Page 229 of Deadly Sweet

We split up, people taking off in all different directions.

It doesn't take long before gunshots ring out.

Some of Duchess’ men take off up the stairs in front of me, and as I run up, bodies drop, falling past me.

One by one, men come spilling into the stairwell. Raising my gun, I start shooting.

By the time I get to the top, I’m sweating, my body hurts, and I can hardly breathe.

“Thanks.” I nod as I enter the top stairwell. “I got it from here.”

“Are you sure?” the man asks.

“Go find Lucy, help Duchess.”

He nods and then takes off as I walk through the door to access the rooms on this level.

The door clicks behind me, and I’m left standing in the dark alone.

It’s quiet. Too quiet.

I don’t like it.

Looking both ways down the hall, I try to see if anyone is around, but there’s no point. It’s pitch black.

All but the door at the end of the hall. Light spills from under it, lighting up the space around it. And is that...is that music?

Classical music fills the quiet, dark hallway the closer I get to the only door with light spilling from the crack at the bottom.

Gun raised, my heart races faster with every step.

Am I dreaming? Is any of this real? Maybe I’m still passed out cold, mind and body exhausted from my heat.

When my time came to kill Corbin, it wasn’t supposed to be like this.

I had a list, a plan. He was meant to be my last. I haven’t even gotten through half of it.

It’s because you let the life you’ve always dreamed of swallow you up whole, making you forget about the reason you do what you do.

I did, didn’t I? All the people who hurt me were still living and breathing, going about their lives like nothing happened. Where they could have hurt more people.

And what was I doing? Changing diapers, cleaning the house, and fucking my Alphas.

Now is not the time to beat yourself up, Savvy. The monster who ruined your life is behind this door.

It’s now or never. You or him. Live or die.

As I shove open the door, I try not to think about my Alphas. About the little girl who tried to heal a mother’s broken heart. I try not to think about how the last time I laid eyes on them may very well be the last time.

No. Failure isn’t an option. I won’t let that bastard take one more thing from me.

This ends tonight.

When my eyes land on him, he’s sitting in his chair at his desk.

The smug look on his face melts away when he sees I’m alone. Looking behind me, then back to me, he glowers.

Bile turns in my stomach, my chest heaving as I kick the door closed behind me and lock it.

---