Page 78 of The Broker

If they died right here, he wouldn’t care. This would be the perfect way to end one’s love story—wrapped in each other’s arms, kissing the shit out of each other.

The sound of someone clearing their throat had them both jumping back.

“Sorry to interrupt, boys,” Matteo said, standing in the doorway and looking a tad annoyed. “But you should probably save the make-out session until after we get the fuck out of this hellhole.”

Isaac nodded, happy to see Matteo but not happy to postpone his make-out session. He reluctantly pulled away from their hungry embrace but quickly laced his fingers with Jared’s.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Isaac shouted, wrapping his arm around Matteo’s sweaty neck and giving the man a hug.

Jared did a quick check to make sure that the hallway was clear for their exit.

“Of course, I’m here. You’re my family,” Matteo chuckled, returning Isaac’s hug gently and giving the boy one of his loving smiles.

“Okay, stay close to me,” Jared instructed, releasing Isaac’s hand so that he could grip his weapon properly and lead them all to safety.

Exiting the office, they jogged down the hallway, glancing over their shoulders every so often.

Gunfire and explosions erupted all around them. There was a war going on in other parts of the facility. Isaac only hoped that they were heading away from the fighting.

“This way,” Jared motioned, leading them up another staircase and down another dark hallway.

Lights flickered overhead as walls rattled from explosions and gunfire.

Seriously, who the fuck did they bring with them?

Eventually, they came to a large open space that appeared to have been the main part of the factory back when the building had been operational. Machines sat idle while long conveyor belts stood motionless.

“Are we—” Isaac began before a stray bullet exploded next to his head.

Jared grabbed Isaac and tugged him down under one of the conveyor belts. His head spun around, trying to locate the position of the shooter.

“Come now. You weren’t going to leave without saying goodbye, little bro, were ya?” Declan’s voice boomed all around the room.

Isaac’s body trembled.

When it was just him, he didn’t care. But now Jared and Matteo were in the room with him. If anything happened to either of them, he would never forgive himself.

“Declan, leave my buddies alone,” Isaac shouted. He ignored the glare from Jared and Matteo. “You hurt either of them, and I promise I’ll hunt you down and end you.”

A monstrous laugh filled the room as his brother mocked Isaac’s threats.

“Seriously? You’re threatening me? Your big brother? The bloke who spent the last day flicking lit matches at you while you sat there and cried like the little pussy that you are?”

Jared’s jaw tightened as he heard the torture Declan had inflicted on Isaac.

“Your big brother? The one who spent your childhood beating in your face? Who forced you to sit outside in the cold while I was busy in the nice warm house getting my dick sucked? Oh, you mean the big brother who used you to distract that crazy old man at the corner shop so that me and my buddies could rob the place? That same big brother who left you there to get caught and punished?” Declan taunted.

Isaac knew what he was doing. He was trying to piss him off so that he could jump up and reveal his location. Isaac was smarter than to fall for that immature tactic… but apparently, Jared was not.

Before he realized what was happening, Jared jumped up and began shooting his gun in multiple directions.

“Jared, wait!” Isaac shouted, but Jared was already leaping over the conveyor belt and acting out every last fighting sequence in just about every single Sylvester Stallone movie.

Shots rang out in every direction, snarls and curses, and threats of dismemberment. It all fell from Jared in a rabid tornado of fury and anger.

Isaac jumped up, hoping to get Jared’s attention and calm him down before he got himself hurt.

Those two seconds were all that Declan needed to locate his brother.

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