Page 50 of Forbidden Bonds
The motherfucker is right. I don’t like it. And it fucking breaks me to think of Larissa being locked down because of me.
“I want to do this,” she says firmly, “And as for going out into the big, wide world? It’s been too long, and I’ve changed. The thought of living in a secure facility, being moved around from location to location, always watching my back? No, thank you.It is what it is. From the moment my gift was revealed, this has been my lot. If this works, I disappear. I get to be here, with you. And if not, at least I won’t be with the Uncorrupted.”
Her pretty eyes hold mine—the tension thumping at the base of my skull doesn’t ease. I just want her to be happy and safe, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the only option put on the goddamned table.
“I know he wants to kill her for real,” I say bluntly, pinning Ethan with a look before turning my glare to Woodrow. “You trust him? Why Ethan? Why can’t someone else shoot her? Let me do it.”
“Don’t be a complete idiot,” Ethan says. “You think you can just shoot her? Even knowing it’s a dud? No fucking way. You’ll bottle it at the last moment. Then it’ll all be for nothing.”
“You still want her fucking dead!”
“That’s true,” he says, not even flinching—bastard. “But wanting somebody dead and killing them are two very different things.”
“He’s done this before,” Woodrow says.
“He has impressively steady nerves under pressure,” Zeb adds. “It’s important he hits the right spot. Also, and most importantly, Ethan has a reason to want to kill her, unlike the rest of us. Nobody would believe you wanted to shoot your own mate.”
“A couple of the non-dynamics we capture will be released—the ones we see as the least threat,” Woodrow says. “Word will soon spread that Larissa Olsen was killed. With Cohen there, the Uncorrupted will have a trusted, verified witness of her death. Ethan will be stood down from active duty. Officially. But given his mate is Governor Brach’s daughter, no charges will stick. A light punishment is a believable cover.”
My eyes lower back to Larissa’s. I’d burn the world down for this woman, and I wouldn’t lose any sleep.
“Rhett, Ethan could have killed me a dozen times. If he’d really wanted to, he wouldn’t have waited until now,” Larissa says. “Besides, he would upset Lilly if he killed me.”
Ethan growls at that.
I couldn’t give a fuck about his feelings. All I care about is Larissa and what she wants—a chance. I blow out a breath. “This is crazy.”
I catch a smirk on Zeb’s lips. “The best operations are. We’re all experienced in this. We’ll get this done. We’ll give you the break you need. Both of you. You have my word.”
Strangely, unlike my reactions to Woodrow and Ethan, I trust Zeb.
Lucian’s gaze is steady. He understands the risk but is able to be more objective than me. I know he thinks this is our one shot to get both the government and the Uncorrupted off our backs.
I nod. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Larissa
“Minimal fucking bruising. Have you seen her chest?” Rhett’s roar is distant, like he’s in another room.
“No,” comes Woodrow’s calm reply.
“Good. You don’t get to look at my mate’s chest in any capacity. You’re not a fucking doctor. I ought to empty your bank account. Let me tell you, it’s bad—purple, motherfucking purple!”
“Which will soon be resolved,” Woodrow replies just as smoothly.
I blink my eyes open, and a crushing sensation manifests like someone parked a shuttle on my chest. Rapid footsteps draw near, and Rhett appears at my side.
“Baby, how are you feeling? Don’t move.”
I’m in a white medical-like room, one I do not recognize.
“The healer is here,” a voice says from the doorway.
Rhett’s head swings around. “Fine, let them in.” He turns back to me, taking my hand gently. “You’re going to feel better soon, baby. Just let the healer do their work.”
A male healer strides in. He comes to an abrupt stop when Rhett growls low and dangerous.
