Page 69 of Veiled Vengeance

I look at her and find the worry in her eyes. She struggles to get free and fails. So, she reaches behind her and rakes her nails down Pierce’s face.

Pierce cries out, “Fucking whore!” Then he pushes Carmen to the floor and opens the door behind him to a hallway we didn’t know was there. He points his gun down and gets off two rounds. Without glancing back, he runs down the hall, and the door swings shut behind him.

Carmen lies on the floor motionless.

CHAPTER 29

SPENCER

I’m familiar with the sounds of gunfire—I’ll never forget what it’s like to have bullets flying all around me.

This time around is just as bad as the first.

Thepop, pop, popof rapid gunfire echoes all around the room.

The suffocating vice of fear is not so easy to disregard, but I won’t let it keep me from finishing this.

Asher covers my body with his own, but I’m still able to lift my head. When I do, I spot Anthony walking backwards toward the stairs and wildly firing his gun.

He can’t get away again.

Ramming my elbow into Asher’s gut three times in rapid succession, I roll him off me. His groan meets my ears, but only a smidge of guilt drops on my shoulders. I push up from my stomach and chase after Anthony. As I run by a dead body, I snatch the gun from his still hand.

“Spencer! Don’t you dare!”

Asher’s threat is empty, and I don’t falter as I race up a set of metal stairs. Heavy footsteps follow me, but I don’t need to check to know it’s Asher.

The door at the top is open a sliver, but that’s all I need.

Using the barrel of my gun, I slowly push open the door and hold my breath.

“I think the fuck not, Princess,” Asher harshly whispers behind me. “I go in first.” He easily moves me aside and takes my place at the entry of the door.

Asher slowly opens the door, but the door blocks our view of the rest of the room. We haven’t even stepped into the room when bullets break through the door.

“Fuck!” Asher swears as he moves us back onto the stairs. He takes a deep breath, kicks the door open the rest of the way, and dives into the room. He takes cover behind a bar cart littered with expensive alcohol, and I keep my spot behind the open door.

“Asher!” My heart stops as I hear more discharged bullets hit the wall and floor in our direction.

Peeking around the door, I memorize everything I see and fire my gun two times. A large mahogany desk sits in the middle of the room. A black leather couch is situated against the wall, and two black leather chairs are placed in front of the desk.

One more peek.

More bullets.

One wall is a large window that looks down on the main floor of Euphoria. There’s a large metal door at the opposite end of the room.

Glass and wood splinters rain down on us as Asher and I take turns firing our guns in Anthony’s direction.

During a pause, Anthony shouts, “If you come with me now, Spencer, I will walk away, and I won’t kill your little playthings.”

Anthony’s offer appeals to a part of me that feels helpless.

This side of myself is tired. She’s done fighting for every happy moment and every positive thought. She wants to give up and give in. If I agree to go, then everyone I love will be safe.

But the side that has gotten louder over the last several weeks protests loudly. She reminds me of the happiness and security I’ve felt with my men. She isn’t willing to give into the demands of someone so entitled that they take whenever they want without thinking of the consequences.

“When hell freezes over!” I answer and resume shooting. Asher joins back in, and Anthony takes his turn as well.

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