Ruthless Kings of Obsession (Leighton Royals University #3)

10. Lethal Entourage

Lethal Entourage

~ G EMINI~

The world narrows to pure instinct as the first shots ring out. Ren's already taking down one agent with surgical precision, but I'm focused on the other four advancing toward us. Their movements are too coordinated, too professional – these aren't ordinary mercenaries.

"Left side's mine," Ren calls out, already moving to engage two of them.

I don't waste breath responding. Instead, I launch forward, using the narrow hallway to my advantage. The first agent tries to aim his weapon, but I'm already inside his guard. My elbow connects with his throat while I simultaneously kick backward, catching the second agent in the knee. The crack of cartilage is oddly satisfying.

Ren fights with a fluid grace I'd forgotten about – each movement precise and economical. No wasted energy, no flashy moves. Just pure lethal efficiency. He disarms one agent while shooting the other, making it look effortless.

"Duck!" I shout, already throwing Knifey as Ren drops without hesitation. The blade embeds itself in the forehead of an agent who'd been about to shoot him from behind.

The remaining agent charges me, clearly trained in close combat. His fist grazes my cheek as I weave, but I use his momentum against him. A quick series of strikes – throat, solar plexus, groin – has him stumbling. Before I can finish him, movement behind me catches my attention.

"Eva!" Ren's warning comes just as strong arms wrap around me from behind. The agent I'd throat-struck earlier isn't as incapacitated as I'd thought. His grip is crushing, limiting my movement.

But Ren is already there, his elbow connecting with the agent's temple with devastating force. The arms around me loosen enough for me to drive my head back into the man's already-damaged throat. He drops with a gurgling sound I've heard too many times before.

The last agent standing looks between us, clearly reassessing his odds. He raises his hands in surrender, but I catch the slight movement of his finger on the trigger.

"Down!" I command, just as Ren and I both fire. Our shots hit simultaneously – his catching the agent in the chest while mine finds his head. The body hits the ground with a dull thud, and silence falls in the hallway.

We stand there for a moment, both breathing hard, surrounded by the aftermath of our deadly dance. Five bodies, various blood patterns on the walls, and the lingering scent of gunpowder.

"Nice shot," Ren comments, holstering his weapon.

"Nice save," I counter, retrieving Knifey from the dead agent's skull. "Though I had it handled."

His low chuckle sends an unwanted shiver down my spine. "Sure you did, Moonflower. Just like that time in Vancouver?"

"We agreed never to talk about Vancouver."

More explosions echo from somewhere in the warehouse, reminding us of our precarious situation.

"What's the plan?" I ask, wiping Knifey clean on a dead agent's shirt.

"Run and talk?" Ren suggests, already moving toward the east corridor. "We've got maybe ten minutes before their backup arrives."

I grab his arm, pulling him the opposite direction. "This way. It's my warehouse, remember?"

"Ah yes, purchased six months ago through a shell company registered in the Cayman Islands." His smirk is infuriating. "The blueprints were quite detailed, by the way. Especially the modifications you made to the electrical system."

I stop short, staring at him. "How did you?—"

"Please." He gestures for me to lead the way, still wearing that irritating smile. "I've been tracking you since you resurfaced at Leighton. The warehouse purchase wasn't exactly subtle... if you knew what to look for."

We start running again, our footsteps echoing off concrete walls. "I don't like this smart-ass version of you," I mutter. "I preferred the mindless playboy act."

His laugh is rich and mocking. "Sorry, Moonflower. Since you're apparently taken, you don't get to enjoy that side of me anymore."

"Thank God for small mercies."

We round another corner, and I can hear more footsteps in the distance. Ren grabs my hand, pulling me into an alcove. The contact sends electricity through my arm, memories of other times he's grabbed me like this threatening to surface.

"Three teams converging," he whispers, his breath hot against my ear. "Two from the north, one from the east. All heavily armed."

"How many?"

"At least fifteen. Maybe more."

I close my eyes, mentally reviewing the warehouse layout. "There's a maintenance tunnel two corridors over. Leads to the old subway system."

"Already mapped out your escape routes?" His tone is appreciative. "Always did love that tactical mind of yours."

"Shut up and run."

We move in perfect sync, muscle memory from our past making it easy to anticipate each other's movements. The sound of pursuit grows louder, but I know these halls better than they ever will.

*Hold on, Zander,* I think as we race toward safety. *I'm not done yet. Not by a long shot.*