my immense relief, she’s conscious. A little whimper escapes her as she drops her arms covering her head and peers up.

“Rhett,” she croaks.

“I’m right here, baby. Can you feel if anything is broken?”

“I-I don’t think so,” she says, clearly in shock. She uncurls from herself slowly. My adrenaline races dangerously with the gunshots and the hyperawareness she’s lying in an impending blast zone.

“I need you to get up so I can reach you, baby. Just enough for me to pull you out. Can you do that for me?”

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