Page 29 of Stay Little Fighter

“There’s movement at the front of the property,” Corbin tells us. “Hold.”

I drag in a rough breath, my heart beating harder than it ever has on a mission. Even the first time my father thrust a gun into my hand and shoved me into a highly volatile situation, I was calm, but once again, the stakes have never been this high.

My reason for breathing is inside, and I don’t think I’ll survive losing her again.

“Two guards and a woman are moving toward a car. What do you want us to do?” Team B asks.

“Leave them,” Kingston orders. “Your only objective is getting Chloe and Damon by any means necessary. Them leaving just makes that job easier.”

I want to argue with him, want to insist that we take Mikayla out while we can, but he’s right. We still have five people inside to take out, and that needs to be our priority.

“I’ll keep eyes on the car. You’re cleared for entry in five…four…three…two…one, and go!” Corbin orders, and we’re moving immediately.

Weapons drawn, we move toward the house with our eyes moving across the space in front of us. Even with Corbin’s support, I’m not willing to get myself shot during a rescue mission.

We reach the back door at the same time the front door slams open and gunfire ensues, allowing us to enter almost undetected. Rocco and I slip inside, immediately taking out the two guards by the back door.

The farmhouse is just as run-down on the inside as it appeared from outside, and I tamp down the rage in my gut that Chloe has been being kept here.

Once all of this is over, she’ll never know another moment of discomfort.

We’ll give her the life she deserves, the life we dreamed of all those years ago, even if there will be three extra men to deal with.

At least that will mean she never has to be alone. She’ll always have one of us with her, will always be protected. She’ll never want for anything again.

My eyes scan over the filthy kitchen and spot an open doorway. “Cover me,” I say to Rocco, my gun drawn as I move closer.

“There are three bodies in the room to the right of where you entered.” Corbin’s voice comes through the earpiece.

“Copy that.”

I drag in an unsteady breath and shove the door open, almost knocking the guard over with the force.

Rocco gets off a shot, and a moment later I’m stepping over the body. As little as he seems to like me, he’s a hell of a lot more useful than any of the men that work for my father.

Relief slams into me when I find Damon kneeling across the room in front of an old armchair, but it’s immediately overwhelmed by dread when I see his face.

See the devastation written over his features.

The tears falling against his cheeks.

I rush to him, and it’s not until I’m right beside him that my suspicions are confirmed.

Chloe’s curled up in the chair, her skin pale and lifeless as her labored breathing fills the space between them.

“I’m sorry,” Damon chokes. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

The vise around my lungs makes it impossible to speak, impossible to move as I stare down at the woman I’ve loved all my life.

The one bright light in a never-ending darkness, the person that gave me a reason to live even in the darkest of nights.

Dull green eyes flick up to meet mine, and my chest cracks all over again.

“Ro,” she whispers.

“I’m here, Sparrow. I’m here. We’re going to get you to the hospital and get you all fixed up.”

She shakes her head. “It’s too late.”