Page 95 of Stay Little Fighter

His eyes soften. “Enzo is the most capable motherfucker I’ve ever met. I promise he thrives on this shit, but we need to get you out of here.”

Worrying my bottom lip between my teeth, I try to find another argument, but they promised they would keep me safe at all costs, and I guess this is part of that.

“Go now!”

I barely get the chance to process his words before Corbin has us sprinting the rest of the way down the alley with my heart in my throat the entire time.

His hand shoots up as a taxi approaches the curb, and I barely get a chance to open the door before I’m ushered inside with Corbin coming in after me.

The driver gives us a curious look but the car behind him beeps, distracting him from the fact that two people who are clearly running for their lives just got in the back.

“Where to?”

Corbin rattles off an address that definitely isn’t the airfield, but I don’t question him. I’m too grateful to still be breathing to do anything other than lean my head back and desperately try to calm my racing heart.

The sooner we get back on that jet and I’m on my way back to my guys, the better.

I’m not sure how long we drive for, but Corbin spends the whole time with his head buried in his phone, typing so quickly I can barely track his thumbs as they move over the screen.

I spend half my time thanking the powers that be that I’m still alive, and the other half looking through the back window as if I’ll be able to identify if we’re being followed.

I’m way too heightened to think clearly, let alone rationally figure out if someone is tailing us.

“Is Enzo okay?” I finally ask, dragging Corbin’s attention from his phone for the first time since we pulled away from the curb.

“He’s fine. He’s on his way to the meeting point as well and should get there a few minutes after us. We had a backup car stashed there just in case something like this happened,” he explains.

“Smart. That’s smart.” I nod, allowing the breath I’ve been holding to release from my burning lungs.

He smirks. “This isn’t our first rodeo.”

“Thank God for that.” I glance out the back window again. “Have you let the guys know we’re running late?”

“Ryker has been blowing up my phone since the second we took the back exit instead of going out the front. But I’ve let them know what’s happening and have assured them three hundred times that you’re unscathed.”

“They won’t believe you until they see for themselves.”

“That’s what I figure.” He chuckles. “I didn’t think he had it in him, to be honest. We used to be two peas in a pod when it came to that. Not forming attachments with people outside our circles. Not feeling emotions the way other people do. But I guess there’s hope for me yet.” He half laughs, but there’s a sadness in the sound that makes my heart hurt for him.

Everyone deserves love, and I hope like hell that there’s someone out there for him, because despite only knowing him for a short time, I know there’s nothing he won’t do for those he cares about.

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

KINGSTON

NOW

Setting traps has always been a hobby of mine. I’m sure you’re thinking that anything linked to my work can’t be considered a hobby, but I assure you, shit like this is the most fun I can ever remember having, even when the stakes are this high.

It’s been almost twenty years since I’ve been face-to-face with Salvatore Lombardi, and the anticipation is making me antsy.

That feeling isn’t helped by the fact Chloe is held up in Miami.

The guys have assured me she’s safe, and there’s nothing I can do from here other than make sure we’re ready. But it’s rattled the others.

Ryker is pacing around like he’s about to lose his shit and murder everyone in sight, and Damon is watching the tracker on her phone like doing so will miraculously bring her back to us.

Surprisingly, it’s Ronan who has been able to keep on task throughout, even if his phone is always open with her location.