Page 61 of Corrupt Desires

Two men immediately make their way in the room, and I instantly recognize Kayden and Aleks. I’m not sure which of them made the killing shot, but I’ve never been more relieved to see their faces as I am now. I put a hand on each of their arms as they pass in thanks, knowing words can’t even begin to express the gratitude I’m feeling for them. Looking around as the men do a cursory glance to the bodies, and then go to the women in the room, I lock eyes with a third man making his way into the room.James.

My knees nearly give out as I’m overcome with a profound sense of relief as I stumble over to him. He catches me just as my knees lock, a sob escaping from deep within my chest.

“James…” I say, tears falling down my face as I’m unable to find the words I so desperately want to say to this man. The man that came for me with amini fucking army.

“Shhh, Emilia. I’m here now.” He holds me in his arms, running a soothing hand through my hair.

“I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again. Anthony, he was going to kill you and make me marry him…”

“The only man you’re allowed to marry against your wishes is me, love.”

I slap his chest, not finding his joke to be very funny at all.

“Well, if I can’t have the slut, no one can,” says a voice from across the room. Everything happens in slow motion, it’s as though time has stopped. As I turn my head, I see Anthony sprawled out on the floor, gun raised at me as he pulls the trigger numerous times in quick succession. From the corner of my eye, I see a soldier launch himself in front of me, his body jerking as the bullets impact his upper body.

More shots ring out, and I see Kayden pointing his rifle at Anthony, numerous bullets finding their mark in his skull and torso.

As though someone hit the play button, time speeds up and Kayden comes crashing down, turning over the soldier that lies in front of me.Aleks. I drop to my knees, panic causing my hands to shake.

“You don’t have my permission to leave duty, soldier,” says Kayden as he takes a knife and starts cutting into Aleks’s uniform and removing his armor, trying desperately to get to the bullet wound. “Medic! I need a fucking medic in here!”

“Fuck, there’s too much blood. Emilia, put pressure on the wound while I grab the medic bag.”

I drop to my knees and immediately push my hands over the wound, pushing my entire body weight onto Aleks’s upper chest, but it’s still not enough. One of the shots hit right on the edge of his bullet proof armor from what I can tell as the blood continues to bubble through my fingers. I look over at his face to find him looking at me. He places a shaky hand over my own. “It’s OK, Em. It’s OK.”

“It’s not OK, Aleks, nothing is OK.”

“It is, though. You’re safe now, that’s all that matters.” Blood sputters out of his mouth on his last few words, and I try to hold his gaze through the tears in my eyes. He smiles, nods his head, and turns his gaze to the ceiling.

“Don’t you fucking dare, Aleks. Don’t you fucking dare leave me. It’s not your time. You can’t fucking leave me.”

More and more blood pours out of his chest and through my fingers, pooling around my knees. I continue pushing with all the strength left in my body, but it’s not enough.

“Emilia, love. He’s gone,” James says, gently prying my bloody fingers apart and off Aleks’s chest.

“I’ve got the bag,” says Kayden as he rushes back into the room, only to stop as he sees Aleks’s glassy stare. “Fuck! FUCK!”

Kayden kicks a hole in the wall, causing the two women to scream. “Fuck, sorry. Fuck, I should have checked the bodies better,” he says, taking off his helmet and pulling at his hair. He turns and strides over to Anthony, laying a few more bullets into his body. “Stupid. Fucking. Cocksucker,” he punctuates with each shot of the rifle. “His death was way too quick.”

A fourth soldier enters the room, holding out a bag to James. Reaching into the bag, James starts distributing clothes to myself, Jess, and the other woman, whose name I learn is Bella.

Kayden helps get the chain around Jess’s ankle off and helps her get dressed, before the other men make their way back down the hallway and do the same for the rest of the women in the house.

I’m covered in blood, a lot of it not my own, but thank fuck am I ever happy for some fucking clothes.

“Emilia, love. We should really get out of here,” says James, coming up behind me as I peer down at Aleks. The men are already starting to get him lifted out of here, and I can’t help but to think every single one of these fuckers died way too fucking fast.

“These bastards deserved so much worse than what they got,” I whisper back to him, taking in the peaceful look on Aleks’s face. Aleks saved my life, and he did it with a goddamn smile on his face.

“Well, I might have a late wedding present for you,” Kayden says from across the room where he helps Jess get some shoes on.

“I’m not in the mood for any surprises, Kayden,” I say, exhaustion straining my words.

“Trust me, you’ll want to see this. Lorenzo is waiting for you.”

* * *

Kayden leadsme back to the concrete room, and I immediately start to tremble. The room is a horror show, and I’m not pleased to have to go back into it. Before I can lose my nerve, I feel James’s hand on my lower back.

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