Page 153 of Vendetta Crown

Semyon coughs, spraying crimson droplets across his chin.

"The Triads they had a way to stop the bombs, right?"

His laughter intensifies, turning into a manic cackle.

"That's what I told them too."

A chill runs through me. "What are you talking about?"

"Did you think I'd come here without insurance?" Semyon's eyes gleam with madness. "This was always a suicide mission, Ruslan. I knew I wouldn't walk away."

My finger tightens on the trigger. "Explain. Now."

"The bombs..." He taps a finger against his chest, leaving a bloody smear. "They're rigged to my heartbeat. The moment that stops."

He makes an explosive gesture with his hands.

"Poetic, isn't it?"

I press the gun harder against Semyon's skull. "You're lying."

"Am I?" Semyon's smile widens.

With his final bit of strength, he reaches up with both hands, and hooks his thumb through the trigger guard of my gun.

And before I can stop him, he pulls the trigger.

40

AURORA

I pulldown one of the seats just in time.

White-hot pain explodes through my arm when the fire extinguisher connects with my hand against the seat.

My knuckles crunch with a sickening sound.

I bite my lip to keep from screaming.

It feels like every bone in my hand has shattered at once.

But I'm still alive. My babies are still alive.

I take this chance to kick out at Kristofer, catching him hard in the shin.

"Fuck you!" I snarl, channeling every ounce of rage I've suppressed for seven years.

He howls in pain, momentarily thrown off balance. The sound gives me a savage thrill. Finally, he's the one hurting.

But my victory is short-lived.

When I kick out a second time, his meaty hand clamps around my ankle. His face contorts into something monstrous, familiar from my nightmares.

"I told you, Jamie. You're too fucking predictable!"

He yanks hard, and drags me out from the row of seats.

My back scrapes against the rough carpet. My dress hikes up my thighs as I claw desperately for purchase.

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