Page 60 of His Enemy's Daughter
“Run.” I don’t wait for her agreement, just grab her hand and sprint toward the tree line with everything I have.
We’re fifty yards out when the first bullets start flying—wild shots from guards too far away to have accurate aim, but close enough to make my skin crawl with how thoroughly this went sideways.
“Down!” I tackle Regina behind a landscaping wall just as gunfire intensifies, bullets chewing through ornamental bushes where we’d been standing seconds before.
She’s beneath me, breathing hard, eyes wide but focused. The ledger is still clutched to her chest, and even with death flying over our heads, she’s protecting what we came for.
“You hit?” My hands are already checking her for wounds, unable to help the frantic need to confirm she’s whole.
“I’m fine.” But her voice shakes slightly. “Mauricio, we need to—”
“I know.” I risk a glance over the wall, counting guards and calculating odds. “When I say run, you run straight for the trees. Don’t stop, don’t look back, don’t wait for me. Just get to the car and drive.”
“I’m not leaving you—”
“Regina.” I catch her face between my hands, forcing her to meet my eyes. “If they catch us both, this was for nothing. But if you get away with those ledgers, if you survive to expose everything they’ve done—that’s the mission. That’s what matters.”
“You matter.” Tears shimmer in her green eyes, catching light from the estate. “I didn’t escape Father’s cage just to watch you die protecting me.”
“Then don’t watch.” I press a hard kiss to her forehead. “Run, Regina. Honor what we’re doing here by surviving.”
Before she can protest, I’m up and moving—drawing fire, giving her the opening she needs. I hear her curse, hear her scramble toward the tree line, and pray she’s smart enough to keep running.
I lay down covering fire, making every shot count, buying her seconds that feel like hours. When I finally risk a glance back, she’s disappeared into the trees.
Good. Smart girl. Survives everything including my protective instincts.
I start my own retreat, using landscaping and shadows for cover, trying to make it to the trees before—
Pain explodes in my shoulder, white-hot and stealing breath. I stumble, training the only thing keeping me upright as another bullet whistles past my ear.
Fuck. This is going to make escape significantly harder.
I make it to the tree line on sheer stubbornness, blood already soaking my jacket from the shoulder wound. The getaway car is close—I can hear the engine running, Regina behind the wheel with tears streaming down her face.
“Drive!” I shout, throwing myself into the passenger seat. “Go now!”
She floors it before my door is fully closed, tires screaming as we fishtail onto the main road. Behind us, Sabino’s estate erupts with activity, but we’re already disappearing into darkness.
“You’re shot.” Her voice is steady despite the tears. “Mauricio, you’re bleeding—”
“Shoulder. Went through clean.” I press my hand against the wound, applying pressure that makes stars dance at the edges of my vision. “I’ll live. Focus on driving.”
“I should have stayed. I should have covered you—”
“You did exactly what you needed to do.” I reach across with my good hand, finding her thigh and squeezing gently. “You survived. That’s all that matters.”
She drives like she’s being chased by demons—which, technically, we are. But her hands are steady on the wheel, her focus absolute, and once again I’m struck by how thoroughly I underestimated this woman.
“The ledger?” I manage, fighting to stay conscious through pain and blood loss.
“Right here.” She pats her jacket.
“Good.” My vision is starting to blur at the edges. “Regina, if I pass out—”
“You’re not passing out.” Steel enters her voice. “You’re staying conscious until we reach the cabin and I can patch that shoulder. No heroic dying while I’m driving.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
