Page 171 of Covert Mission

I launch myself forward, head butting the man before he can flinch. We slam to the ground, taking Camile with us, but an instant later, she’s scrambling up. Safe.

But I’m nowhere near done.

We roll and tangle.

The knife catches my arm, slicing me.

This bastard has zero chance of beating me, but he’s wild with adrenaline, flailing below me, hitting me with one hand. Jabbing wildly at me with his knife with the other.

Camile cries out. Her shrill scream piercing the grunts and thugs of flesh against flesh.

I flip him on his back, crushing the hand with the knife to the ground.

He cries out as I break his wrist. The knife drops, and Truck grabs it.

My teammate’s got my back. But he doesn’t stop me from delivering a much-deserved punishment.

I wrap my hands around Ralph’s neck and shake him violently. “You fucking terrorized her! You put a knife to her throat. You motherfucker.”

Letting the rage sear through my hands, I bash him to the ground over and over, screaming in his face. “You’ll never lay a hand on her again!”

Ralph looks rightly terrified, spittle and blood covering his chin. His eyes are flashing with horror.

“Enough.” Truck lightly kicks my thigh.

I draw a shuddering breath, the haze of my rage fading just enough to see him off to my right with his gun trained on the man’s head.

Enough, my fucking ass.

I squeeze until Ralph’s eyes bulge.

At the last second, I let go with my right hand, and pull back.

He’s gasping for air when I knock him out cold with a single punch.

Out. Lights out. Mouth hanging open. Eyes rolled back.

But not dead.

I drop my hands, sitting astride the man, with my chest heaving.

It’s over. It’s over,I scream inside my head, but my fingers still ache to feel the life leak out of him. To exact revenge.

A trembling hand touches my shoulder. “Lucas… honey. It’s okay. Everything is okay.”

I lift my eyes and turn my face toward that soft, beautiful voice.

I almost lost her. Again.

If I had been a minute later, that monster would have taken her.

She holds my cheek in her hand as she looks down at me. Tears have streaked down her cheeks. The color is gone from her face.

Camile looks like she’s been to hell and back. But her words are strong. “I’m safe. You saved me.”

“Fuck, come here.” I drag her against me even though I’m still astride the asshole that threatened her life.

She wraps her arms around my shoulders as I bury my face against her chest.