Page 83 of It Destroys Me

A loud explosion shattered the silence of the night. Flames twenty feet high came from the gate across the lawn. I dropped to the ground on instinct and hit the pavement, losing my balance from the bottle of wine I’d enjoyed on my own.

“What the fuck?” Bolton got back to his feet and looked directly at the fire. Gunshots went off in the distance, automatic rifles pushing out all the rounds.

I stayed on the ground because I didn’t know what else to do.

Another explosion hit, coming from a different direction.

Bolton headed to the back entrance. “Get inside, Astrid!” He left the door open as he ran into the house to retrieve his guns.

I rose to my feet and looked at the lights of all the cars that were driving onto the property. At least twelve of them. This attack could be from one of Bolton’s disgruntled clients or…

It could be Theo.

My heart nearly sprouted wings and sang like a songbird. I wanted to run directly to the lights, but I didn’t know exactly what I was running to. But if Bolton lived, then my escape wouldn’t matter.

Because he would never stop hunting me.

I turned to the door and ran inside. “What’s happening, Bolton?” I moved into the study and found his guns piled on the desk. He had a bulletproof vest across his chest. “I’m scared. Tell me what’s going on.”

He spoke into his radio. “Use the flamethrowers to melt the tires.”

“What the fuck is going on?”

Bolton turned to me. “I’m going to put you in the safe room until this is over. Come on.” He stuck a pistol into the back of his jeans and let his rifle hang across his chest by the strap. He grabbed my hand and dragged me into the hallway then removed a plank in the floor. Underneath was a vault with a keypad in the center. He had to use his thumbprint to activate it first.

My eyes went to the gun at the back of his jeans. It was within reach. “What about you?”

“I’ve got to finish this.” He entered one code then moved on to the next, like it was a series.

“Who is it? What if something happens to you?” He might want to put me in the safe room because he was genuinely concerned about my well-being. Or perhaps he knew Theo had come, and he wanted to make sure he couldn’t get to me. Even if Theo won the war, if he didn’t find me in the house, he might assume I was dead or somewhere else.

Bolton ignored me, concentrating on the vault.

I’d never been so scared in my life, felt my hands grow clammy and sweaty even though I hadn’t even tried anything yet, but I took my shot and snatched the gun.

He was fast, far faster than I thought was humanly possible, and he tried to wrestle the gun out of my hand.

I squeezed the trigger even when I wasn’t sure where the gun was pointing, whether at him or me, or the floor or the ceiling.

But then he released the gun and dropped to the floor.

I covered my face and immediately looked away. The gun dropped to the floor with a thud. I turned against the wall and slid to the floor, sobbing at the sight that would be forever seared into my mind. When my ass hit the floor, I threw up on the rug then lay on top of it, breathing so hard I began to hyperventilate. My panic was a combination of tears and screams, the gunshots and explosions shaking the walls around me.

I couldn’t get up.

I couldn’t move.

I closed my eyes…and waited for someone to get me.

Chapter 18

Theo

I charged at the guy in front of me, and he sprayed me with bullets.

My body pulsed several times as the bullets struck the vest. The impact would leave bullet-sized bruises behind. “You missed, asshole.” I slammed my gun into his face and knocked him out like a light.

The broken gate had collapsed on the ground, and the path to the house was clear. Octavio and my men continued to fight Bolton’s security along the fence. They were outnumbered and unprepared. I knew I would lose some guys, but Bolton would lose all his guys.