Page 90 of Iron Crown

I barely had time to absorb what she said, as another man popped around a corner and attempted to fire. I got him first, his bullet aiming high, but ricocheting off the wall, and I felt it graze against my armor. The scent of burning cloth infiltrated my nostrils.

I had no idea how many had been killed by now. Dozens? Hundreds? We had killed fifty alone when the first mine exploded. Stupid-fucking-Durante.

More mines had gone off, killing people on both sides.

There had been a mad rush to stop us from entering the house, and I didn’t know how many of them were left. All I knew was that I had to trust that our plan was solid.

“They’re holed up with Cosima—Eugenio, the child, one nanny, and one housekeeper,” Yuliya announced.

“No guards?” I asked, confused.

“None, but assume they are armed.”

How strange.

When we reached the door, I stopped, looking at the small, engraved single door that had the emblem of a lion’s face in profile emblazoned along it. Ostentatious, really. But the Durantes were like that.

“I’m here,” I said to Yuliya over the comms.

“We have to cut the power,” Yuliya said, her voice transporting into another line, outside of the command line. I could tellbecause the background noise was a little different. “Do not panic when the lights go out.”

Just as she said it, the place darkened. There were shouts, screams, and more bullets, as somewhere up or down the corridor people panicked.

Anticipating a smaller room, I slung my rifle and switched to my pistol, holding it out in front of me.

“Door will open in 3…2…” Yuliya said.

She’d barely finished her count when a hiss of the door unlocking sounded. I grabbed the door knob as a metal interior door slid to the side. I stepped in, pistol up, meeting the barrel of a Desert Eagle, and the livid face of Cosima Durante as my men filed in, surrounding the room, taking positions at the four corners, their guns pointing at the frightened occupants who huddled under a large oak desk.

“Fancy seeing you here, Cosima,” I said with fake joviality.

“Goodbye, Green,” she said, just as she pulled the fucking trigger.

Chapter thirty

Mounted

Kira

“Kira,” Blink called, “You and Amadol take the armored SUVs up. They’ve secured the compound and everything but the last stand-off, in the office, is secure. We have several men in need of critical care, but we cannot get a helicopter onto that property. Lord knows if there’s any place that isn’t landmined to hell.”

Fuck…

“Get the most critically wounded out, now. We had to call ambulances for the rest. We don't…” Blink’s frustration was palpable as he let out a nasty growl. “We don't have enough vehicles for all of the wounded. God damn Cosima!”

He was angry that people couldn’t be flown out to a hospital by helicopter. Not when she’d boobytrapped the fucking ground.

“Triage whoever is there,” Blink said, “And take the rest to support anyone inside.”

I didn’t need too much encouragement. No one had saidwhowas injured, and who was hurt.

We couldn’t. Not over the radios, at least. That was a security risk.

We’d figure that out when the dust settled.

But I needed to get my eyes on my husband before I went absolutely insane.

Chapter thirty-one

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